Brokerage fees charged to Australian investors for buying international equities were expected to come down significantly and could even become free in the next year, according to an industry executive.

SMSF software specialist BGL today announced it had released the Act2 Actuarial Certificate Service through its web-based administration offering, Simple Fund 360, with more actuarial certificate providers to come.

The latest research into the SMSF sector has revealed the majority of service providers offering compliance and administration services continue to do so on an annual basis.

The SMSF Association has thrown its support behind the co-regulatory method suggested by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services as a means to improve the professional standards of the financial advice industry.

Accountants operating a small practice who are assessing their licensing options that will enable them to continue servicing their existing SMSF clients should be aware they are more prone to be significantly affected by regulator examination, according to a specialist lawyer.

Saxo Capital Markets has reduced its cost to trade international shares by one-third via its new multi-asset SaxoTraderGo platform, which will assist in greater global share exposure, particularly for SMSFs.

The first quarter of 2015 has revealed a significant drop in the average contribution inflow per fund, according to the latest analysis from Multiport.

SMSF allocations into direct property were consistently on the increase, with total weightings now almost making up 10 per cent of portfolios, according to the latest analysis from OneVue.

Advisory and funds management business Aura Group has purchased a majority stake in Accountable Financial Group (AFG), an independent provider of financial advice, training, and product and service solutions to accountants.