Estate planning is becoming more of a front-of-mind issue during client meetings, particularly with SMSFs, and it can be used as a powerful value-add by advisers, a superannuation executive has said.

SMSFs continued to hoard cash despite very low returns and remained heavily invested in Australian shares, highlighting the investment risk that many funds faced, risk profiling specialist FinaMetrica has said.

SMSF movement into international equities remained sluggish and was likely to stay that way, despite industry reports that interest in international investment was continually growing, according to Sharesight.

The ATO has given a final prompt to employers to be SuperStream complaint ahead of the approaching 30 June deadline.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has been successful in most of its Federal Court submissions seeking banning orders against the individuals involved in the ActiveSuper and Royale Capital financial services businesses.

Newly launched ANZ ETFS Management believes its suite of six exchange-traded funds (ETF) will be an attractive proposition for the SMSF market.

ASIC has begun legal action in the Federal Court seeking financial penalties and orders to prevent Superannuation Warehouse Australia (SWA) from flogging free SMSF set-ups.

Ungeared unit trusts could potentially become a relevant structure again for SMSF trustees should a ban on limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBA) go ahead.

The federal budget’s strong focus on future Australian infrastructure will help the SMSF sector access more opportunities in the asset class, however, these developments will not be felt immediately. On budget night, Treasurer Joe Hockey announced a new $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, which he said was the first major step in the government’s […]