Superannuation funds continue to leak from Australian Prudential Regulation Authority-regulated funds into SMSFs in gross and net terms, demonstrating no loss of appeal, according to industry body SPAA.

A family discretionary trust is a more sensible vehicle for investors to use when looking to involve family members, such as children, and would work well alongside an SMSF, rather than as a substitute, according to HLB Mann Judd.

Chris Benson has joined the sales team of fractional property investment manager DomaCom, taking on the role of Victoria and Tasmania state manager.

Capstone Financial Planning has entered into a strategic partnership with the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) to provide licensing services for its members wanting to provide advice under the new regulatory framework that will take effect in just under 18 months’ time.

SMSF software specialist BGL Corporate Solutions has been registered to lodge the annual returns of funds electronically with the ATO via the government’s standard business reporting (SBR) facility for users of BGL’s Simple Fund 360.

The Financial System Inquiry’s (FSI) final report, released in December last year, focused attention on the future direction of Australia’s retirement savings policy and the role of superannuation in particular.

The SMSF sector must have been well behaved in 2014. Why? Because the report handed down by the Parliamentary Joint Committee (PJC) on Corporations and Financial Services on the cusp of Christmas Eve was the best present our sector could have hoped for.

SMSF investors have shifted their approach to international investments, showing a willingness to use and pay for good management capabilities, instead of choosing options with the lowest management fees.

The cloud is now beginning to make a noticeable impact on the operation of SMSFs. Amreeta Abbott outlines how this is happening.