Spring FG believes it will emerge as a leading competitor in the SMSF space as there is strong client demand for full financial services.

The SMSF Association’s 2015 federal budget submission has called on the government to provide a more equitable superannuation system through continuing the Low Income Superannuation Contribution Scheme and raising the concessional contributions cap.

Portfolio management software provider Sharesight will continue to seek opportunities to build out its partnerships this year, following the recent addition of Esuperfund and Ebroking.

The increasing costs of providing SMSF administration is a concern needing to be addressed in the coming years, according to a specialist service provider in the space.

The ATO has new powers, called Superannuation Guarantee Estimates (SGE), designed to protect the retirement savings entitlements of workers where a company is on the verge of liquidation.

Financial education content developer Money101 has launched an online SMSF facility to assist practitioners with their professional development commitments.

Large financial services organisations looking to gain traction in the SMSF market must abandon the traditional packaging approach, according to a sector consultant.

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.