A recent court case involving the allocation of death benefits from a superannuation fund could have significant ramifications for the industry, writes Michael Hallinan.

When a client is facing divorce, they must take into account all relevant scenarios when it comes to their retirement benefits, including the option of splitting superannuation assets outside the SMSF, a leading lawyer servicing the sector has said.

Advisers must have specific questions at the front of their minds in relation to the changeover to the new pension rules where deeming could potentially hit clients’ entitlements, according to a specialist superannuation lawyer.

The SMSF Professionals’ Association of Australia (SPAA) has released lending and advice guidelines for practitioners providing advice on limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBA).

The SMSF Professionals’ Association of Australia (SPAA) is calling for a flat fee to be charged in relation to refunded excess non-concessional contributions instead of the proposed withdrawal of earnings associated with these cap breaches.

SMSF investors intend to add greater diversity to their portfolios through a larger allocation to international shares in the immediate future, the latest industry research has shown.

The SMSF industry must position itself for the development of two discrete markets to capitalise on and sustain future business, the head of a data research house said last week.

The latest research capturing the views of financial services chief executives has revealed their willingness to use innovation to address the lack of consumer confidence in the industry that has manifested itself in the continued growth of SMSFs.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will soon clarify its position over the validity and tax treatment of related-party limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBA) charging zero interest being used by SMSFs.