SMSF advisers and trustees must be guided by the most recent fund trust deed available when determining the validity of a binding death benefit nomination (BDBN) after a deed amendment, according to a specialist lawyer.

SMSF trustees found investment selection was the hardest aspect of running their own fund, despite the desire for investment control, according to AMP Capital research.

More advisers, particularly those servicing SMSFs, were looking at exchange-traded fund (ETF) model portfolios as a means to take risk off the table and ensure portfolios were as robust as possible, according to an ETF executive.

CPA Australia has admitted the ability to provide its members with a licensing solution when the accountants’ exemption is scrapped was a driver in the move to establish CPA Australia Advice.

CPA Australia has established a new subsidiary organisation that will provide financial advice to the general Australian public.

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.