Written by John Maroney, CEO, SMSF Association First published in Australian Financial Review on 29 December 2021. Licensed by Copyright Agency. On the radar are auditing changes, higher tax-free thresholds, increased contribution caps and an ATO crackdown on investment strategies. On the radar are auditing changes, higher tax-free thresholds, increased contribution caps and an ATO…
Issue 18: 2020 in review and what it means for your SMSF in 2021
I’m sure there will be much discussion on the outcomes of the last 10 months of 2020 through December and into early 2021. If I had any idea of what a story that reflected on 2020 would look like a year ago, there may have been only one discussion point that I would have been…
The optimal size for SMSFs when it comes to costs
Opinion piece written by John Maroney, CEO, SMSF Association First published in The Financial Review on 04 December 2020. Licensed by Copyright Agency. Funds with balances of $200,000 or more are cost competitive with industry and retail superannuation funds and those with balances of $500,000 or more are typically the cheapest alternative. New research should…
Issue 17: The investment emotional cycle
Quite often a discussion about the investment emotional cycle starts as markets tend to head south. I recall a number of media articles circulating earlier this year following the February market correction. The basis of these discussions is often to provide hope that after the crash comes the correction and it’s true to say, that…
SMSFs, it’s your money, but not yet!
Written by Peter Burgess, Deputy CEO / Director of Policy & Education, SMSF Association First published in smstrusteenews on 20 November 2020. Licensed by Copyright Agency. Despite the strict rules which prevent or severely limit such activity, there is often a tendency for SMSF trustees to enter into transactions with themselves or relatives using the…
SMSF misconceptions
Lisa Papachristoforos runs through some common SMSF misconceptions with the SMSF Association’s Deputy CEO/Director of Policy & Education, Peter Burgess, and explains what prospective SMSF members can do to be well informed about the industry. First published in Eureka Report on 10 November 2020. Licensed by Copyright Agency. Misconception 1: You are on your own My…
New data shows true cost of running your own super fund
Opinion piece written by John Maroney, CEO, SMSF Association First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on 10 November 2020. Licensed by Copyright Agency. Eight out of 10 Self Managed Super Fund (SMSF) trustees believe the cost of running their own fund represents good value for money. An SMSF Association survey found that trustees responsible…
SMSF trustee guide to navigating way through pandemic
Opinion piece written by John Maroney, CEO, SMSF Association First published in The Financial Review on 6 November 2020. Licensed by Copyright Agency. With COVID-19 having moved the goal posts even more dramatically than the GFC, failure to keep up with the changes will be costly. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone’s lives and SMSF…
Issue 16: The changing nature of Australian share indices
In our last instalment, we took a look at reporting season and asked how your SMSF portfolio survived? In that instalment, we looked at how there may be a two-tier reporting outcome for companies and sectors with some doing well and others not so well; introducing the concept of the ‘K’ shaped outcome. By now…
How a six-member SMSF could benefit you
Opinion piece written by John Maroney, CEO, SMSF Association First published in The Financial Review on 15 October 2020. Licensed by Copyright Agency. Small businesses and families with pooled assets could find extra flexibility as well as lower fees by taking advantage of the relaxation of the size limit. The federal government has introduced legislation…