If the Australian Labor Party are elected in 2019 they intend to ban the refund of excess franking credits. This means, if your SMSF received a tax refund at the end of the financial year because your franking credits exceeded any tax payable, you will no longer receive that money. SMSFs are significantly affected because…
January 31, 2019
What your financial planner should look like by 2024 as new standards kick in
Written by John Maroney, CEO, SMSF Association First published in The Australian Financial Review on 31 January 2019. Licensed by Copyright Agency. In the final moments of 2018 and early into 2019, the new standard setter for financial advisers – the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) – issued new educational and ethical standards…
January 10, 2019
Productivity Commission Inquiry Report into Superannuation
The SMSF Association has welcomed the Productivity Commission’s decision to follow our recommendations to improve SMSF advice standards and reject introducing minimum establishment balances as a way of ensuring the integrity of the SMSF sector. The Productivity Commission’s report into Superannuation was handed to the Australian Government on 21 December 2018 and publicly released yesterday. The report…
January 7, 2019
Podcast: A frank discussion about the ALP dividend proposals
First published by nabtrade and can be found here. Licensed by Copyright Agency. Some investors have sold off parts of their portfolio and changed their asset allocation under the assumption that the Opposition’s policy proposals have been implemented. However, this is not the case and frankly, any announcements could take a while to reach implementation. With ongoing…
January 7, 2019
Court decisions a sharp reminder of SMSF trustee responsibilities
Written by John Maroney, CEO, SMSF Association First published in The Australian Financial Review on 02 January 2019. Licensed by Copyright Agency. The outcome of two court cases involving self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) auditors will have long-term consequences for SMSF advisers and trustees. The cases – Cam & Bear Pty Ltd v McGoldrick and Ryan…
December 12, 2018
Is your SMSF adequately diversified?
There are numerous benefits of a well-diversified portfolio including mitigating volatility and short-term downside investment risks, preserving capital and the long-run benefits of higher overall returns. By spreading your SMSF’s investments across different asset classes and markets offering different risks and returns, you may better position yourself for a secure retirement. However, did you know…
October 30, 2018
Setting up an SMSF – What do you need to consider?
Setting up a self managed super fund (SMSF) can be complicated. Not getting it right can materially affect your financial situation and retirement plans. But don’t stress, this paper will help you ask the big questions. The first question you need to be sure about is whether an SMSF is the right fit for you…
October 24, 2018
Ready to set up an SMSF?
You’ve weighed up all the pros and cons and decided to establish a self managed super fund (SMSF). The establishment of an SMSF requires a lot of decisions to be made by you as an SMSF trustee in conjunction with appropriate advice from your advisor. Use the below checklist to ensure every step has been…
October 16, 2018
Retiree self protection: A volatility-and-downturn ‘bucket’
Written by Robin Bowerman, Head of Market Strategy and Communications at Vanguard/Board Director of the SMSF Association This is a straightforward strategy intended to reduce the possibility of retirees – particularly those with many years of retirement ahead – having to sell investments at depressed prices to maintain their income in the event of an…
September 28, 2018
Franking credits inquiry announced: Have your story heard – The Alliance for a Fairer Retirement System
Video featuring John Maroney, CEO, SMSF Association & Ian Henschke, Chief Advocate, National Seniors First published on the Alliance for a Fairer Retirement System website. The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics has announced an inquiry into the implication of removing refundable franking credits. This inquiry will report on the use of refundable franking…