Opinion piece written by Tracey Scotchbrook, Head of Policy & Advocacy, SMSF Association First published in Financial Review 09 August 2023. Licensed by Copyright Agency. Even couples well below the new proposed threshold could face an extra 15 per cent tax thanks to an insurance payout in tough times. There has been much talk about…
July 28, 2023
Issue 47 – Growing numbers of women and the younger generation seeing the value in investing in their own financial literacy
Well it’s the start of another financial year and there is plenty on the horizon to keep investors focused on the economy, their investments and super. None of this is surprising following what has been more than a year of rising interest rates, upward spiralling inflation and the cost of just about everything going up,…
July 14, 2023
Trustees trapped in nightmare of new expense rules
Opinion piece written by Peter Burgess, CEO, SMSF Association First published in Financial Review 13 July 2023. Licensed by Copyright Agency. What is being forgotten is that the goal behind the change was to target SMSFs that enter borrowing arrangements with related parties on non-arm’s-length terms. New non-arm’s-length expense (NALE) rules have become an administrative…
June 30, 2023
Issue 46 – What does the residential property landscape look like?
Well the end of the financial year is upon us and much continues to be said about the effects of continuing inflation and rising interest rates on business (small businesses in particular), property prices and as a result on the economy. In this article, we look at how the residential property landscape is changing beyond…
June 27, 2023
Is Private Credit the New Megatrend in Australia? (Part 2)
Written by Paul Miron, Managing Director, Msquared Capital At the beginning of 2022, I posed the following question to an audience of sophisticated self-directed investors: Is Private Credit the new megatrend in Australia? It is important to remember these were carefree times when the official cash rate was at a historic low of 0.10%, and terms…
June 15, 2023
$3m super tax cap will hit farmers’ finances
Opinion piece written by Peter Burgess, CEO, SMSF Association First published in Financial Review on 15 June 2023. Licensed by Copyright Agency. Agricultural landowners are often asset rich and cash poor – which is why they will be gravely disadvantaged by the proposed $3 million cap on super balances. Just do the sums. At March…
June 2, 2023
Issue 45: Property investment from a different perspective – Commercial Real Estate Credit
Property is an investment class much favoured by Australian investors; be it held directly via a residential investment property, through a listed A-REIT or perhaps a premise from where owners conduct a business. In many cases these investments form part of a SMSF. As at March, SMSFs held around $135 billion in non-residential and residential…
May 17, 2023
Do this after June 30 and you could boost your super by $110,000
Opinion piece written by Peter Burgess, CEO, SMSF Association First published in Financial Review on 17 May 2023. Licensed by Copyright Agency. Getting the timing right on contributions is just one of a host of things SMSF members need to pull together before the end of the tax year. With June 30 fast approaching it’s…
April 26, 2023
When good debt turns bad: How the rise in rates led to bank collapse
Written by Paul Miron, Managing Director, Msquared Capital For the first time since the GFC, the fragility of the global banking system has come into question as the 16th largest bank in the US collapsed, and one of Europe’s premier investment banks, Credit Suisse, sought rescue from the Swisse National Bank. How is it that a…
April 26, 2023
Issue 44: To SMSF or not – How the sector performs against APRA funds
Probably a question asked by many contemplating starting or continuing to run an SMSF. And rightly so as the decision to directly manage you retirement savings is one that should not be taken lightly by any member of an SMSF. For some, it may also be the anticipated time involved with running an SMSF that…