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19 March 2026
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Rarely do we go into an election with such contrasting policies from the major parties, and no more so than in superannuation. The nation's decision on 18 May will have a big impact on retirement savings.
Even for this experienced SMSF technical services executive, the tighter rules for borrowing in his SMSF brought some unexpected problems. It's much harder now than most people realise.
In certain limited circumstances, especially relating to Business Real Property, it is possible for an SMSF to acquire property from a member but check the rules carefully to avoid penalties.
Super contribution changes that took effect on 1 July 2017 and other changes coming in from 1 July 2018 aren't all negative, leaving opportunities over the next few months to make the necessary adjustments.
SMSF trustees should understand the tax consequences when death benefits include insurance proceeds because it can vary greatly according to circumstances, and these should be planned for in advance.
The implications of the superannuation reforms did not end in 2017, and SMSF trustees should stocktake what they can do, especially focussing on the CGT and the unique definition of retirement for super.
With the upcoming budget increasingly likely to include bold proposals to alter the tax code I’ve outlined three incremental steps with fewer unintended consequences.
The impact of the Iran War is far more than expensive petrol. Higher oil prices have secondary inflationary impacts that reverberate throughout the economy which could be bad news for Australians with mortgages.
Global Listed Infrastructure dividends are forecast to grow 5-6% p.a over the next two years. After a hiatus, share buybacks are back on the agenda and will play an integral role in shareholder returns.
Past oil shocks offer lessons for investors dealing with the fallout from the Iran War and the ongoing impact on inflation.
Former Australian Prime Minister, Paul Keating, once said "When you change the government, you change the country." We're about to see whether that holds true in Japan.
Central banks now hold more gold reserves than US Treasuries, signalling a shift in safe-haven asset strategy and portfolio diversification as geopolitical risks increase.
Historically economic progress is measured by GDP growth but there is an increasing body of work that explores quantitative measures of wellbeing.