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5 July 2026
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Recent legal cases involving Westpac and BT put to rest any view that 'caveat emptor' (buyer beware) applies to 'no' and 'general' advice service models, even though those models do not attract a best interests duty.
SMSFs are currently the largest segment of superannuation, but by 2020, industry funds are expected to dominate, having recently overtaken retail funds. Labor's franking proposal will accelerate the trend.
Selecting 10 winners from hundreds of alternatives presents major challenges, and there are no guarantees past performance will continue. It mainly targets only $1 billion from the $150 billion contributed each year.
APRA and the ATO do not measure fund performance in the same way. The discrepancy can cause SMSF performance to appear worse than it actually is, and better collaboration between regulators is required.
It's often said that 'A man is not a financial plan'. A Practice Director in a successful business shares some of her life tips on financial independence for women aiming to self-fund their retirement.
The Productivity Commission is undertaking a review into the competitiveness and efficiency of Australia's super system. These key points are taken from the draft report, including a neat 'piggy' graphic.
The Productivity Commission report recommends young workers should be given a 'best in show' shortlist of super funds set by an independent process.
Treasurer Scott Morrison on superannuation engagement and why the recent changes were essential, and in fact, have no impact on the vast majority of people.
Government-sponsored reviews often focus on costs and efficiencies because they are easier to measure, but far greater gains can be made if the super system is encouraged to innovate, even if it comes with costs.
Highlights of the Productivity Commission's report on superannuation for post-retirement. The PC shows people don't waste their super spending lump sums and estimates the savings from moving super access to 65.
Tightening pension eligibility is not as simple as just upping the age limit. There are valid arguments for and against any increase and it will depend on the details whether it will be good policy or not.
Inheritance tax implications in Australia may surprise some, as poor estate planning without proper wills or trusts can lead to costly tax bills and delays for beneficiaries.
Proposed Budget changes to taxation are casting new uncertainty over testamentary trusts, prompting closer scrutiny of estate planning structures and the real implications of reforms still taking shape.
New CGT rules could tip the scales in the super vs non-super debate. For those facing the Division 296 tax, the case for withdrawing has gotten more complex. A "comparison rate" tool may help assess decisions.
Beneath the dominance of the ASX's largest stocks, much of the market has been left behind. High-quality companies are now trading at levels rarely seen, offering opportunities for investors willing to look deeper.
Retail investors face an increasingly complex product environment, but simplicity may be the most overlooked advantage in building a portfolio you can actually live with.
The downfall of the giant and three lessons for investors.