The SMSF Adviser Show

The new PayDay Super rules are imminent and there's only weeks for SMSF trustees and employers to ensure they have put everything in place for the changing rules and regulations. On this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Aaron Dunn and Keeli Cambourne speak with Tony Negline from the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand about the work he's been doing in the lead up and what SMSF trustees need to do to make sure they are compliant. Listen as they discuss: The challenges that employers are facing; The steps SMSF trustees need to take; What can go wrong; What the next few months may look like from a practical perspective

With the ink now drying on the Federal budget, it seems what most thought was going to be a quiet night for the super sector has in fact opened the door on a number of new issues and concerns. In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, Keeli Cambourne is joined by co-host Aaron Dunn from Smarter SMSF to unpack what the proposed tax reforms mean for SMSFs. Listen as they discuss Negative gearing and borrowing CGT changes and investment structure How trusts and estate planning may be affected What should trustees and advisers be considering going forward

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn explore some of the key developments shaping the SMSF landscape, including whether the Division 296 tax on high‑balance members could lead to a spike in wind‑ups. They also break down how the proposed financial adviser education reforms could create a more flexible pathway and grow the number of advisers in the profession, and take a look at how bankruptcy is being treated for SMSF trustees. Tune in to hear: Whether the introduction of Div 296 will drive SMSF wind-ups or if any change will be a drop in the bucket. How the proposed changes to education standards could improve access to SMSF advice. Why the Federal Court might allow an SMSF trustee to stay on despite bankruptcy.

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by SMSF Association CEO Peter Burgess and Adelaide University's Dr George Mihaylov to break down new research that compares the performance of SMSFs to that of APRA funds. By applying the same methodology used for APRA funds to a dataset covering more than 400,000 SMSFs, the study delivers a more accurate, "apples with apples" view of sector performance, underscoring the role of advice and diversification in outcomes. Tune in to hear: How investment performance of SMSFs and APRA funds stack up. Why there is a much larger variance in performance among SMSFs. The benefits that advisers are able to deliver, particularly for low-performing funds.

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Robert Talevski, CEO of Webull Securities Australia, to explore how technology and global markets are reshaping advice and SMSF investing. Talevski argues that if trustees and advisers go to the effort of running a self‑managed fund, they should be thinking beyond simple passive exposures, while still respecting client risk profiles, retirement horizons and the extra admin burden inside super. Tune in to hear: Why the bigger opportunity may sit with companies using AI rather than building it. How ETF use is evolving toward active, thematic and outcome‑focused products. The value of advisers looking offshore for opportunities and global diversification.

In this special episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by a selection of prominent industry members at the SMSF Association National Conference in Adelaide. In part one, SMSF Association chief executive Peter Burgess joins the show to talk about where the SMSF sector is heading, how it's growing, and the major issues impacting professionals. Then Class CEO Tim Steele and Financial Services Council CEO Blake Briggs chat about the thought leadership breakfast on the first day of the conference, why many SMSF members are not receiving advice, and how to get more advice to these members.

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn dissect the draft Division 296 legislation with SMSF Association CEO Peter Burgess, including the fresh challenges around equity, complexity and "system neutrality" between SMSFs and large APRA funds. Breaking down the association's submission to the draft legislation consultation, Burgess stresses that while the sector "won the battle" on unrealised gains, the new fight is ensuring that realised earnings allocated to in‑scope members are fair and transparent, especially given the different calculation methods across fund types. Tune in to hear: Why the TSB integrity measure is a red flag for the SMSFA. How the issues that remain in the draft legislation can be fixed. When to expect the bill to enter Parliament.

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn unpack the unresolved details of Division 296, including how the shift to taxing realised gains may affect high-balance SMSF members, particularly in the year of death. They discuss why "hold-until-you-die" strategies are unlikely to be practical due to pension and liquidity pressures. They also delve into the government's new Digital Assets Framework Bill, which brings crypto platforms into the AFSL regime to improve consumer protection – an important shift given SMSFs' strong involvement in digital assets. Listen as they discuss: Div 296 uncertainty and end-of-year legislative timing Strategy concerns for high-balance SMSF members Financial abuse risk within SMSFs Role of advisers and practical vigilance

In this special episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Liam Shorte, managing director of SONAS Wealth, and Phil Broderick, principal at Sladen Legal, at the SMSF Technical Strategy Day in Sydney. Shorte joins the show to discuss the evolving world of contribution and why it's important to understand the contribution rules and caps to ensure planning decisions remain sound regardless of the final policy settings. Listen as Broderick unpacks a range of estate planning issues he covered in his session at the strategy day, including how some recent case law should impact the way SMSF professionals consider death benefit nominations.

The announcement this week from the government outlining the changes to the $3 million super tax was met with relief, but there are still many unknowns. On this episode of The SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn unpack the changes from the initial proposal to the current version released this week. The discussion emphasises that while the major concerns of taxing unrealised gains and lack of indexation have been addressed, many technical details still need to be clarified through the legislative process and further consultation. Listen as they discuss: Taxable earnings: Originally, the tax applied to all earnings, whether realised or not. The revised measure will only tax realised gains. Indexation: The $3 million threshold will be indexed against the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in $150,000 increments, pegged to transfer balance cap movement. The $10 million threshold will be indexed in $500,000 increments, also aligned with CPI. Tax rates: For balances above $3 million, an additional 15 per cent tax applies to earnings. For balances above $10 million, an additional 10 per cent tax applies to earnings. Start date: The effective start date has been moved to 1 July 2026, with the first assessments issued in the 2027–2028 financial year. Liability: The tax liability remains with the individual, who can pay it directly or seek a release from their super fund. The ATO will calculate the tax. Consultation: There is optimism for constructive consultation on the implementation details, particularly regarding how realised earnings will be calculated for APRA funds and SMSFs, and the treatment of CGT discounts and pre-2026 asset gains.

The SMSF sector is in a holding pattern as key regulatory and legislative changes remain unresolved. In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Aaron Dunn and Keith Ford discuss some of the key changes that are still to be clarified, such as the Div 296 tax and the much-anticipated NALI/E amendments. The podcast touches on recent updates from the ATO, specifically regarding Law Companion Ruling (LCR) 2021/2 relating to super contributions and the recently released annual Class Benchmark report. Listen as they discuss: Revelations that more SMSFs will be impacted by the proposed Div 296 than originally estimated. The changing face of the SMSF sector demographics. The ongoing advice gap in the SMSF sector. Implications of commuting market-linked pensions.

The updated rules on when a pension commences and ceases have created confusion in the SMSF sector. On this week's episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Aaron Dunn and Keith Ford delve into the intricacies of TR2013/5 with Tim Miller, head of education and technical for Smarter SMSF. Miller explains how the revised ruling, which was updated in June 2024, primarily reflects changes from the super reforms introduced on 1 July 2017. He provides a fresh perspective on what needs to happen when a super income stream fails to meet the pension standards for a financial year, particularly with minimum pension requirements. Listen as they discuss: How the consequences of failing to meet pension standards have become more stringent. The trust law aspect of pensions. The importance of understanding the minimum pension obligation and the consequences of failing to meet it. The retrospective application of these rules. The complexities surrounding TRIS. The time frame for losing ECPI beyond the traditional 12 months.

In the latest episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn break down some of the alternative methods to remove concessions for large super balances without resorting to taxing unrealised gains, with a range of options being delivered in recent weeks. The IFPA put forward compulsory cashing, while Geoff Wilson and Wilson Asset Management offered up a progressive super surcharge model, with both looking to meet the government's stated aim for Division 296 in a manner that leaves unrealised gains untouched. Listen as they discuss: What is missing when the government talks about liquidity and diversity requirements for super funds that hold farmland. The spike in SMSF-related complaints to AFCA, largely on the back of major financial failures like United Global Capital. When Division 296 is likely to land back in parliament.