Individuals looking to invest in bonds should consider an allocation extending beyond Australian government bonds, according to a specialist fund manager.

The monitoring of Australian equities performance can be performed in a more meaningful manner by using an alternative measure to the All Ordinaries Index, a leading economist has suggested.

The size of the global bond market compared to the global equities market suggests it has the ability to offer SMSF trustees a wider variety of opportunities to invest in companies and governments, a fixed income manager has said.

To receive the full portfolio diversification benefits and to take advantage of all of the Asian investment opportunities individuals need direct holdings in the overseas markets, according to a specialist portfolio manager.

SMSF trustees can avoid having their fund switch between the segregated and unsegregated methods for exempt current pension income (ECPI) calculation purposes at different periods throughout a given financial year by maintaining a small asset balance of the fund in accumulation phase, a technical expert has said.