News

Value of residential properties to keep rising

November 28, 2014

Property investment specialist Future Estate has predicted domestic house prices will continue to increase on the back of several influencing factors, including improved loan affordability, solid economic fundamentals and a stable mortgage market.

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Strategy

Choice between active, passive unnecessary

November 28, 2014

Darin Tyson-Chan

When assessing the use of fund managers, investors should not look at the choice between active and passive management as mutually exclusive because that mindset might cause them to miss out on valuable return opportunities, according to a senior financial services executive.

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ETFs

New BetaShares ETF targets SMSF investors

November 28, 2014

Kristen Crawford

Exchange-traded fund (ETF) provider BetaShares has released a new market offering specifically to service SMSF investors and retirees looking for an income stream solution through share dividends.

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Compliance & Regulation

ASIC moves on property promoter

November 28, 2014

Darin Tyson-Chan

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is seeking interim and final orders from the Supreme Court of NSW to prevent property investment promoter Park Trent Properties Group from operating a financial services business without a licence.

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LICs

Perpetual’s first LIC gets recommended rating

November 28, 2014

Darin Tyson-Chan

Perpetual Investments’ first listed investment company (LIC), Perpetual Equity Investment Company Limited (PIC), aimed at SMSF trustees has received a recommended rating from research houses Lonsec and Zenith.

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ATO

ATO not in favour of reserves

ATO assistant deputy commissioner of superannuation Stuart Forsyth

November 28, 2014

Darin Tyson-Chan

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has expressed its concern over the use of reserves within SMSFs and pointed out advisers need to consider these strategies carefully before recommending their implementation as they add a potentially unwanted layer of complexity to running a retirement savings fund.

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Business news

SPAA joins list of trustee education providers

November 28, 2014

Darin Tyson-Chan

The SMSF Professionals’ Association of Australia has become the latest industry body to provide an education program for trustees.

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Compliance & Regulation

Level of SMSF gearing worries ASIC

Money being handed over to another person

November 28, 2014

Darin Tyson-Chan

ASIC has expressed its concern over the latest reported level of limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBA) employed by SMSFs due to the risk involved with these strategies.

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Compliance & Regulation

Future trustees need compliance vigilance

November 28, 2014

Darin Tyson-Chan

Individuals considering establishing an SMSF need to be wary of their compliance obligations and consider carefully who the best service provider is to assist them to meet these responsibilities, a sector administration specialist has warned.

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Investments

SMSFs more at risk as wholesale investors

October 31, 2014

Darin Tyson-Chan

The recent Australian Securities and Investments Commission announcement signalling its intention to make it easier for SMSF trustees to invest in wholesale financial products will lessen some of the safeguards applicable when these individuals were categorised strictly as retail investors, a specialist law firm has said.

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