The SMSF Adviser Show

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 surcharg...

The increase of the transfer balance cap from $1.9 million to $2 million is not as simple to understand as it seems. In this SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn discuss the implications of the TBC rise implemented at the start of the new financial year with industry stalwart David Busoli. While this shift appears straightforward, it brings complexities, particularly for existing...

It's the start of a new financial year, but there are still many uncertainties in the SMSF world. In the latest episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn discuss the implications of the upcoming Division 296 legislation, which is set to impact individuals with superannuation balances over $3 million.  As the new financial year kicks off, there is a raft of other topics that...

With just two weeks remaining until the financial year wraps up, getting an SMSF ready for tax time involves ensuring there is a smooth audit process. In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by well-known industry auditor Deanne Firth, director of Tactical Super. Firth offers some valuable insights and timely reminders for SMSF trustees and auditors...

As the end of the financial year approaches, SMSF professionals are gearing up to navigate the complexities of superannuation contributions and tax planning. In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, industry stalwart Liam Shorte, director of Sonas Wealth, explains the essential areas that advisers and accountants should address in the next three weeks to optimise super strategies for their client...

The $3 million super tax has been headline news around the country over the past couple of weeks and has finally made the front pages of the mainstream media. In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn highlight a critical aspect of the debate that has captured the media's attention: the difference between the perception and the reality of the implications of the Div...

With Labor winning the election with a clear majority, the SMSF sector is now once again poised for battle over the controversial Division 296 tax. In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn sit down with SMSF Association CEO Peter Burgess to talk about the implications of the election results, what it may mean going forward, and the association's plans to convinc...

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn discuss the issues that may affect super and the policy positions of the two major parties. Tax reform has been the elephant in the room during the federal election campaign, but there has been some mention of the Division 296 tax by the opposition, which has also made commitments regarding advice reforms and adviser numb...

In this edition of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by legal specialist Phil Broderick, principal at Sladen Legal, to discuss the implications of the Bendel court decision – a landmark ruling with potentially far-reaching consequences for SMSFs and private trusts. This ruling has profound implications for the use of discretionary trusts and corporate beneficiari...

In this special post-budget episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn navigate a complex web of budgetary and political issues. Although it was a budget with nothing much in it for the SMSF sector, it was what wasn't included that may have dramatic implications for the sector moving forward. With the departure of Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones, the sector face...

With auditing season in full swing and the ATO increasing its scrutiny of the sector, this week's SMSF Adviser podcast focuses on the challenges auditors may face regarding compliance. Hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by legal specialist Bryce Figot from DBA Lawyers, one of the sector's leading experts in the intricacies of SMSF auditing, to discuss what's involved in managing the myriad...

In this special two-part 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 part two, Tracey Scotchbrook, head of policy and advocacy at the SMSF Association, joins to break down the major regulatory issues impacting the sector, including the ongoing confusion around how to apply...

In this special two-part 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 Melbourne. In part one, SMSF Association chief executive Peter Burgess and Class CEO Tim Steele join the show to talk about the thought leadership breakfast on the first day of the conference, the growth of...

It's already been a hectic first few weeks of the year in the SMSF sector with legislative changes and political manoeuvring. In this week's SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn delve into what has happened and what may transpire in the coming months. They're joined by Daniel Butler, director of DBA Lawyers, to talk about the complexities of investing in rental properties within SMSF...

There has been significant movement in the digital advice space over the past decade. As the industry accelerates its efforts to address the undersupply of financial advice, digital solutions are essential to meet the demands of Australia's 12.9 million financial advice beneficiaries. In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, host Keith Ford talks to David Barrett, an independent consultant wit...

In the first episode of the SMSF Adviser Show for 2025, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn take a look at the hot topics that will impact the SMSF space in the new year. The pair discuss the upcoming federal election, which is set to dominate the outlook for the first half of the year, as a range of measures related to SMSF advice hang in the balance and are unlikely to be decided until the polls are...

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Tim Miller, SMSF technical and education manager at Smarter SMSF, to break down an early Christmas present for the SMSF sector – the introduction of regulations on legacy retirement product commutations and reserves. Miller explains why there was a need for these regulations to be put in place and who is set to...

Following a whirlwind of legislative activity in the last few days of the parliamentary sitting calendar for the year, the Senate passed a number of bills via a guillotine motion. Although the controversial Division 296 tax was not among them after a last-minute reprieve, several other bills were passed that will ultimately affect the SMSF sector. In this final episode of the SMSF Adviser Podcast...

In a rapidly evolving financial landscape, cryptocurrency continues to carve out its niche, particularly within the realm of SMSFs. In this SMSF Adviser podcast, host Keith Ford speaks with Simon Ho, the COO and head of SMSF at CoinStash, about how SMSFs can safely utilise cryptocurrencies as part of their investment portfolio. In this episode, they discuss: The difference between an investor and...

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Andrew McVeigh, managing partner at Remara, to discuss the changes within investment markets that SMSF professionals and investors should keep an eye on. McVeigh explains that Remara has seen the appetite for credit starting to slow, which he said the RBA would consider as it starts to look at potentially cutting rates, while e...

In this special episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by a pair of experts on the floor of the SMSF Adviser Technical Strategy Day to provide insight into some of the complex topics facing SMSF professionals. Daniel Butler, director at DBA Lawyers, joins to discuss the changes to non-arm's length income and expense (NALI/E) rules, why there is still so much c...

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Julie Steed, senior technical services manager at MLC Tech Connect, to discuss how advisers can refer to the retirement income covenant to help their SMSF clients. As the RIC approaches its second year and new guidance is added, it is becoming clear how well-prepared many SMSFs are in regard to retirement produ...

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Tim Steele, general manager at Class, to dig down on the information that came out of the annual Class Annual Benchmark Report. The report is an annual snapshot from a macro standpoint of how the SMSF sector is developing, using data from the Class Super platform, which is representative of the broader Australi...

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Peter Johnson, director of Advisers Digest, to give a sneak peek at his upcoming session at the SMSF Adviser Technical Strategy Day and why it's vital to understand the evolving needs of older clients.   Johnson explains some of the opportunities that are available for older clients as the intersection between...

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Matthew Burgess, director of View Legal, to take a look at some of the estate planning considerations that SMSF professionals need to keep top of mind.   Burgess explains why the outcomes of a number of recent court cases hold valuable information for everyone in the SMSF sector, as well as highlighting the imp...