ATO upgrades Online services for SMSF auditors

The ATO has made a number of enhancements to Online services for business to improve the process of lodging auditor contravention reports and audit complete advices.

Where self-managed super funds are investing

Recently released ATO data shows some SMSFs have too much of their money invested into just a few asset classes and are not as diversified as they could be. Here's why having broad market exposure is important in retirement.

Investing for a house deposit

Despite it seeming increasingly difficult to get on the property ladder, there are still a few ways younger investors can realistically work towards a house deposit.

Our ‘hardest’ SMSF tasks

What are the hardest aspects of running your self-managed super fund (SMSF)? There are certainly more and more tasks and professional help my be needed to manage them properly.

Lack of literacy promotes unrealistic goals

A large proportion of Australians have unrealistic retirement goals.  (NB: There are financial tools on this site that can help as too can a financial planner)

Young investors: Time is on your side

Today's young investors weren't alive when The Rolling Stones, among others, released versions of Time is on my side yet the song's title just about sums up their lengthy investment horizon.

Is your SMSF retirement-ready?

A landmark stage in the life of a self-managed super fund is when at least one of its members moves from the accumulation phase to retirement phase. (NB:  A financial planner can help with this question if you're not sure)

Investors acting their age

Young investors can fall into the trap of being too conservative for their own good, forfeiting compounding long-term returns from growth assets.

ATO locks in details, addresses panic on real-time reporting

The tax office has addressed several points of confusion with the new events-based reporting regime, locked in key deadlines, and outlined what will be included in a new position paper set to be released shortly for the SMSF community. 

‘Tens of thousands’ of SMSFs at risk with ECPI

The Actuaries Institute has addressed the ATO with significant concerns about a recent interpretation related to exempt current pension income (ECPI), fearing many SMSFs will make incorrect claims as a result.