Litigation, legislation and retirement: What to expect from 2025
Release Date: 01/15/2025
Where to from here? Planning for the new financial year
The SMSF Adviser Show
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 SMSF professionals need to pay attention to and plan for the year ahead, and Aaron breaks down all of the areas that deserve a closer look. Listen as they discuss: How a lack of certainty is...
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Streamlining the audit process
The SMSF Adviser Show
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 to prioritise compliance and leverage available resources to streamline their processes. Listen as they discuss: Obtaining the necessary evidence for valuations, especially concerning private and...
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EOFY super planning and tax strategies
The SMSF Adviser Show
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 clients. Managing clients’ total super balance (TSB) effectively is right at the top of the list, with Shorte explaining the importance of having accurate information and why it’s not always a good idea...
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Media mayhem and Div 296
The SMSF Adviser Show
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 Division 296 tax. Listen as they discuss: The misconceptions and a lack of understanding about the legislation's nuances. The political dynamics surrounding Div 296 and its complexities. The broader...
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The Div 296 battle continues
The SMSF Adviser Show
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 convince the elected politicians on the adverse outcomes of the tax. The podcast will also delve into the latest draft DBFO legislation and how the proposed changes may affect advisers specialising in...
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Election countdown
The SMSF Adviser Show
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 numbers. This podcast covers some of the big-ticket items concerning the advice and super sectors, including: Bargaining by the Greens to reduce the super tax threshold to $2 million and its impact on...
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Unpacking the Bendel decision
The SMSF Adviser Show
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 beneficiaries, potentially allowing distributions to remain unpaid without triggering Division 7A consequences. The podcast delves into the significance of the case, drawing parallels to pivotal decisions like...
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Budget 2025: The implications for the SMSF sector
The SMSF Adviser Show
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 faces uncertainty over future leadership and policy direction, while the emergence of the Teal independents and the potential for a minority government add layers of complexity to an already...
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Overcoming challenges in auditing compliance
The SMSF Adviser Show
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 regulatory obligations SMSF auditors now face. Figot touches on, among other things, the Tax Office’s renewed focus on auditor compliance for 2025 – especially in maintaining professional...
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Part 2: Highlights from the SMSF Association National Conference 2025
The SMSF Adviser Show
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 wholesale investor thresholds for SMSFs. Ben Marshan, director at Marshan Consulting, also joins the show to talk about the importance of financial advisers staying ahead of regulatory shifts to...
info_outlineIn 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 closed.
Listen as they discuss:
- Why litigation over estate benefits is expected to continue to grow.
- How a strong focus on retirement outcomes will take centrestage in 2025.
- The possibility of accountants being given a larger role in providing financial advice.