The recent release of the 2008 Penfolds Grange is being regarded as one of the best ever! Some wine critics have already scored the wine 100/100, with the increased demand seeing prices for a bottle at around $700. Could it be a an investment for your SMSF? It certainly can, but there are a few … Continue reading »
In the lead up to Christmas, Treasury released an exposure draft of regulations to amend the existing related party acquisition rules for SMSFs – a direct result of a Cooper Review recommendation. The review found a lack of transparency on transfers (such as with listed shares) and recommended that any acquisition or disposal of assets … Continue reading »
After only just discussing the regulatory focus by ASIC on SMSFs and property investments, we have seen further regulatory “alarm bells” ringing through the ATO’s release of taxpayer alert, TA 2012/7. A Taxpayer Alert is an “early warning” of significant new and emerging higher risk tax and superannuation planning issues or arrangements that the ATO … Continue reading »
The past week has seen legislation finalised regarding SMSFs requiring assets to be valued to their “market value” each income year, plus the release of valuation guidelines for SMSFs by the Australian Taxation Office. The Stronger Super reforms originally recommended these changes to value assets to their “net market value” to better reflect the member’s … Continue reading »
While the terms “sugar daddy” and “cougar” can conjure up images of Hugh Hefner, Anna Nicole-Smith, Geoffrey Edelsten or Demi Moore (even Stifler’s mom for the American Pie fans!!), there are plenty of real life examples of couples that need to plan for, and deal with, their significant age differences in planning for retirement. It … Continue reading »
Many public and private companies nowadays offer employees the ability to participate in their employee share scheme (ESS) providing employees shares, stapled securities or rights (including options) to acquire holdings at a discount as part of their employment benefits. Typically, when these shares or rights are acquired under an ESS, they are acquired at less … Continue reading »
The recent draft regulations issued by Treasury to require SMSF trustees to value assets each year at their net market value (NMV) seems a logical step to ensure members have current and accurate information about their account balances, along with providing more useful and reliable data for comparisons across the superannuation sector. This recommendation, whilst good in … Continue reading »
As we approach the end of the financial year, it is important to focus on the various planning opportunities that are available for members of self-managed super funds. As both trustees and the broader SMSF industry place a greater focus on the quality advice, being able to effectively deliver strategies in the lead up to … Continue reading »
The last month or so has seen the ASX recover strongly after a disastrous start to the new financial year. Whilst we are well short of the ASX highs of mid-2007, we may start to see some further gains with some hopeful news emerging from Europe and other parts of the world. As a result … Continue reading »
The Australian Taxation Office has released their June 2011 quarterly statistics regarding Self-Managed Super Funds. These statistics highlight the growing interest by individuals and professionals towards the SMSF industry. I have outlined below some of the key highlights and analysis from the June 2011 statistics: Net establishments for the June 2011 quarter were 7,402 (7,466 … Continue reading »