Six ways Gen X can build retirement savings

Six ways Gen X can build retirement savings

Making the most of your peak earning years . Many Gen X Australians are now in their peak earning years and retirement is not too far away.   While many people in this age group are earning more than ever, not everyone is on track to achieve the level of financial...
Contribution splitting now more valuable

Contribution splitting now more valuable

The introduction of Division 296 has highlighted the value of contribution splitting and increased the usefulness of account equalisation strategies for both lower and higher-balance members, SMSF Alliance principal David Busoli has stated.   . In a communication with...
New to SMSFs? Start preparing for your first SAR lodgment

New to SMSFs? Start preparing for your first SAR lodgment

New SMSFs that are required to lodge a self-managed super fund annual return by 31 October should start preparing now, the ATO said. . The tax office is reminding new trustees that if they have recently set up an SMSF, staying on top of their lodgment and reporting...
ATO’s LRBA data significantly less than industry figures

ATO’s LRBA data significantly less than industry figures

There were nearly four times as many new residential loans written using limited recourse borrowing arrangements in FY2026 than the ATO’s data indicate, and the ban on LRBAs could have a greater impact on housing supply than the government suggests. . New data from...
Adequate retirement savings misjudged

Adequate retirement savings misjudged

Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) research has shown individuals across the country are overestimating how much super they will need in retirement. . The study revealed 42 per cent of Australians believe they need more than $1 million to retire...
Record SMSF growth driven by digital access

Record SMSF growth driven by digital access

Record SMSF growth driven by AI and digital tools, but admin and compliance challenges persist . 48,500 new SMSFs were established in the 12 months to December 2025, the highest annual number on record. Nearly 40% of newly established SMSFs reported using AI based...
The SBSCH will close from 1 July 2026

The SBSCH will close from 1 July 2026

The ATO is warning employers not to use the small business super clearing house (SBSCH) for any further contributions. . The SBSCH closes at 11.59pm on 30 June 2026 and any payments received by it before its closure will be passed on to the relevant employee’s super...
Rules apply to gifting in superannuation

Rules apply to gifting in superannuation

Australia’s age pension gifting rules are again under scrutiny as advisers warn that retirees are increasingly making financial gifts that unintentionally trigger Centrelink deprivation assessments, said Janet Manzanero-Caruana, senior technical services manager for...
Complications of maintaining two cost bases in Div 296

Complications of maintaining two cost bases in Div 296

According to BT technical consultant Matt Manning, the Division 296 cost base reset requires SMSFs to maintain two parallel cost bases indefinitely: one for ordinary capital gains tax and another solely for Division 296 earnings. . “In practice, an SMFS can choose to...