The limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA) lending market has undergone a significant shift in recent years, with most first-tier bank lenders withdrawing their LRBA offerings for purchasers of residential property. As a result, several smaller ... Read more

The $1.6 million transfer balance cap (TBC) imposes a limit on the total amount that a fund member can transfer into an exempt (retirement phase) pension. Read more

On May 24 2018, the government first introduced a 12-month superannuation guarantee (SG) amnesty. The relevant Bill failed to pass the Senate and then lapsed when the federal election was called on 11 April 2019. Read more

There were 49,032 divorces granted in 2017, an increase from 46,604 in 2016, and that's not counting de facto relationship breakdowns (ABS, 2017). What usually follows separation or divorce is the splitting of the couple's assets under a family ... Read more

From a legislative development perspective, the Federal Government election result on 18 May 2019 has provided a more stable outlook for financial services professionals, at least over the short term. It is timely then to take stock of the current state ... Read more

At tax time, no SMSF (self-managed super fund) wants a qualified audit. Yet the chance is higher if you hold unlisted assets, particularly unlisted trusts and companies, plus any loans you've made. Read more

The ability to invest directly in real properties (commercial or residential) is often one of the main reasons that clients decide to establish a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF). The possibility of leasing a business real property (BRP) to the ... Read more

Superannuation rollovers are one of the most frequently recommended strategies by advisers. However, care should be exercised when implementing rollover strategies, particularly for clients who have life or total and permanent disablement (TPD) insurances ... Read more

In May 2019 APRA released an Information Paper on the findings arising from self-assessments of governance, accountability and culture. Read more

Last year almost two-thirds of superannuation contributions received by APRA-regulated funds were paid back out to members as benefits. This shift from 'stash' to 'splash' has significant ramifications for how superannuation funds define their missi ... Read more