Regardless of the size of your superannuation benefits, it is vital that you sort out your estate plans to ensure that you have a well prepared estate plan so that the right assets go to the right beneficiaries. You need to make sure that you get holistic estate planning advice and have arrangements in place to review your estate plans regularly. Estate plans are not to be set and forgotten.
From all of us at Stellar, and Tribe Group, we wish you had a Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year.
As an SMSF trustee, you need to take special care when paying death benefits as you are responsible to ensure that the payment rules are met. Strict rules apply, affecting who can receive a death benefit, the form in which the death benefit can be paid and the timing of such a payment.
Graduating from The University of Adelaide, for the second time, with the Graduate Certificate of SMSF is an accomplishment that I am proud of.
I was first made aware of the Professional Certificate of SMSF whilst attending the SMSF Association’s Annual National Conference several 
years ago. The idea of having further education that was specific to my industry was incredibly interesting, particularly in how beneficial it would potentially be for me to grow as an Industry Professional.
The ATO will be writing to SMSFs that have all their retirement savings tied up in CryptoCurrency and Property. This is an interesting article from the Australian.
Brooke Hepburn-Rogers has been named a finalist in the Women in Finance Awards for Accountant of the Year.
The Coalition Government has been re-elected in the 2019 Federal Election, with a small majority of seats in the House of Representatives, after taking a policy of stability for superannuation to the election.
In February this year, the Government passed legislation which prevents trustees of APRA-regulated funds from providing insurance to members with inactive superannuation accounts, unless a member has directed otherwise.
It is a common practice for many individuals with an SMSF to also have a secondary APRA-regulated fund which provides them with insurance.
A surplus election budget is the news coming out of the 2019-20 Federal Budget. With superannuation left largely untouched, the Government focused on further personal income tax cuts.
However, three key announcements include providing more flexibility for individuals to contribute at ages 65 and 66, the ability to choose their preferred exempt income tax method and increased funding for electronic super rollovers are welcomed.
This Federal Budget will provide much-needed stability and flexibility for SMSF members while looking to reduce red tape.
We have had success in transferring UK pensions over to an Australian self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF).
There is now an age restriction of 55+ for the members of an SMSF who would like to transfer their pension from the UK, and a deed upgrade will need to occur, however we do see a large increase of Australians working in the UK and having pension scheme balances, that used to feel ‘lost’ upon returning to Australia.
If this is something that you think you could benefit from or would like further information, please contact our office.
