It was great to see some of you at the SMSF Association National Conference on the Gold Coast. If you were there, I think you’ll agree that the conference had a real buzz this year.

The SMSF sector had its 20th birthday this year so it’s opportune to look back and reflect on what has happened since. - Originally published in "Financial Standard"

Australia's compulsory superannuation system celebrates its 30th birthday next year and there is no clear alignment within our community on what we expect from our retirement income system and its three redoubtable pillars.

Annual Returns for SMSFs established in 2018/19 must be lodged by 28 February 2020. If the fund had never operated and had no assets at 30 June 2019, must it still lodge a return?

To me, February is always about the SMSF Association National Conference and Heffron will be there in force this year. Lyn Formica, Leigh Mansell and I will all be speaking and we hope to see you at our sessions.

Preserved superannuation benefits may only be accessed in lump sum form once members turn 65 or reach their preservation age and retire. In times of financial distress, members may be able to bypass these rules and access their super “early”.

In times of fire, flood, cyclone etc, an SMSF trustee sometimes loses critical fund records. We explain what to do if an original of the deed cannot be found.

One of the risks of investing in property is the asset’s vulnerability to damage, with the potential to impact both rental income and capital returns. We explain what you need to watch out for.

The recent bushfires across Australia have impacted thousands. For those clients who’ve not been impacted and would like to help others less fortunate, can their SMSF play a role?

December is not usually a time when many of us in the superannuation industry worry an awful lot about the exact timing of a contribution. But last December, the ATO was thinking about it. - Originally published in SMS Magazine in December 2019.

My client died and her superannuation benefits were paid from her SMSF to her estate. Who is liable to deduct Pay As You Go Withholding and lodge a Payment Summary – the SMSF or the estate?

A key change introduced in the major 2017 amendments was a new ability to rollover death benefits. But a gap in the legislation made this unworkable for some. A legislative fix was finally tabled in parliament in the final sitting days of 2019.