In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn unpack the proposals that would see SMSFs included in funding the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR) and why the approach to Division 296 post-death earnings attribution is a fraught proposition.

A flurry of consultations flowed this week as the government seeks to address the fallout from the Shield and First Guardian collapses, with the exploding cost of compensation now putting pressure on the government to find new areas to cover the costs and SMSFs are firmly in the conversation.

Tune in to hear:

Whether there is any reasonable basis for including SMSFs in funding the scheme.

Why the draft Div 296 regulations on post‑death earnings attribution are a death tax by stealth.

What else is in the early responses to the draft regs.

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by SMSF Association CEO Peter Burgess and Adelaide University's Dr George Mihaylov to break down new research that compares the performance of SMSFs to that of APRA funds.

By applying the same methodology used for APRA funds to a dataset covering more than 400,000 SMSFs, the study delivers a more accurate, "apples with apples" view of sector performance, underscoring the role of advice and diversification in outcomes.

Tune in to hear:

• How investment performance of SMSFs and APRA funds stack up.
• Why there is a much larger variance in performance among SMSFs.
• The benefits that advisers are able to deliver, particularly for low-performing funds.

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn sit down with Andrew Inwood, global CEO of CoreData, to explore how SMSFs are evolving and the structural shift from accumulation to decumulation.

Inwood explains that SMSFs are moving into a "next wave" of growth and maturity, with technology, changing member expectations, and an enormous looming intergenerational wealth transfer all reshaping the sector.

Tune in to hear:

• Why younger, wealthier cohorts are increasingly starting SMSFs.
• The central role SMSFs will play in how capital is managed and deployed.
• Why the industry needs to articulate a clear, positive narrative about SMSFs' role in delivering better retirement and intergenerational outcomes.

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Robert Talevski, CEO of Webull Securities Australia, to explore how technology and global markets are reshaping advice and SMSF investing.

Talevski argues that if trustees and advisers go to the effort of running a self‑managed fund, they should be thinking beyond simple passive exposures, while still respecting client risk profiles, retirement horizons and the extra admin burden inside super.

Tune in to hear:

• Why the bigger opportunity may sit with companies using AI rather than building it.
• How ETF use is evolving toward active, thematic and outcome‑focused products.
• The value of advisers looking offshore for opportunities and global diversification.

In the second episode of the SMSF Adviser Show's special SMSF Association National Conference editions, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by three more industry experts in Adelaide.

SMSF Association policy manager Keddie Waller joins the show to break down a range of superannuation reforms that are impacting the SMSF landscape, including the AML/CTF changes that are on the horizon.

Then Tony Negline from Chartered Accountants ANZ explains why payday super is going to cause a lot more headaches then many professionals expect, as well as what businesses need to do to get ready for the 1 July start date.

Finally, Dr Evan Morrison from HUB24's Innovation Lab takes us through the ways that artificial intelligence is reshaping professional practice and where the new frontier of agentic AI is heading.

In this special episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by a selection of prominent industry members at the SMSF Association National Conference in Adelaide.

In part one, SMSF Association chief executive Peter Burgess joins the show to talk about where the SMSF sector is heading, how it's growing, and the major issues impacting professionals.

Then Class CEO Tim Steele and Financial Services Council CEO Blake Briggs chat about the thought leadership breakfast on the first day of the conference, why many SMSF members are not receiving advice, and how to get more advice to these members.

There has already been a flurry of activity within the SMSF sector in the first month of the year and keeping on top of all the upcoming changes is set to be a challenge.

On this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn look at the key themes shaping the SMSF advice industry from the new draft of the Division 296 legislation, to contribution cap changes, the impact of inflation on superannuation and how the latest RBA rate hike will impact superannuation.

Listen as they discuss:

• Impact of Division 296 and contribution cap changes.
• Inflation and transfer balance cap adjustments.
• The need for SMSF practitioners to be on top of the reporting of the self-managed fund.
• Superannuation and the victims of crime bill.
• The RBA rate decision and future legislative changes.

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn dissect the draft Division 296 legislation with SMSF Association CEO Peter Burgess, including the fresh challenges around equity, complexity and "system neutrality" between SMSFs and large APRA funds.

Breaking down the association's submission to the draft legislation consultation, Burgess stresses that while the sector "won the battle" on unrealised gains, the new fight is ensuring that realised earnings allocated to in‑scope members are fair and transparent, especially given the different calculation methods across fund types.

Tune in to hear:

• Why the TSB integrity measure is a red flag for the SMSFA.
• How the issues that remain in the draft legislation can be fixed.
• When to expect the bill to enter Parliament.

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn take a look back at the biggest events in the SMSF space for 2025, from the federal election and Division 296 uncertainty to tighter regulatory scrutiny across the sector and the ramifications of pension errors.

They also break down concerns that the government may look to drag SMSFs into the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort, including how exactly it could be achieved and whether it makes any sense at all.

Listen as they discuss

• How the Div 296 changes are setting up a Groundhog Day for EOFY
• Whether new draft legislation will actually be seen before Christmas
• Where SMSFs are heading in 2026
• How the CSLR could impact the SMSF sector

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn unpack the unresolved details of Division 296, including how the shift to taxing realised gains may affect high-balance SMSF members, particularly in the year of death. They discuss why "hold-until-you-die" strategies are unlikely to be practical due to pension and liquidity pressures.

They also delve into the government's new Digital Assets Framework Bill, which brings crypto platforms into the AFSL regime to improve consumer protection – an important shift given SMSFs' strong involvement in digital assets.

Listen as they discuss:

• Div 296 uncertainty and end-of-year legislative timing
• Strategy concerns for high-balance SMSF members
• Financial abuse risk within SMSFs
• Role of advisers and practical vigilance