Budget 2026 - the story is only just beginning

Budget 2026 - the story is only just beginning

With the ink now drying on the Federal budget, it seems what most thought was going to be a quiet night for the super sector has in fact opened the door on a number of new issues and concerns. In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, Keeli Cambourne is joined by co-host Aaron Dunn from Smarter SMSF to unpack what the proposed tax reforms mean for SMSFs. Listen as they discuss * Negative gearing and borrowing * CGT changes and investment structure * How trusts and estate planning may be affected * What should trustees and advisers be considering going forward

Why advisers need to move beyond just note-taking with AI

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Marloo co-founder Shak Lala to unpack how AI is moving from note-taking to becoming a true AI partner for financial advisers. Shak explains how AI can materially increase adviser capacity, manage SMSF complexity, lift compliance standards, and improve client experience, while also allowing advisers to consolidate their tech stack and avoid the tedious admin tasks. Tune in to hear: * How AI tools have evolved already to handle a wider range of tasks. * What kind of efficiency gains the early adopters are experiencing. * Where the future of AI in financial advice practices is heading.

What's next for the SMSF sector?

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn explore some of the key developments shaping the SMSF landscape, including whether the Division 296 tax on high‑balance members could lead to a spike in wind‑ups. They also break down how the proposed financial adviser education reforms could create a more flexible pathway and grow the number of advisers in the profession, and take a look at how bankruptcy is being treated for SMSF trustees. Tune in to hear: * Whether the introduction of Div 296 will drive SMSF wind-ups or if any change will be a drop in the bucket. * How the proposed changes to education standards could improve access to SMSF advice. * Why the Federal Court might allow an SMSF trustee to stay on despite bankruptcy.

Government's CSLR push and the Div 296 death tax by stealth

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.

Understanding the performance of SMSFs v APRA funds

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.