Should an approved SMSF auditor be conducting a title search for each title for each year? A new page on the ATO website provides an ATO view that might shock many approved SMSF auditors. However, this view does not shock DBA Lawyers. DBA Lawyers has been aware of it for some time. DBA Lawyers has [read more]
DBA Lawyers has significant experience advising and representing approved SMSF auditors who are being audited by the ATO or who have been referred to ASIC. The ATO has an approach of auditing and reviewing approved SMSF auditors. If the ATO is not satisfied, they may refer the approved SMSF auditor to ASIC. ASIC then has [read more]
When advisers hear the word ‘segregation’ in an SMSF context, they typically think of segregation for tax purposes. Broadly, this type of segregation involves calculating a fund’s exempt current pension income exemption for a financial year under the segregated method, with any capital gains (or losses) in respect of ‘segregated current pension assets’ being disregarded. [read more]
Introduction This article examines the nature of disqualification and what convictions can preclude a person from forever being an SMSF trustee/director. Given the serious consequences of disqualification, it is important to consider the circumstances in which a person may have been automatically, and even unknowingly, disqualified. SMSF members should also consider their children as a [read more]
Overview This articles examine what advice SMSF advisers can and cannot provide without ‘stepping over the line’ especially in providing taxation, financial product or legal advice which they may not be permitted to provide. For example, an adviser providing legal advice or services (eg, preparing an SMSF deed update, binding death benefit nomination (‘BDBN’) or [read more]
Daniel Butler, Director ([email protected]), and Bryce Figot, Special Counsel ([email protected]), DBA Lawyers Many advisers do not foresee the potential flow-on legal consequences from merely providing an investment strategy template to an SMSF client. Indeed, many believe they are merely assisting their client particularly to ensure the SMSF will have the necessary paperwork to survive an [read more]
Daniel Butler, Director ([email protected]), and Bryce Figot, Special Counsel ([email protected]), DBA Lawyers This article provides some background and some key points to SMSF investment strategies. What is an investment strategy? An investment strategy is a plan for making, holding and realising assets consistent with the investment objectives adopted by an SMSF trustee. An investment strategy [read more]
Daniel Butler ([email protected]), Director, DBA Lawyers This article examines who is authorised to provide taxation advice in view of the limitations in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (‘CA’) on advisers relating to who can provide financial product advice. Broadly, there are a number of exemptions in the CA and Corporations Regulations 2001 (Cth) (‘CA Regs’) [read more]
Daniel Butler ([email protected]), Director, DBA Lawyers The Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (‘FASEA’) has finalised the acceptable pathways that advisers can take to meet FASEA’s education standards. We outline below how existing and prospective advisers can meet FASEA’s education standards under the Australian financial services licence (‘AFSL’) regime. Each adviser should consider their own [read more]
This article covers the CPD obligations on licensed advisers and licensees that are covered by the Australian financial services licence (‘AFSL’) regime. [read more]
