It’s the start of a new financial year, but there are still many uncertainties in the SMSF world. In the latest episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn discuss the implications of the upcoming Division 296 legislation, which is set to impact individuals with superannuation balances over $3 million.

As the new financial year kicks off, there is a raft of other topics that SMSF professionals need to pay attention to and plan for the year ahead, and Aaron breaks down all of the areas that deserve a closer look.

Listen as they discuss:

• How a lack of certainty is impacting the sector.
• The continued pushback from a growing cohort of industry bodies.
• The rise in SG and its effect on contribution strategies.
• Timely reviews needed now of investment strategies and estate planning.

In this week’s episode of Relative Return Insider, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford break down the flurry of activity and announcements since the calendar ticked over to FY2025–26, from ASIC action to super fund results.

Tariff mayhem and swirling volatility in global markets had the prospect of strong super fund returns in doubt just a few months ago, but surging equity markets, high-performing real assets, and strategic portfolio management have helped steady the ship and deliver strong financial year performance.

Tune in to hear:

• The latest on ASIC’s recent activities and its industry funding levy estimate.
• How geopolitical events and market volatility have impacted returns.
• What the funds that have reported so far have to say about diversification, active management, and global positioning strategies.
• Whether CBA’s impressive performance is set to continue or if it will fall back to earth.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by James O’Reilly, financial planner and director of Northeast Wealth, to delve into why advice practices should be conducting an internal review at the end of the financial year, arguing that this is a great time to look at what can be done better.

Efficiency has been a particularly hot topic over the last 12 months and with this in mind, O’Reilly explains that now is a great time to look at where the bottlenecks and pinch points in your advice process might be and make a plan on how to improve them.

Listen as they discuss:

• Why the ATO Portal access is so important for advisers.
• What businesses should be doing to maximise marketing effectiveness.
• How overall team wellbeing can impact the workplace.

In this week’s episode of Relative Return Insider, AMP chief economist Shane Oliver joins the show to explore the major global and domestic forces shaping investment markets in 2025, from ongoing geopolitical tensions and the NATO summit to US President Donald Trump’s trade policy and the One Big Beautiful Bill.

Conflict in the Middle East has had little impact on markets, with much of the focus settling on potential disruptions to oil production that have so far not eventuated. Oliver explains what the flow-on effects of stronger defence spending commitments from NATO nations could be, as well as what to expect from tax policy changes in the US.

Tune in to hear:

• Why section 899 of the One Big Beautiful Bill is causing consternation.
• Whether the better-than-expected inflation data has put another rate cut on the cards.
• How the softer US dollar could impact investment.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Nicole Gardner, founder and financial adviser at Stellar Wealth, to explore how clients react to times of turmoil and whether global events should change investment plans or even their ethical considerations.

As tensions in the Middle East continue to simmer in a very public manner, Gardner explains that clients are now left considering how they feel about the potential of profiting from conflict against their desire for higher investment returns.

Listen as they discuss:

• Why the markets aren’t really reacting to the Israel–Iran conflict.
• How a reliance on passive investing can limit advisers’ flexibility during market upheaval.
• The possible opportunities in volatility.

With just two weeks remaining until the financial year wraps up, getting an SMSF ready for tax time involves ensuring there is a smooth audit process.

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by well-known industry auditor Deanne Firth, director of Tactical Super.

Firth offers some valuable insights and timely reminders for SMSF trustees and auditors to prioritise compliance and leverage available resources to streamline their processes.

Listen as they discuss:

• Obtaining the necessary evidence for valuations, especially concerning private and unlisted companies.
• The timing of audits and the importance of proactive engagement with clients.
• The challenges with valuing unlisted assets, particularly private companies with unique business models.
• The complexities of SMSFs investing in start-up ventures.
• Loans within SMSFs.
• Technology and AI in the SMSF sector.

In this week’s episode of Relative Return Insider, Professor Robert Brooks of Monash Business School joins the show to unpack the economic and market implications of rising tensions between Israel and Iran.

Against a backdrop of military strikes and disrupted supply chains, Professor Brooks explains how the oil and gas markets have responded, why prices have surged, and the role the Strait of Hormuz could play if tensions intensify.

Tune in to hear:

• Why the crisis has created both short-term supply disruption and long-term risk premium in oil and gas markets.
• How the RBA and other central banks will determine if headline price shocks could spill into core inflation.
• Why financial markets have remained relatively subdued despite the conflict.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Natallia Smith, the director and principal financial adviser of TruWealth Advice, to explore how ethics have shaped her firm at a foundational level and the benefits of self-licensing in giving her control to make business decisions grounded in ethical practices.

Touching on a hot topic for the profession, Smith shares her views on advice charging models, explaining why she believes fixed dollar-based fees are more ethical than asset-based fees.

Listen as they discuss:

• Why the separation of product and service is so important in financial advice.
• The need for more female representation within the profession.
• How ethics impacted her decision to develop a niche client base.