There has been significant movement in the digital advice space over the past decade. As the industry accelerates its efforts to address the undersupply of financial advice, digital solutions are essential to meet the demands of Australia’s 12.9 million financial advice beneficiaries.

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, host Keith Ford talks to David Barrett, an independent consultant with a wealth of experience in the industry, to delve into the evolving landscape of digital advice for SMSFs.

Barrett highlights a recent partnership between a digital advice provider and a major institution, showcasing the industry’s progress. While the initial iterations of digital advice have been simplistic, they have laid the groundwork for more complex solutions in the future. However, when faced with complex scenarios such as defined benefit schemes, digital advice may still require human intervention.

Listen as they discuss:

• The role of digital advice in SMSFs.
• Challenges and drawbacks of digital advice.
• Legislative agenda and future considerations.

In the first episode of the SMSF Adviser Show for 2025, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn take a look at the hot topics that will impact the SMSF space in the new year.

The pair discuss the upcoming federal election, which is set to dominate the outlook for the first half of the year, as a range of measures related to SMSF advice hang in the balance and are unlikely to be decided until the polls are closed.

Listen as they discuss:

• Why litigation over estate benefits is expected to continue to grow.
• How a strong focus on retirement outcomes will take centrestage in 2025.
• The possibility of accountants being given a larger role in providing financial advice.

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by Tim Miller, SMSF technical and education manager at Smarter SMSF, to break down an early Christmas present for the SMSF sector – the introduction of regulations on legacy retirement product commutations and reserves.

Miller explains why there was a need for these regulations to be put in place and who is set to benefit from legacy pension changes, the important dates for the measures, and considerations for both SMSF members and their advisers when deciding if exiting a pension is the right decision.

The podcast also takes a look back on a big year for SMSF professionals. Even though the Division 296 changes never got across the line, there were changes to the stage 3 tax cuts, the objective of super was legislated, and the government raised the ire of accountants with some ill-advised changes to the code of professional conduct for tax practitioners – and much more.

Listen as they discuss:

• How the SMSF sector was impacted by the biggest events of 2024.
• The key areas covered on the SMSF Adviser Show over the year that was.
• Why a number of these important issues are going to still be on the agenda in 2025.