As the end of the financial year approaches, SMSF professionals are gearing up to navigate the complexities of superannuation contributions and tax planning. In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, industry stalwart Liam Shorte, director of Sonas Wealth, explains the essential areas that advisers and accountants should address in the next three weeks to optimise super strategies for their clients.

Managing clients’ total super balance (TSB) effectively is right at the top of the list, with Shorte explaining the importance of having accurate information and why it’s not always a good idea to maximise unused contribution caps if there are any uncertainties around the exact figures.

Listen as they discuss:

• How to access accurate superannuation data through the ATO.
• How to ensure that 2024 financials are reported promptly.
• Contribution strategies for different age cohorts and how they can benefit future planning.
• The increasing problem of debt for those approaching 60.
• Extension of tax planning to age 75.

In this week’s episode of Relative Return Insider, AMP chief economist Shane Oliver joins the show to unpack Australia’s underwhelming March quarter GDP figures and what they signal for the Reserve Bank’s next move.

With quarterly growth slowing to just 0.2 per cent, Oliver also explores whether interest rates remain too high and why a rate cut may arrive sooner than expected, as well as whether the increasing minimum wage could have an impact on monetary policy.

Tune in to hear:

• About the RBA's balancing act amid weak investment and global uncertainty.
• Why Trump’s tariff threats, the TACO trade, and US debt could rattle markets.
• Whether too much data is clouding projections.

On this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Hugh Robertson, chief executive of Centaur Financial Services, to explore the challenges that come with market volatility and how advisers can really show their value in these times.

Although many clients will feel the need to adjust their investments as changes occur, Robertson believes that timing the market simply doesn’t work, highlighting the importance of discipline and sticking to long-term strategies while still remaining adaptable.

Listen as they discuss:

• Why it’s important for advisers to stay flexible in challenging markets.
• How Division 296 could do more harm in the long run.
• Using diversification to ride out unexpected market shifts.

The latest episode of Relative Return sees host Laura Dew chat with Brian Jones, founder of outsourcing company VA Platinum, on why choosing to outsource certain functions of your business can enable you to be efficient and productive.

Listen as they discuss:

• Whether outsourcing is right for you and your business.
• What factors to consider when seeking a provider.
• Ensuring data is kept securely.
• Building relationships with outsourced staff.
• How outsourcing can help you scale up your business.

In this episode of Relative Return Insider, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford are joined by Money Management editor Laura Dew to discuss learnings from JP Morgan’s recent conference in London, and what top fund managers and analysts see driving market behaviour.

We also breakdown the Coalition’s shadow ministry announcement and what these political moves mean for advisers and industry regulation, how the opposition will deal with the diminished ranks following heavy election losses, and what impact the lack of economics experience will have going forward.

Listen as they discuss:

• The rise of active ETFs from fixed income to uranium.
• What international trends mean for Australian markets.
• How US President Donald Trump’s policies are still reverberating across markets.

This week on The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Adele Martin, founder of Financial Adviser Scale Squad, who speaks about the value of collaboration within the financial services sector and how this can help advisers grow and improve their businesses.

Ahead of presenting at the AI Summit in June, Martin explains how advisers can use AI in their practices to not only help them be more efficient but also in training the next generation of advisers.

Listen as they discuss:

• Why advisers should be doing more than looking for referral partners.
• The role of technology in enhancing advisers’ service offering.
• How hosting workshops can help strengthen both client and partner relationships.

In this episode of Relative Return, host Laura Dew chats with Zahid Kassam, portfolio manager at MFS Investment Management, to unpack the intricacies of contrarian investing and how financial advisers can uncover hidden gems.

Listen as they discuss:

• Kassam’s own journey to becoming a contrarian investor.
• Why volatility is a contrarian’s friend.
• The differences between contrarian and value investing.
• The opportunities present in the European market.
• The role of a contrarian fund in a financial adviser’s portfolio.

The $3 million super tax has been headline news around the country over the past couple of weeks and has finally made the front pages of the mainstream media. In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn highlight a critical aspect of the debate that has captured the media’s attention: the difference between the perception and the reality of the implications of the Division 296 tax.

Listen as they discuss:

• The misconceptions and a lack of understanding about the legislation's nuances.
• The political dynamics surrounding Div 296 and its complexities.
• The broader implications of Div 296, particularly its potential impact on estate planning and family businesses.
• The need for advisers to play a crucial role in guiding clients through the complexities of the new tax laws.