SUPERCentral News

The most common use of a power of attorney is the appointment of a principal's spouse or other close relative to deal with the principal's property if the principal becomes of unsound mind. This is the enduring power of attorney. But powers of attorney have wider uses than this.

If you have funds that are still in catch-up mode or are on different deeds, talk to us about our bulk SMSF conversion program. With all your SMSFs on the one set of Governing Rules, your firm gains major risk, time and opportunity cost savings.

The Federal Government has announced that the deeming rates used for the income means test will be reduced given the current very low official interest rate. This reduction in the deeming rates will generally result in an increase in the age pension for individuals currently receiving a part pension, and may allow others who were ineligible for a part pension to now be eligible for a part pension.

The process of probate may seem straightforward, but depending on the complexity of a client's estate plan, along with family dynamics, it is not always easy to navigate. Rely on us as experts to provide you (and your client) with the right guidance. Here we cover some of the frequently asked questions about probate.

A pension having Asset Test Exempt (ATE) status is a wonderful thing - whether the exemption is 100% (pension commenced before 20 September 2004) or 50% (pensions commenced 20 September 2004 and before 20 September 2007).

We are often asked to provide a signed copy of a fund's deed, usually at a time when it is of utmost importance, such as the death of a member or being required by a 3rd party for any number of reasons. Original signed documents can become misplaced or hard to track down as funds move advisers. In order to alleviate these issues, an electronic copy should always be stored.

If you have funds that are still in catch-up mode or are on different deeds, talk to us about our bulk SMSF deed conversion program. This will ensure that your trustees have all the necessary powers to comprehensively and legally administer their funds and remain SIS compliant into the future - safeguarding them against potential legal, tax problems and associated penalties

In the case of Estate of Helen Marsella (aka the "Swanson Superannuation Fund Case") [2019] VSC 65, the Victorian Supreme Court has overturned the trustees' death benefit allocation decision. The Court found that the decision of the SMSF trustees was defective and the Court removed the trustees from their office. Undoubtedly, this decision will be closely read by SMSF advisers and is likely to be a leading case on death benefit allocation decisions.

In this case, the Supreme Court of Queensland was asked to authorise the making of a statutory will for a severely injured child. The child, who is aged 30, has no capacity to make a will due to severe brain injuries arising from medical negligence occurring during birth.

If you have funds that are still in catch-up mode or are on different deeds, talk to us about our bulk SMSF deed conversion program. This will ensure that your trustees have all the necessary powers to comprehensively and legally administer their funds and remain SIS compliant into the future - safeguarding them against potential legal, tax problems and associated penalties.

We are often asked to provide a signed copy of a fund's deed, usually at a time when it is of utmost importance, such as the death of a member or being required by a 3rd party for any number of reasons. Original signed documents can become misplaced or hard to track down as funds move advisers. In order to alleviate these issues, an electronic copy should always be stored.