The SMSF Adviser Show

Hosted by Prime Creative Media

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Episodes

187

Latest episode

Nov 2026

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About the show

The SMSF Adviser Show features insights from the leading experts in the SMSF industry and explores the biggest themes shaping the SMSF landscape today. Join us as we dive into the latest headlines and developments in the industry.

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60 recent

November 10, 202630 min

Commercial property and SMSFs: navigating the opportunities and risks

Bluestone's Richard Chesworth joins this special episode of the SMSF Adviser Show to discuss how trustees and their advisers can assess commercial property lending, manage liquidity and plan for retirement. Richard joins Marius Mariton to explore the shift in attention towards commercial property following changes to residential borrowing in super, and why it isn't simply a like-for-like alternative. Listen as they discuss the potential of business real property, the importance of suitable advice and the practical risks trustees should consider. Key points include: Why commercial property's tenant and vacancy risks call for careful planning. How liquidity can help a fund meet loan costs, maintenance and future pension payments. The role of accountants, financial advisers and brokers in building an appropriate strategy. Why arm's-length terms matter when a business leases property from an SMSF. How diversification and loan structure can support a fund's cash flow and long-term needs.

October 27, 202641 min

Going on the defensive - assets and alternative structures

Vincent Strangers, Head of Product at Generation Life, joins Keeli Cambourne and Aaron Dunn on this week's episode of the SMSF Adviser Show to discuss how advisers can think about defensive assets alongside the structures used to hold them. The conversation covers the tax treatment of income-producing assets, the considerations raised by Division 296 and superannuation balance thresholds, and the role of investment bonds, trusts and super in tax and estate planning. Vincent emphasizes starting well ahead of deadlines, reviewing clients' circumstances regularly, and balancing tax efficiency with cash-flow needs and simplicity. The discussion also highlights the value of planning how wealth will be passed on to beneficiaries. Listen as they discuss: Why the ownership structure or "tax wrapper " matters as much as choosing defensive investments. How super, investment bonds and trusts may differ in tax treatment and estate-planning flexibility. The planning challenges advisers and clients face around Division 296, balance thresholds and tax liabilities. Why early planning and simpler arrangements can help manage complexity and support wealth transfers.

October 13, 202641 min

Div 296 has moved beyond just being a tax issue

Division 296 isn't really a tax story. It's now an estate-planning and family wealth transfer story that happens to involve tax. In this week's episode of the SMSF Adviser Show podcast hosts Keeli Cambourne and Aaron Dunn from Smarter SMSF, speak with Neal Dallas, director of Business Depot Legal about the challenges that are now arising with death benefit nominations and wealth transfer. Listen as they discuss: · whether reducing a member's balance to $3m or $10m actually produces the best overall family outcome once tax, transaction costs, ownership and succession are considered; · how the first death can move the surviving spouse into Division 296 territory; · the potential mismatch where one person receives the superannuation benefit but the deceased estate has to deal with a later tax liability; · why post-death transactions inside an SMSF can still affect the Division 296 outcome; · why established estate-planning strategies, including spouse balance equalisation, BDBNs, EPA powers, pension structuring, recontributions and pre-death withdrawals, remain relevant but may now need to be remodelled.

October 1, 202638 min

The expanding ETF Toolkit: how advisers can build smarter SMSF portfolios

In this special edition of the SMSF Adviser Show podcast, Olivia Grace-Curran and Mark Jocum explore the expanding ETF landscape and what it means for advisers building SMSF portfolios. From core holdings to targeted allocations, they discuss how ETFs are becoming increasingly sophisticated portfolio tools. The conversation covers the rise of factor investing, thematic strategies, income-focused ETFs and the role of Growth at a Reasonable Price (GARP) approaches in balancing growth opportunities with valuation discipline. Listen as they discuss: How the role of ETFs in SMSF portfolios has changed over the past decade Why ETFs are becoming broader portfolio construction tools beyond low-cost market exposure The role of GARP strategies and rules-based investing in diversified portfolios How advisers are using ETFs for income, commodities, thematics and targeted exposures The importance of understanding the purpose each ETF serves within a portfolio How advisers can think about building more resilient SMSF portfolios using ETFs Key ETF trends shaping the future of portfolio construction

September 29, 202646 min

The future's so bright . . . what will SMSF world look like in five years?

There has been continued and exponential growth in the SMSF sector over the past few years, borne out by the data collected each year by Class. This year's Benchmark Report once again highlighted just how fast the sector is growing and where that is occuring. In this week's episode of the SMSF Adviser Show podcast, hosts Aaron Dunn from Smarter SMSF, and Keeli Cambourne talk with Tim Steele, Class CEO, about the latest data in the Benchmark Report and extrapolate what this means for the sector now, and what it could mean over the next few years. Listen as they discuss: The continuing growth in SMSF establishment and reasons as to why it is accelerating; New data indicating that SMSFs are becoming the choice in superannuation as indicated by the increase in outflows from APRA-regulated funds; The impact of the LRBA ban on residential property and what it means in the big picture of Australia's housing crisis; The increasing role of technology and AI in the SMSF space; How APRA funds may respond to the increased uptake of SMSFs

September 18, 202648 min

SMSF Adviser Show – Bluestone Property investment and the way forward

Changes to the borrowing regulations for SMSFs have seen many trustees and advisers rethinking their investment strategies. In this special episode of the SMSF Adviser Show, host Olivia Grace-Curran speaks with Richard Chesworth from Bluestone Home Loans about what the changes mean for SMSFs, and opportunities that now exist in the market for SMSFs still looking towards property as a wealth building vehicle. In this special edition of the SMSF Adviser Show podcast Olivia Grace-Curran and Richard Chesworth, Head of Specialised Distribution at Bluestone Home Loans, discuss the recent regulatory developments in property investment, including changes affecting residential property borrowing through limited recourse borrowing arrangements. The changes have raised questions for trustees and advisers about the future of SMSF property investment, where opportunities may now lie, and the role that specialist lenders will play going forward. Listen as they discuss Where the industry now finds itself in regard to borrowing following the regulatory and tax changes The shift in how SMSFs now approach property investment Risks that may exist in the SMSF lending market following the changes What trustees and advisers need to understand about the current SMSF borrowing environment Opportunities that exist for SMSFs in commercial property investment The broader market impacts that could flow from reduced participation from SMSF investors The key differences between specialist SMSF lending and traditional residential lending

September 15, 202648 min

Audits, AI and everything in between

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show podcast, hosts Keeli Cambourne and Aaron Dunn, CEO of Smarter SMSF, are joined by Jo Hurley, Head of Technical at ASF Audits, to look into what is happening in the audit space. Following the SMSF Association Audit day and information from the ATO, this episode delves into the challenges now facing the SMSF audit sector in light of regulatory changes, and what to expect going forward. Listen as they discuss Market valuations as their increasing importance Auditor education and expectations ATO compliance and focus AI and the challenges facing the sector

September 1, 202643 min

The learning curve of the SMSF trustee education reforms

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser Show podcast hosts Keeli Cambourne and Aaron Dunn from Smarter SMSF, talk with Natasha Panagis, senior SMSF specialist for Heffron, to unpack the reforms announced last month in regard to SMSF trustee education, investment strategies and what it will mean for advisers going forward. Listen as they discuss: Mandatory education for new SMSF trustees What it may look like and how it will be assessed Investment strategy documentation Challenges facing advisers and trustees moving forward

August 18, 202641 min

Advice reforms and trust issues hit the sector again

Advice reforms are at the top of the agenda as the sector tries to navigate the fallout of First Guardian and Shield. In this week's episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keeli Cambourne and Aaron Dunn from Smarter SMSF, consider what may be on the card following the announcement from Financial Service Minister, Daniel Mulino. Peter Crump from BDO joins the show to unpack the challenges and nuances of exiting an SMSF after family/business breakdown, or incapacity. Listen as they discuss The importance of addressing exit strategies Family dynamics and pressures in estate planning Succession planning for business partnerships and SMSFs How life experience in advice plays a vital role

July 30, 202640 min

The past, the present and the future

In this special episode of the SMSF Adviser Show podcast hosts Keeli Cambourne and Aaron Dunn, CEO of Smarter SMSF, talk with Peter Burgess, CEO of the SMSF Association following his keynote address at the SMSF Association Technical Summit 2026 in Sydney. Listen as they discuss The changes and ramifications of the legislative changes in the past 12 months The challenges the industry has overcome The current state of play for the sector Advocacy work done and being done What the future state of play may look like