Insync drew attention to the latest ATO figures for September 2013, which show direct overseas shares account for only 0.4 per cent of total SMSF assets, with the rest dominated by Australian shares, cash and term deposits and direct investment property.

Insync head of research Marcus Tuck said Australian investors are missing out on the portfolio variation that international companies can provide.

“Most local investors are missing out on diversification into world class companies in sectors that are under-represented on the Australian share market, such as technology, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, consumer brands, aerospace and luxury goods,” he said.

“Many of those global companies have impressive track records of compounding earnings and dividends at a rate and consistency that would be difficult for all but a handful of Australian companies to achieve.”