Throughout the conference, industry experts will provide updates on critical regulatory and legislative changes while exploring the intricacies of tailored strategies so that SMSF advisers, trustees, and other industry professionals can navigate the complex landscape with confidence and guide their clients with success.

After a year marked by volatile economic activity and significant changes to tax policy, this year’s jam-packed agenda is filled with technical and in-depth discussions covering SMSF compliance, investment strategies, tax and estate planning, as well as retirement planning.

Regulatory and legislative changes

The strategy day will begin with a session by Smarter SMSF CEO and co-founder Aaron Dunn on recent legislative and regulatory updates impacting SMSFs, how they may impact clients, and the advice provided by SMSF advisers.

Dunn will also dive into recent ATO regulatory issues including public rulings, decision impact statements, and analysis of recent private binding rulings, and recent case law that has impacted the SMSF sector, including with non-arm’s length income, and super death benefits.

Following this, Linda Bruce, senior technical services manager at Colonial First State, will address how to navigate the $3 million super tax legislation, a proposal that could have significant ramifications for clients if implemented.

Scott will present a dynamic session on what assets can and cannot be held within super to mitigate tax implications and the issues around asset valuation under the new tax regime, including how the timing and methods of asset valuation could play a pivotal role in determining the tax component.

In the next session, DBA Lawyers’ director Daniel Butler will explain the non-arm’s length income (NALI) government changes, its impact on general and specific expenses that invoked NALI, how NALI could taint both ordinary income and capital gains with an SMSF, and the steps practitioners would need to take to comply with the new requirements should they become law.

Legal considerations

Death benefits and payout strategies will also be in focus at this year’s technical strategy day, with Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers’ partner Scott Hay-Bartlem delving into the legal, practical, and interpersonal considerations surrounding death benefits, trust deeds, and the complexities arising from family dynamics.

He will detail the importance of trust deeds and aligning with legislative requirements to pay a superannuation death benefit, recent case law to understand the court’s views concerning paying super death benefits, and the validity of death benefit binding nominations (BDBNs), and practical considerations with existing older SMSF clients in dealing with fund succession.

Contribution planning

Smarter SMSF technical and education manager Tim Miller will explore how changes in contribution caps and adjustments to marginal tax rates as part of the stage 3 tax cuts could open doors for advisers to work closely with their clients around contribution planning in 2024–25 and beyond.

Miller will unpack strategies around concessional contributions (including the use of carry forward unused amounts), how indexation of the caps could impact the timing of contributions with SMSF clients, and maximising opportunities for clients through to age 75.

Hayley Mitchell, partner at Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers, will detail how SMSFs could be integrated into the retirement income covenant (RIC), the advantages, complexities, and regulatory considerations that could arise from this, and the role of the ATO in guiding trustees.

In the final session, Advisers Digest founder Peter Johnson will unpack the strategies tailored for clients aged 70 and above. He will cover the impact of the latest policy proposals on this demographic and how it could be managed.

Johnson will also provide strategies for structuring pension payments to optimise outcomes and maximise retirement income, tax planning strategies aimed at minimising tax obligations for future beneficiaries while ensuring regulatory compliance, and capital gains tax concessions related to selling a small business.

Mena Theodorou, co-founder and head of product at Coinstash, said partnering with this conference was a natural fit for the company as it provides a platform to share expertise and SMSF offerings to an engaged audience of SMSF professionals and advisers.

“Our goal is to make cryptocurrency investment more accessible and streamlined for SMSFs, reducing the administrative burden for trustees, their advisors, and service providers across the industry,” he said.

“This event attracts a wide range of practitioners and service providers. We’re excited to contribute to a forum known for its quality content and strong industry impact in an evolving and complex regulatory and product landscape.

“By partnering with SMSF Adviser, we’re able to bring real value to the table, offering insights that help SMSFs navigate the complexities of the digital asset landscape with confidence."

Throughout the day, attendees can network with technical and legal experts and other industry leaders and professionals.

The SMSF Adviser Technical Strategy Day 2024 will be held in the following locations:

• Tuesday, 15 October at Blackbird, Brisbane.
• Tuesday, 22 October at Rydges, Melbourne.
• Thursday, 24 October at Shangri-La, Sydney.

Click here to book your tickets and make sure you don’t miss out!

For more information, including agenda and speakers, click here.

This conference is produced by Captivate Events. If you need help planning your next event, email director Jim Hall at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.