In this week’s episode of Relative Return Insider, hosts Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and Keith Ford take a final look at the lay of the land ahead of the federal election as the latest polls predict a Labor victory, and what that could mean for Australians going forward.

YouGov has projected Labor as securing an outright majority when the polls close on Saturday, which would be a considerable turnaround from the situation just a few months ago. The Coalition has sought to claw back into the race with the release of its election costings, but with millions already voting early, it might be too late.

Tune in to hear:

• Why Trump-lite tactics may have backfired on Dutton.
• What the S&P Global warning that Australia’s AAA credit rating may be at risk means for government budgeting.
• Whether a minority government is still in sight.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Dr Ben Neilson, financial adviser at Complete Wealth, to unpack how ongoing volatility in investment markets are affecting clients and how different cohorts are reacting.

As tariff announcements have caused a roller-coaster on stock markets, it is hard to blame clients for fretting. According to Nielson, the best way to manage concerned clients is to reach out proactively and ensure they know their adviser is in it with them.

Listen as they discuss:

• Demystifying the broader implications of market volatility for clients.
• The difference a few days can make in periods of rapid change.
• How to use unpredictable events as a tool to shift clients’ mindset.

In this episode of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn discuss the issues that may affect super and the policy positions of the two major parties.

Tax reform has been the elephant in the room during the federal election campaign, but there has been some mention of the Division 296 tax by the opposition, which has also made commitments regarding advice reforms and adviser numbers.

This podcast covers some of the big-ticket items concerning the advice and super sectors, including:

• Bargaining by the Greens to reduce the super tax threshold to $2 million and its impact on the transfer balance cap.
• Reforms to the CSLR.
• Increasing adviser numbers.
• Housing policies and tax implications.

In this week’s special edition of Relative Return Insider, we bring you outgoing Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones’ keynote address from Momentum Media’s Election 2025 event, followed by a Q&A focused on the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes reforms.

In what may be his final appearance before an advice audience, Jones reflects on his three-year tenure and outlines Labor’s unfinished business in financial advice – and what a returned government would aim to complete.

Tune in to hear:

• How changes to education standards could revive adviser numbers.
• Updates on the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort.
• The role of new advisers in closing the advice gap for retiring Australians.
• Why Jones believes just six more months could’ve made all the difference.

In this week’s special episode of The ifa Show, we present outgoing Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones’ address at Momentum Media’s Election 2025 event, followed by a Q&A covering the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes reforms.

In what was possibly his last address in front of an advice audience ahead of his retirement from politics, Jones outlines what he achieved over his three years in the role and how the Labor government plans to deliver on what he couldn’t if they are successful at the upcoming election.

Tune in to hear about:

• How the education standards reforms will help the profession recover its numbers.
• What is being done to address the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort.
• The role of the new class of advisers in bridging the advice accessibility gap for retiring Australians.
• Why an extra six months would have done the trick.

In this week’s episode of Relative Return Unplugged, Dr Vladimir Tyazhelnikov from the University of Sydney’s School of Economics joins the show to break down the shifting sands of global trade dynamics and attempt to understand the way US President Donald Trump is employing tariffs.

An expert on international trade and global value chains, Tyazhelnikov explains why the current approach has led to such an extreme reaction from the US’ trade partners and the alternative options that are available to avoid a trade war that is so economically damaging for all involved.

Join us to hear about:

• Why the fluctuations in commodities prices could have benefits for some sectors despite broader concerns.
• How Chinese TikTokers are helping consumers skirt around trade restrictions.
• What the volatile nature of the policies means for businesses trying to keep up with the changes.

In this episode of The ifa Show, host Keith Ford is joined by Sarah Abood, chief executive of Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), to break down the Coalition's promises to the advice profession if they come into power and the merits of the latest draft legislation of Labor's advice reforms.

Ahead of the federal election, Abood explored some of the possible solutions offered from both sides for addressing the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort, as well as the possible implications of superannuation funds providing retirement advice through collective charging.

Listen as they discuss:

• What the FAAA wants from the incoming government.
• Why it's important that advisers gain access to the ATO portal.
• How government funding could boost new entrants to the profession.

In this edition of the SMSF Adviser podcast, hosts Keith Ford and Aaron Dunn are joined by legal specialist Phil Broderick, principal at Sladen Legal, to discuss the implications of the Bendel court decision - a landmark ruling with potentially far-reaching consequences for SMSFs and private trusts.

This ruling has profound implications for the use of discretionary trusts and corporate beneficiaries, potentially allowing distributions to remain unpaid without triggering Division 7A consequences.

The podcast delves into the significance of the case, drawing parallels to pivotal decisions like Bamford, and explores how it could reshape the landscape for tax and accounting practices in Australia. Listen as they discuss:

• The interpretation of "financial accommodation" within Division 7A.
• The relevance of this decision for SMSFs
• The potential for the Bendel decision to influence other areas of superannuation law.