Technical Basis – Aug 2008

Technical Basis August 2008 – by Midwinter Technical
Matthew Esler, General Manager of Strategy & Technical Services
Bill Faraj, Manager – Technical Services

Welcome to Technical Basis, Midwinter’s monthly financial planning strategy and technical newsletter provided subscribers of both Midwinter’s Reasonable Basis and back2basis financial advice technology.

Midwinter’s inaugural High Value Low Touch Advice National Roadshow has been a roaring success across Australia with over 700 financial advisers and authorised representatives representing 42 dealer groups and 12 major platform providers.

If you attended the Roadshow you are eligible for a free month’s trial of Midwinter’s Reasonable Basis software. To download your free trial, click the following link: Free Trial – Midwinter’s Reasonable Basis Software (click here)

On the technical front, SMSF financial advisers and trustees should take note of a number of SMSF Rulings released by the ATO regarding the sole purpose test (under section 62 of SIS Act). This week’s Tax News summarises this and other important tax information of relevance to financial advisers released by the ATO over the last month.

This month’s Tech Q&A Case Study – Effective GAP analysis investigates the use of Twilight to enhance strategy – specifically contributions to super to bridge you client’s retirement savings gap. Twilight is available to subscribers of Reasonable Basis.

This month’s Technical Article – Optimising your Transition to Retirement Strategy made easy provides advisers with the complete guide to the opportunities and myths surrounding implementing a Transition to Retirement strategy. It specifically highlights that this is a strategy applicable to virtually all clients who are aged 55 and still working. The Transitions module within Reasonable Basis and back2basis systems is the most comprehensive and efficient TTR strategy optimiser in the industry. Advisers using Transitions in both system produce an optimised TTR strategy outcome as either an SOA insert or Limited SOA including comprehensive Retirement GAP Analysis within three minutes per client.

The Law reform section includes What’s Law & What’s Pending – two very handy summary documents keeping you abreast of the latest legislation and regulatory developments affecting all forms of financial planning and advice.

Midwinter will be continually adding new documents to the Quick Reference Guide section. If there are specific guides you would like to appear in this section, please email your suggestions to info@midwinter.com.au.