TOPIC:

The largest part of the managed funds industry in Australia is the superannuation sector, of which selfmanaged superannuation funds (SMSFs) constitute over $700 biillion in assets. Students will obtain data on various superannuation funds from 2007 to 2018 and produce a report that addresses the following questions:

a. Describe the structure of SMSFs, including how they are managed and regulated.

b. How are SMSF funds invested relative to other funds. Are SMSF investment portfolios more or less diversified than others?

c. Examine the returns on SMSF investment portfolios relative to others from 2007 to 2018. Which of them performed better?

d. Given your insights from a - c, recommend to the Australian government a financial policy that could ensure the sustainability of SMSF. In addition to illustrating the discussion with tables and graphs, students need to support their analysis with a minimum of six (6) suitable, current and academically accepted sources.