SMSF collapses imminent in hunt for yield

What a pity the poor non-aligned financial adviser is almost extinct. Thank you regulators, thank you financial journalists, thank you PI insurers, thank you all you pressure groups who don't understand the need that the ordinary Australian has for good advice, and what's more important, where they can get it!

Investors have largely overestimated their own investment capabilities and have decided to "go it themselves because they can do better than the full time professionals" so they set up a SMSF.

When they've made poor investment choices, chasing attractive above market returns, we've seen it all over the TV as they look to blame others for their poor investment decisions. The sad thing is that it will now be their lifetime superannuation savings that are now at risk of their overinflated egos suggesting they can do it better than the professionals.

There will be a steady stream of whinging SMSF members looking for someone to blame...all over again....well, the TV stations won't be struggling for stories...!!

Sub optimal asset allocation is not limited to SMSFs. With the array of investment options available within the public offer superannuation sector, members who make their own investment decisions, in the absence of quality advice, are equally exposed to under-performance and potential negative returns. The potential for members to lose their retirement savings through poor investment decisions is not the exclusive domain of the SMSF sector. Many (most) members need to accept that they are not skilled investment gurus and should be willing to take the counsel of a professional and skilled financial adviser. This applies to members of both SMSF and public offer funds.