In this podcast episode, Financial Services Online covers important topics in the Australian financial sector. A significant feature is the decreasing gender gap in Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs), going down to 15.9% from 20.3% over the past five years. Despite this progress, further policy reform is needed. Australian homeowners are facing increased mortgage stress due to rising interest rates, with predictions pointing towards potential rate reductions by the RBA. Former SunSuper CIO, David Hartley, identified superannuation policies as key contributors to escalating housing prices, advocating for a capital gains tax at retirement to alleviate this issue. In investment news, financial professionals advise increasing international diversification due to potential risks associated with heavy reliance on U.S. growth and tech stocks. These crucial insights provide a comprehensive overview of recent trends and possible future directions in Australian finance.n
