National Conference helps advisors address super changes

The 2017 SMSF Association National Conference gave advisors a theoretical understanding and practical experience in what’s required to successfully navigate the superannuation changes for clients before the 30 June 2017 deadline.

SMSF Association Managing Director/CEO Andrea Slattery says the organisation always appreciated the importance of the superannuation changes to delegates, and the program was planned accordingly.

“The fact we received overwhelming positive feedback from them on the depth of detailed, relevant content in a changing superannuation landscape was extremely gratifying, especially as they identified implementing these changes for clients as their greatest challenge.

“The program boasted an enormous amount of targeted content and strategies to give advisors the tools and expertise to provide their clients with an exceptional service before 30 June. In particular, delegates embraced the workshops and an over-arching, family-based case study.”

The National Conference saw a record turnout with nearly 1700 delegates attending 48 unique sessions presented by more than 60 speakers over the three days, highlighting the strong technical value across the program. In total, this meant the turnstiles clicked over 16,800 times for SMSF advisors walking into in-depth technical sessions.

Apart from the focus on the complex changes to superannuation, there was a strong emphasis on the need for advisors to continue striving for professionalism to ensure client trust, especially in times of change.

Slattery says that when advisors choose to be independently endorsed via accreditation and have Association membership, it demonstrates their commitment to professionalism in an extremely complicated area.

The 2018 National Conference, to be held in Sydney, will be essential for advisors, occurring only seven months into the new superannuation landscape. “This will provide an opportunity to discuss strategies and assess how the changes are working,” she says.