SMSF ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
2023

Melbourne
22-24
FEBruary

#NC2023 countdown

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Program

Held over two and a half days, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), experience technical sessions, worth up to 44 CPD hours, presented by key industry experts, all included as part of your registration!

Note: The National Conference 2023 Program is subject to change. The program listed below is current, as of 15 February 2023.

LIVE STREAM & on-demand SESSIONS

Watch Live Stream sessions on the day as they are happening, all times shown are in AEDTThey will also be available on-demand from Friday 24 February 2023.

on-demand only SESSIONS

On-Demand sessions will be available for viewing from Friday 24 February until Friday 31 March 2023, for delegates registered for the virtual program.

Day 1 - Wednesday 22 february

Download the National Conference 2023 onsite virtual program PDF here.
AEDT
8:00am
EXHIBITION HALL OPEN
8:00 - 10:00am
Thought Leadership Breakfast presented by Class
How big can the SMSF sector BEE?

Tim Steele, Chief Executive Officer, Class

Dr Irene Guiamatsia, Head of Research, Investment Trends

Hazel Bateman, School of Risk & Actuarial Studies, UNSW Business School
Deputy Director, ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research, UNSW

Meg Heffron, Managing Director, Heffron Consulting Pty Ltd

Peter Burgess, Deputy CEO / Director of Policy & Education, SMSF Association

With total SMSF assets now exceeding $860 billion, and the number of SMSF surpassing 600,000 for the first time in 2022, just how big can the SMSF sector be? Join us for breakfast as Class CEO Tim Steele, Heffron Managing Director, Meg Heffron, SMSF Association Deputy CEO, Peter Burgess and more discuss and debate:

  • Is there a natural ceiling for the size of the SMSF sector?
  • How might the SMSF growth drivers change in the future?
  • What are the macro and geopolitical factors holding back the sector and what are the environmental factors driving the sector forward?
  • What are the sector’s vulnerabilities and can they be overcome?
  • What are the true measures of the health of the SMSF sector?

This thought leadership breakfast is a must for practice owners and SMSF industry participants wanting to stay abreast of the latest industry trends, developments, challenges and opportunities.

Specialist-only session
SMSFs and member capacity: how to best protect and serve your clients (and yourself)

Bryce Figot, Special Counsel, DBA Lawyers

This session aims to provide practical tools and concrete strategies to deal with member capability issues, in particular:

  • How practitioners should assess and document a client’s capacity
  • Protecting yourself from possible professional negligence issues
  • Steps to protect a client’s super when cognitive decline occurs
  • What paperwork (e.g., enduring power of attorney, resolutions, etc) is needed.
10:00 - 10:30am
Morning tea
10:30 - 10:45am
Welcome
10:45 - 11:00am
CEO Address

John Maroney, CEO, SMSF Association

11:00 - 11:50am
plenary 1
What lies BEE-yond the horizon

Peter Burgess, Deputy CEO / Director of Policy & Education, SMSF Association

Start National Conference 2023 on a high, with the traditional fast moving, high energy legislation update session presented by Deputy CEO / Director of Policy & Education, Peter Burgess. Join Peter as he provides a stocktake of the tax and regulatory changes which shaped the SMSF landscape in 2022 and previews the legislative agenda for the year ahead. As the Chair of the 2023 National Conference program committee, Peter will also highlight sessions on this year’s program which will provide further detail and others to watch out for.

12:00 - 1:00pm
legs & regs
Concurrent 1A
The Deed – The Queen BEE of an SMSF

Clinton Jackson, Partner, Cooper Grace Ward

Steven Jell, Senior Associate, Cooper Grace Ward

While the superannuation law sets out the compliance rules for an SMSF, the trust deed is the ‘bee’ all and end all for a particular SMSF and the key document from which a trustee derives its powers.

The content of a SMSF trust deed is critically important and can greatly impact a client’s SMSF experience, especially given the additional scrutiny from regulators and the increasing number of SMSF related disputes. Now more than ever it is important to make sure your client’s SMSF trust deed is up to date and the best it can be.

This session will look at:

  • The must haves to be included in any SMSF trust deed
  • Tips for what to look out for and things to avoid; and
  • Traps for advisers in dealing with trust deeds.
Strategy
Concurrent 1B
Keeping the colony strong – Not everyone BEE-longs in an SMSF

Graeme Colley, Executive Manager Technical & Private Wealth, SuperConcepts

When the buzzing in the hive gets to fever pitch it may be time for unhappy members to swarm and make a new one. When it comes to SMSFs the ‘hive’ can be impacted by marriage breakdowns, blended families, children as members and untenable relationships within the fund. This session will examine the complex maze that challenges the success of some SMSFs as relationships ebb and flow over the life of the fund.

Advice, Practice & Regulatory
Concurrent 1C
The policy buzz

Tracey Scotchbrook, Head of Policy and Advocacy, SMSF Association

In this session, we will discuss the Association’s policy and advocacy work over the past 12 months and the key policy issues for the SMSF sector over the next 12 months. This will include an exploration of the SMSF Associations key policy priorities and discussion on the future challenges for the SMSF sector.

1:00 - 1:50pm
Lunch
1:50 - 2:50pm
legs & regs
Concurrent 2A
NALI & NALE = a nasty sting

Daniel Butler, Director, DBA Lawyers

This presentation will bring your current understanding of non-arm’s length income (NALI) and the changes introduced with effect from 1 July 2018 (i.e., non-arm’s length expenses, NALE) up to date so that you are aware of all the latest developments, including:

  • General versus specific expenses – understanding this ‘fine’ distinction
  • When will an amount be “NALI” versus a “contribution” under the ATO pending draft ruling TR 2010/DC-1
  • Best practice for related party services to SMSFs after 30 June 2023 in view of the ATO’s broad ‘universal’ view on ‘general expenses’ tainting everything
  • SMSF auditor’s obligations re: NALI
  • The latest update on Gov’t / Treasury / legislative / ATO developments
  • What to do when you receive a NALI assessment – what rights do you have?
Strategy
Concurrent 2B
Passing the worker BEE test

Craig Day, Head of Technical, Colonial First State

Gainful employment remains a key superannuation concept which applies in a range of different situations, such as from making personal deductible contributions to accessing benefits upon retirement.

This session looks at what it means to be gainfully employed and explores the different situations where it’s relevant. Topics covered include:

  • The meaning of gainful employment
  • Being an employee vs being self employed
  • Passive income and gainful employment – are they really mutually exclusive?
  • Peer-to-peer platforms and being self employed
  • Common gainful employment issues and their advice implications.
Advice, Practice & Regulatory
Concurrent 2C
Finfluencers and the future of advice

Adele Martin, Money Mentor & CFP, Founder of My Money Buddy & The Savings Squad podcast

Financial influencers (aka ‘Finfluencers’) have made ‘making money’ a mainstream topic of conversation. With rapid advancements in technology, Finfluencers have utilised different channels such as podcasts or social media, to spread their financial knowledge, tips and tricks. It is unsurprising that some investors are taking on aspects of these conversations and implementing them into their own financial strategy, but at what cost?

It is more important now than ever to understand the role Finfluencers play in the future of advice, and how this may impact SMSF and superannuation practitioners. We will explore the role of Finfluencers in the future of your business and how this impacts your clients, as well as how to adapt to the increase in cost and demand for quality advice.

Workshop
Workshop 2D
Is your documentation up to it – The next frontier of SMSF disputes and audit traps

Scott Hay-Bartlem, Partner, Cooper Grace Ward

Shelley Banton, Head of Education, ASF Audits

For many years the focus on SMSF documents has been on binding death benefit nominations.

More recently however, the cases have revolved around the effectiveness of other SMSF documentation, such as changes of trustee, deed variations and pension documents. These are fast becoming the newest form of disputes, and with these fights increasing, will your SMSF documents stand the test? The ATO’s increasing reliance on annual audits also means there are some triggers that will especially interest an auditor.

This workshop will examine the recent cases and the lessons to be learned from them. We will unpack the common mistakes in transactions and documents, what can go wrong when everything does not line up, what to look for and how to fix it.

Workshop
Workshop 2E
Death of a member – Don't just wing it

Mark Ellem, Head of Education, Accurium

Frank La Spada, Head of Technical & Training, Seamless SMSF

Dealing with the death of an SMSF member not only requires the trustee(s) to comply with superannuation law requirements and consideration of tax obligations, but there’s generally also the emotional aspect that comes with the close relationship of SMSF members and trustees.

Consequently, accountants, administrators and advisers generally play an important role in guiding their SMSF clients through this stressful period. In addition, the effect of the SMSF member’s death on audit requirements must also be considered.

The workshop will commence with a review of a timeline of duties, obligations and requirements for the SMSF trustee(s).

For each topic discussed, the associated audit requirements will be identified and direction provided on what audit evidence will be required to satisfy the SMSF’s auditor, enabling attendees to ensure the appropriate documentation is available for the fund’s audit.

2:50 - 3:35pm ​
AFTERNOON TEA
3:35 - 4:35pm
legs & regs
Concurrent 3A
Contributions gone wrong

Tim Miller, SMSF Technical & Education Manager, Smarter SMSF

1 July 2022 was a pivotal date as it opened up the opportunities for many more superannuation fund members to make contributions to their fund. Whilst the contributions rules now make accepting contributions a less onerous task for SMSF trustees, SMSF members need to understand that there are now less barriers to making mistakes and some of those mistakes can come at a cost.

In this session we will take a look into some of the consequences of getting the contributions rules wrong as well as consider some of the lesser appreciated rules about making contributions. Some of the items that will be discussed include:

  • Work test changes creating potential for more excess NCC
  • How to deal with excess contributions
  • Which contributions require an election and when do they need to be made
  • Understanding & funding Division 293 taxes
  • When can you make a CGT concessional contribution.
Strategy
Concurrent 3B
Strategies to fund the aged care hive

Danni Dixon, Technical Development Manager,
Aged Care Steps

Aged care advice is all the buzz – with an ageing population, increasing frailty and transformation of aged care services. With any move in homes (or hives), money and finances are major factors.

This session will explore:

  • Strategies to pay for accommodation in a rising interest rate environment
  • Decisions to liquidate or borrow and evaluating the opportunity costs
  • Why low-means clients like rising interest rates, but face the challenges they cause
  • Adding client value – preparing clients for the whole of their retirement
  • Traps that clients should be aware of
  • Opportunities that financial advisers, accountants and lawyers should take.
Advice, Practice & Regulatory
Concurrent 3C
BEE-haviour in a world of uncertainty

Simon Russell, Director, Behavioural Finance Australia

SMSF trustees face large, multifaceted uncertainty. For example, at a macro-level, how will geopolitical and economic issues impact their investment returns? And at a more personal level, when will they want (or be forced) to retire; how long will they live; and how much will they need to spend in retirement?
 
SMSF professionals face uncertainty too; how well do they really know their clients’ risk profiles, their communication preferences, or their perceptions of the value of the services provided to them? It can be difficult to be entirely certain.

This session will provide some interactive examples of:

  • How people make decisions when faced with uncertainty
  • What are the common biases and blind spots and what problems can they create?
  • Given this psychological evidence: what strategies can help SMSF professionals to engage with and advise their clients?
4:45 - 5:55pm
plenary 2
Death, taxes and SMSFs – Protecting the hive when the queen dies

Scott Hay-Bartlem, Partner, Cooper Grace Ward

Death and taxes are an inevitability in SMSFs, and with an ageing population it is something that is becoming more common to deal with, often on short notice. There are some important trips and traps as we navigate the myriad of options and strategies – it doesn’t take much of a wording slip or procedural error to change the tax outcome. Learn how to practically manage the death benefit planning and payment process in some common scenarios so that we are not talking about your clients as examples at the next conference!

5:55pm - 7:55pm
La Trobe Financial welcome reception
AEDT

Day 2 - Thursday 23 february

8:00am
EXHIBITION HALL OPEN
8:50am - 9:50am
plenary 3
Why BEE in an SMSF? Latest strategies in 2023

Meg Heffron, Managing Director, Heffron Consulting Pty Ltd

So many of the best superannuation strategies are ideally suited to clients with SMSFs. In this session, we will explore the latest opportunities, the important steps to take when implementing them, the traps to watch for and the clients for whom they are the most valuable. We will build on earlier sessions covering new legislation and industry practice to capture the ideas that help advisers and accountants support their clients to get the most out of an SMSF.

9:50 - 10:05am
SPECIAL ADDRESS
10:05 - 10:35am
Morning tea
10:35 - 11:35am
legs & regs
Concurrent 4A
Got a BEE in your bonnet? – What's new in estate and superannuation litigation and how it effects SMSFs

Hayley Mitchell, Partner, Cooper Grace Ward

Litigation involving estate planning and superannuation is continuing to expand. Whether you are advising on estate planning and SMSFs, trustee obligations in paying a death benefit or beneficiaries that may have missed out, the litigation and case law serves to focus us as advisors on the issues we need to be covering with our clients. This session will examine the recent case law and provide the practical implications for SMSFs.

Strategy
Concurrent 4B
Digital assets and SMSFs – BEE alert or BEE alarmed?

Phil Broderick, Principal, Sladen Legal

Holding digital assets in SMSFs is all the buzz (or at least was, up until the recent price crashes)! However, holding digital assets in SMSFs is not for the faint hearted.

In this session, we will examine the regulatory and tax issues with SMSFs and digital assets, including:

  • Acquiring digital assets (from related parties)?
  • SIS Act issues with holding digital assets
  • Tax treatment of holding and dealing with digital assets
  • Issues that arise with holding digital assets in retirement phase or upon the death of a member.
Advice, Practice & Regulatory
Concurrent 4C
Protecting the hive – The BEEkeeper's scrum!

Emma Rosenzweig, Deputy Commissioner – Superannuation & Employer Obligations, Australian Taxation Office

Leah Sciacca, Senior Executive Leader, Financial Advisers Financial Services and Wealth Group, Australian Securities and Investments Commission

Join the ATO’s Deputy Commissioner – Superannuation & Employer Obligations, Emma Rosenzweig and ASIC’s Senior Executive Leader – Financial Services & Wealth Group, Leah Sciacca, for an SMSF sector update from the regulator’s perspective. Emma and Leah will outline the results of their respective compliance programs and will share their experiences on emerging trends in the SMSF sector and their key risk focus areas. This session will incorporate a 30 minute Q&A session to be hosted by the SMSF Association’s Deputy CEO / Director of Policy & Education, Peter Burgess.

Workshop
Workshop 4D
BEE-hold all things pensions

Shirley Schaefer, Director, BDO

Peter Crump, Senior Consultant, Private Wealth, BDO

The workshop will consider various life stages of pensions and will explore common areas of concern from the perspective of both the members/beneficiaries and internal SMSF processes and procedures.

Workshop
Workshop 4E
BEE-D-BEE-Ns – Don't get stung

Matthew Burgess, Director, View Legal Pty Ltd

The pace of evolution of all aspects of superannuation related estate planning has continued to intensify over the last 12 months.

Arguably the single most important aspect of any SMSF related holistic estate planning exercise is in relation to binding death benefit nominations (or BEE-D-BEE-Ns; AKA BDBNs)

This workshop will provide an insight into a range of crucial issues and explore key points of discussion including:

  • When should BDBNs be used and when BDBNs should not be used
  • Unbundling of best practice in relation to BDBN advice – and implementation
  • Analysing the conflicting strategies of BDBNs v Reversionary Pensions v SMSF Wills v Irrevocable BDBNs
  • An update in relation to key BDBN related cases
  • Exploring valid approaches for aligning superannuation entitlements with wider holistic estate planning arrangements.
11:45am - 12:45pm
legs & regs
Concurrent 5A
Houston, we have a problem – SMSF’s, incapacity, and financial advisers

Brian Herd, Partner, HopgoodGanim Lawyers

The effect of the incapacity of trustees or members of an SMSF is not just an issue for the SMSF and their continuing compliance status. It is a major challenge and a growing area of risk for professional advisers more generally.

A developing area of law impacting the professional adviser sector is ‘capacity negligence’. Here advisers are being challenged and potentially held liable for not assessing their client’s capacity competently or not being attuned to the insidious presence of undue influence from other members of the family. This can lead to them effectively facilitating elder abuse.

Advisers may have had a client for many years without difficulties. However an ageing client can create issues where the adviser is ill skilled to identify the issues and appreciate and where they are confronted by an ethical challenge. They may even have to consider their duty or responsibility to ‘whistle blow’ where they may become aware of illicit actions by other parties such as family members in manipulating an SMSF particularly through the auspices of an EPOA.

We will briefly explore the law of incapacity and its effect on SMSF’s, financial advisers, accountants and ‘other professionals’ and then drill down to the dangers of acting as an adviser without knowledge of the law or wilful avoidance of it. We will examine some riveting examples and explore some overseas development such as in the US.

Strategy
Concurrent 5B
Contribution Strategies – BEE innovative

John Perri, Head of Tapln & Technical Strategy, AMP

The super contribution rules were significantly relaxed on 1 July 2022, creating new and further opportunities for many super fund members.

For super fund members aged 67 to 75, the 1 July 2022 changes meant that some could make contributions for the first time in a long time, while also causing advisers to re-think how a range of common advice strategies are delivered going forward.

In this session we will look at some key contribution strategies that have emerged from the changes, including:

  • Recontribution strategy – where it works, where it doesn’t and could Part IVA apply?
  • Downsizer contributions from age 55 (which are preserved until a condition of release is met), and the interaction with other contribution caps and Total Super Balance
  • Unlocking and maximising tax benefits of making super contributions while navigating potential pitfalls
  • Small business CGT contributions – now easier to make beyond age 67 and interaction with other contribution caps
  • Increasing concessional contributions using an ‘income swap’ strategy involving a transition to retirement pension or a retirement phase pension.
Advice, Practice & Regulatory
Concurrent 5C
Resistance is futile – Minimising the harm should your business suffer a cyber breach

Tony Vizza, Executive Director, Cybersecurity, KordaMentha

Brendan Read, Partner, Forensic, KordaMentha

Cybersecurity and data breaches continue to dominate headlines, with mega-breaches impacting large Australian organisations. Unfortunately, these mega-breaches hide the fact that smaller businesses, which are not as cyber mature, are far more prone to cyber breaches. In fact, according to the federal government’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), a cyber breach is reported every seven minutes.

We will talk about trends in the world of cybercrime and lessons from the frontlines, sharing best practice techniques in strengthening your defences against cybersecurity threats.

12:45- 1:35pm
Lunch
1:35 - 2:35pm
legs & regs
Concurrent 6A
Insolvency & protecting the SMSF honey pot

Chris Ketsakidis, Partner, Mills Oakley Lawyers

Asset protection is a key consideration for any business or investment structure. Discretionary trusts are often the preferred vehicle. But do SMSFs offer better financial security before and during retirement? This is especially important given the CGT concessions which encourage substantial contributions to be made into superannuation and the fact that many business real properties are held by SMSFs.
 
This session will explore how super benefits are impacted by bankruptcy and insolvency including:

  • Asset protection pros and cons: SMSFs vs Discretionary Trusts
  • Maximising protected benefits in SMSFs
  • The impact of the transfer balance cap and total super balance
  • When are contributions and existing benefits safe from clawback and the ATO
  • What happens when the member is disqualified
  • What happens when an employer is facing insolvency.
Strategy
Concurrent 6B
Unit Trusts issueZZZ

Darren Wynen, Director, Insyt Pty Ltd

This session will address the technicalities and the practicalities of SMSFs investing in unit trust structures including:

  • Five crucial tips to ensure that SMSF investments in unit trusts comply with the tax and super laws
  • Strategies to rectify non-geared unit trust investments that breach the rules
  • Critical issues for an SMSF buying or selling units from/to a related party
  • What are the top 3 ATO trip wires for SMSF investments in unit trusts?
  • Tax tips and traps for SMSFs that invest in unit trusts
  • Unrelated trusts and pre-Aug 99 unit trusts – is it open slather?
Advice, Practice & Regulatory
Concurrent 6C
BEE ethical

Christina Kalantzis, Principal – Financial Services Compliance, Alexis Compliance & Risk Solutions

The SOA, among other financial advice disclosure obligations, aims to ensure that your clients receive good quality advice and are able to make informed decisions. So why do Advisers get this all so wrong?

This session will look at what BEE Ethical means, as well as ask:

  • What are the proposed outcomes arising from the Quality of Advice review?
  • How you can evidence compliant Quality Advice and future proof your business?
Workshop
Workshop 6D
The BEEkeepers of SMSFs – The ATO & the auditor

Belinda Aisbett, Director, Super Sphere Pty Ltd

Paul Delahunty, Director – Superannuation and Employer Obligations, Australian Taxation Office

In this workshop, we will consider the key risks associated with SMSFs from both the Regulator’s and auditor’s perspective to highlight the importance of all relevant parties working collaboratively together to ensure the auditor is adequately addressing the requirements expected by auditing standards and the ATO.

Working through practical case studies, this workshop will:

  • Explore the audit risks, issues and procedures required to ensure quality, compliance and risk managed audits
  • Focus on understanding the ATO’s compliance approach and how best to engage with the Regulator
  • Provide insight into the ATO’s referral of auditors to ASIC and action taken by ASIC
  • Provide steps that can be taken to mitigate litigation risk
  • Unpack the ‘hot issues’ that auditors need to be aware of.
Workshop
Workshop 6E
Death of a member – Don't just wing it

Mark Ellem, Head of Education, Accurium

Frank La Spada, Head of Technical & Training, Seamless SMSF

Dealing with the death of an SMSF member not only requires the trustee(s) to comply with superannuation law requirements and consideration of tax obligations, but there’s generally also the emotional aspect that comes with the close relationship of SMSF members and trustees.

Consequently, accountants, administrators and advisers generally play an important role in guiding their SMSF clients through this stressful period. In addition, the effect of the SMSF member’s death on audit requirements must also be considered.

The workshop will commence with a review of a timeline of duties, obligations and requirements for the SMSF trustee(s).

For each topic discussed, the associated audit requirements will be identified and direction provided on what audit evidence will be required to satisfy the SMSF’s auditor, enabling attendees to ensure the appropriate documentation is available for the fund’s audit.

2:35 - 3:05pm
Afternoon TEA
3:05 - 4:05pm
legs & regs
Concurrent 7A
LRBAs – Avoiding the sting

Nicholas Ali, Executive Manager, SMSF Technical Support, SuperConcepts

LRBAs through an SMSF can be an excellent strategy for creating retirement wealth for members. However, it is crucial they are structured correctly, as not doing so can lead to an erosion of member wealth, as well as compliance headaches for trustees.

In this session, we’ll examine the issues for consideration regarding LRBAs with focus on:

  • Ensuring the establishment is done correctly; taking note of sequencing of documentation execution, identifying the correct participants and structuring issues
  • Understanding the rules when dealing with related parties, as both tenants and lenders including the Safe Harbour provisions
  • Winding up an arrangement, both on completion of the strategy and exiting an LRBA due to a business split or separation.
Strategy
Concurrent 7B
Retirement investment strategies – A hivemind approach

Melanie Dunn, Principal, Accurium

As members enter retirement it is important to ensure the SMSF investment strategy considers the impact of paying out benefits to members and the risks involved in fund investments. Pension planning and maximising ECPI becomes an important strategic consideration as the investments of the fund are re-structured towards achieving the retirement objectives, which may include selling assets of the fund and incurring material capital gains or losses.

As seen by the introduction of the Retirement Income Covenant for APRA regulated funds, the creation of a retirement investment strategy involves complex and competing objectives compared to a strategy for funds solely in accumulation.

This session will explore:

  • How you can assist SMSF trustees create or assess an investment strategy which will balance cashflow objectives with managing risks such as sequencing and liquidity risk per the requirements of SMSF investments strategies under the SIS Regulations
  • How to communicate the compliance of the SMSF investment strategy in retirement for your fund auditor.
Advice, Practice & Regulatory
Concurrent 7C
What’s driving success in Australian advice practices today?

Tony Stephens, Partner, Business Health Pty Ltd

Through the work they do with practice principals, licensees and product/platform providers, Business Health has compiled the pre-eminent benchmarking dataset available in the Australian advice community. The depth and breadth of their analysis allows them to identify the themes and trends that are emerging in the marketplace and also quantify the impact they are having on the critical practice metrics. In this session we will share some of the common attributes of successful firms and what have been their strategies and actions to move the performance needle.

4:15- 4:25pm
Special Address
4:25pm - 4:30pm
Networking function sponsor address
4:30- 5:25pm
plenary 4
Looking ahead: Demographic challenges and opportunities

Simon Kuestenmacher, Director & Co-founder, The Demographics Group

Help view Australia through the demographic lens, where the future becomes much clearer. The skills shortage is here to stay and we must adjust our investments and aged care strategies accordingly. The aging of Australia is only getting started (we double our 85+ cohort by 2035). We explore when the intergenerational wealth transfer is going to peak and can be all but certain in which sectors this money is going to flow. Viewing Australia in 2032 through the generational lens allows us to foresee societal trends with a certain level of clarity. Join us for this fast-paced and quirky presentation of Australia’s future.

5:30pm
HALO PROFESSIONAL Networking Night
AEDT

Day 3 - Friday 24 february

9:00 - 10:00am
legs & regs
Concurrent 8A
BEE-sieged by documentation

Aaron Dunn, CEO & Co-founder, Smarter SMSF

There is a growing level of importance being placed on documentation within a SMSF – with challenges of super death benefits, through to the increased expectations by the Regulators and fund auditors with fund compliance. As the SMSF sector continues to digitise, this can create a number of challenges for both trustees and practitioners trying to navigate the legislative landscape.

Through the use of the conference case study, we will help to dissect many of these current issues including the requirements under the electronic execution measures, dealing with the SuperStream laws for rollovers and release authorities, director ID requirements and much more.

The session will explore:

  • The various compliance implications within each of these areas; and
  • Provide some insight into ongoing discussions with the Government about modernising business communications and how it will impact the SMSF sector.
Strategy
Concurrent 8B
Global mo-BEE-lity of super

Jemma Sanderson, Director, Cooper Partners Financial Services Pty Ltd

With our global workforce, and particularly many people being trapped in Australia or overseas due to COVID, their superannuation position across multiple jurisdictions has become an increased area of practice. Where international pension / superannuation systems are not all created equal, and having different taxation considerations, we will provide some insight and guidance in this session regarding:
 
  • Transferring money from foreign super onshore
  • Transferring money from Australian super offshore
  • Foreign superannuation fund considerations
  • Foreign trust considerations
  • The latest on the SMSF residency considerations post 2021/2022 Budget announcements
  • SMSF and the IRS – what do you need to know?
  • SMSF with ROPS status – what are the reporting obligations?
  • Applicable Fund Earning calculations and considerations
  • How divorce might impact overseas pension schemes.
Advice, Practice & Regulatory
Concurrent 8C
A sticky situation or as sweet as honey? – Insurance claims, trends and challenges

Dr Jeffrey Scott, Head of Advice Strategy, MetLife Australia​

This session examines the trustee obligations in relation to having an insurance strategy for each member of the fund, how these strategy decisions may influence a successful claim payment from the insurance company and how these decisions may also impact the net benefit payment to a member or beneficiary.

This session will:

  • Analyse various life insurance legal cases that highlight how product terms, conditions and definitions can impact a claim payment
  • Examine life insurance industry trends in relation to causes of claims (disease, injury, illness) and types of claims (death, permanent incapacity, temporary incapacity)
  • Highlight the impact of taxation and beneficiary nominations in relation to net benefit payments at claim time.
Workshop
Workshop 8D
BEE-hold all things pensions

Shirley Schaefer, Director, BDO

Peter Crump, Senior Consultant, Private Wealth, BDO

The workshop will consider various life stages of pensions and will explore common areas of concern from the perspective of both the members / beneficiaries and internal SMSF processes and procedures.

10:00- 10:30am
MORNING TEA
10:30 - 11:30am
legs & regs
Concurrent 9A
Litigation risk – Intent to influence

Peter Bobbin, Consultant Lawyer

In today’s plaintiff law firm environment the risk of litigation is writ large (please forgive the pun). Litigation risk management is an important part of the design for how you deliver your client advice and how you design your client services business.

We will guide you on what the future litigation proofed professional services business looks like and what you need to do in your business to safeguard yourself against legal action. When done correctly this can enhance the client relationship and actually increase revenues.

In this session you will learn:

  • What is the line for advice versus Finfluencer and how do you respond to this?
  • Where do you cross the line: statements intended to influence versus advice
  • The lines between super admin work versus personal financial advice or general financial advice that requires an AFSL versus legal work
  • Digital advice and digital assets, 2020’s and beyond
  • The multi advice in super; compliance, tax, investments and insurance
  • The PI Insurers perspective – war stories from the field
  • The top risk factors for all professional businesses.
Strategy
Concurrent 9B
Death and taxes – BEE-yond the grave

Julie Steed, Senior Technical Services Manager, Insignia Financial Group

Whilst death and taxes are both inevitable, SMSFs offer unique opportunities that can assist in reducing tax payable on superannuation death benefits.

In this session we will review the taxation of death benefits and review strategies that can minimise death benefits tax in an SMSF as well as share examples and insights including:

  • Briefly revisiting the recontribution strategies available to older clients post 1 July 2022
  • Considering the opportunities to minimise tax on insurance proceeds
  • Examining the conditions required to utilise the deduction for future liability to pay benefits
  • Dealing with legacy pension reserves on death.
Advice, Practice & Regulatory
Concurrent 9C
Building trust with high net worth clients in volatile markets

Andrew Inwood, Global CEO, CoreData

Volatile markets are a time for advisers to add extraordinary value to their existing High Net worth Clients and to attract new members of the High Net worth cohort.

We will take you through the research of how the best advisers build their brands, add value, attract new clients and make sure they are able to keep their value refreshed.

11:40 - 12:35pm
plenary 5
What happens next with improving the quality, accessibility and affordability of the provision of financial advice?

Michelle Levy, Partner / QOA Reviewer, Allens / Treasury
Sarah Abood, CEO, Financial Planning Association
Paul Barrett, CEO, AZ Next Generation Advisory
John Maroney, CEO, SMSF Association
Tahn Sharpe, Managing Editor, The Inside Network

Michelle Levy will deliver her Quality of Advice Review report to the Government in mid-December. The proposals contained in the report are expected to be far reaching and likely to have significant impact on the SMSF sector, the role of licensed financial advisers and the role of institutional product providers, including superannuation funds, banks, investment managers and insurers.

There is no doubt that the regulatory framework for financial advice in Australia need significant reform. How best to reform that framework has been under intense scrutiny during 2022, with extensive consultation and discussion of proposed recommendations. Once the report has been finalised, it is up to the Government and the Parliament to determine which of the proposals will be implemented and then up to the industry and regulators to implement the necessary changes. An expert panel will examine all aspects of the proposals and the Government’s response, if it is available, and will share their views on what implications will arise for the various players across the financial sector, including the SMSF sector. This session is a must for all those interested in the future regulation of financial advice.

12:35 - 12:45pm
Closing address

It brings a lot of value to the industry: a lot of people come here for the excellent presenters and CPD points, but I think the connection with everyone getting back together is a big part of it.
Another great line-up of presentations from well informed and interested presenters that kept me engaged from start to finish.