SMSF Association members rate highly on inaugural advisor list

SMSF Association advisors filled more than 20 per cent of the positions in the inaugural Top 50 Financial Advisors in Australia list.

SMSF Association CEO John Maroney says the list reveals there are 11 advisors drawn from the Association’s ranks of which nine are a SMSF Specialist Advisor (SSA™). Five of the members are from Victoria, four from NSW and two from South Australia.

“It’s a tribute to the professionalism of our members, and the value clients place on their skills, knowledge and experience, that they have ranked so well in this inaugural list of the country’s top advisors. “SMSF trustees are increasingly wanting specialist advice about their fund, whether it be about investment, compliance, estate planning, insurance, auditing or administration, and they appreciate that SMSF specialists are the best source of this information.

“The changes to superannuation introduced in the 2016 federal budget, and the subsequent legislation that was enacted late last year, highlighted yet again the degree of complexity involved in overseeing an SMSF, so it’s little wonder that trustees are increasingly looking for specialist advice from professionals they known work assiduously to stay abreast of the industry’s changes.”

The list, which was compiled by the US publication Barron’s for The Deal, a monthly publication published by The Australian, asked advisors more than 70 questions, including client assets, fees generated on assets, staffing, professional credentials and other key factors.

Maroney says the Association welcomes the publication of the list. “The need for SMSF trustees, indeed, all investors, to have access to sound professional advice has never been more important, and a list of this nature can only help encourage all advisors reach for the highest possible standards.”