The SMSF Association has revealed the new, wide-ranging superannuation changes will be the central focus of its 2017 National Conference in Melbourne.
“The recent passage through Parliament of the government’s superannuation reforms, when coupled with the decision to legislate to improve the professional standards of financial advisers, will have an enormous impact on the SMSF sector,” SMSF Association chief executive Andrea Slattery said.
“Delegates to the conference will have the unique opportunity to hear from SMSF specialists and key government and regulatory spokespeople about how these significant changes will have an impact on both the industry and their businesses.
“These insights will prove invaluable for SMSF businesses having to adapt to the new superannuation legislation as well as more rigorous standards around financial advice.”
Slattery said 2017 would be a momentous year for the SMSF sector and attending the national conference would be crucial in ensuring SMSF Association members were fully cognisant of what the changes would mean for their trustee clients.
“It’s fair to say 2016 has seen a lot of change and SMSF trustees are looking to their SMSF specialists to provide the advice needed to navigate the new industry environment,” she noted.
The SMSF Association 2017 National Conference will feature prominent industry figures as speakers, as well as a series of intensive technical sessions covering investment, management and regulation.
ATO head Chris Jordan will join Australian Securities and Investments Commission deputy chair Peter Kell and federal Treasury head of retirement incomes policy Jenny Wilkinson in a review of the SMSF regulatory regime.
Separately, a technical session will be devoted to an exposition and examination of the top 10 ATO breaches of SMSF regulations, featuring ATO SMSF assistant commissioner Kasey Macfarlane.
“Property strategies and regulation as they relate to SMSFs will also feature prominently in 2017, as will the issue of superannuation caps, with the question of their sustainability being put under the microscope,” Slattery noted.
“Capital gains, family law and a focus on SMSF strategies for the new post-budget environment are all subject to separate technical sessions.
“Further, the annual thought leadership breakfast will include an address by the Australian Productivity Commission deputy chair Karen Chester.”
The conference will be held from 15 to 17 February in Melbourne.
