The Self-managed Independent Superannuation Funds Association (SISFA) and SMSF Owners’ Alliance have merged to form one body to act on behalf of Australians who have chosen to run their own retirement savings vehicles.
The new industry body will be known as SISFA and will be badged with the declaration: “Speaking up for the one million Australians with SMSFs.”
The realisation from both organisations that their views were aligned on how to lift the fairness and efficiency of the superannuation system and what it should achieve for SMSF members and trustees drove the initiative.
The merger will allow the resources of both groups to be pooled, resulting in a stronger organisation to support SMSF professionals and trustees.
“Collectively we will represent over 10,000 trustees through our memberships,” SISFA chair Chris Balalovski said.
“SISFA has always encouraged the highest standard of professionalism and been regularly sought after for our opinion on matters of policy.
“Trustee membership has always been a pillar of SISFA’s charter and we have continuously represented the interests of SMSF trustees to government and the regulator to increase the level of education and awareness.”
SISFA was formed in 1998 to make sure the government acknowledged and formed policy in the interests of SMSF trustees and the industry. A further objective was to encourage its members to maintain high professional standards.
The SMSF Owners’ Alliance was established in 2012 as an advocacy body to act on behalf of trustees and their beneficiaries to ensure they had a direct voice in shaping government policies affecting them.
