The newest association to represent the interests of specialist advisers has formally launched, outlining its membership fees and service offering, including a business marketing and referral service for foundation members.
The Succession, Asset Protection and Estate Planning Advisers Association (SAPEPAA) was launched online earlier today by the Association’s board chair Grant Abbott who said the new body will offer three membership options ranging from $500 to nearly $3000.
The three memberships – Industry Associate, Certified Adviser and Foundation Member – will be charged at an annual rate of $500, $750 and $2990, respectively, with the latter restricted to 150 people.
According to the SAPEPAA website, an industry associate will have access to industry resources, the use of an associate member badge in marketing materials and an invitation to annual events, while the certified adviser will include accredited adviser SAPEPAA board certification, access to adviser-level resources and use of the certified adviser badge.
Foundation membership will cover the first five years of certified adviser membership and include the same benefits, as well as a listing on the SAPEPAA adviser directory and a marketing package promoting a member with the association’s website, search engine optimisation and inbound leads via the body.
Speaking during the launch, Abbott said the SAPEPAA board wanted the association to be a “marketing organisation” for adviser members.
“One of the major drivers is to promote family wealth protection to Australians at large by promulgating the fact that with litigation, COVID-19, incapacity and death, there is always potentially a legal suit out there and there are ways to protect a family’s wealth,” he said.
Earlier this year, Abbott said SAPEPAA would focus on the skills of its membership rather than the size and initial membership expectations were around 1000 people.
He said the association was also looking into sourcing professional indemnity insurance for members and would also seek to have its certification standards recognised at a federal level.
The body was planning on having more education providers adopt the standards and offer training courses, but currently LightYear Training Group was the only provider offering accreditation at a cost of $250.
