Integrated platform provider Hub24 has launched a continuing professional development (CPD)-accredited education facility aimed at assisting practitioners provide specialised SMSF advice.
The feature, called the SMSF Academy, will be made available through Hub24’s Professional Development Centre and has been established to improve adviser knowledge of the sector and a level of expertise to deliver new client value propositions.
In particular, the service will offer insights into the benefits an SMSF can deliver for younger investors. This focus has been driven by the findings from the half-yearly “FY2024 Class Benchmark Report”, which indicated 74.6 per cent of new fund establishments were dominated by the generation X (51.1 per cent) and millennial (23.1 per cent) cohorts.
Key insights included as part of the SMSF Academy will be provided by respected industry technical experts, such as Heffron managing director Meg Heffron.
“Hub24’s SMSF Academy offers invaluable insights for advisers seeking an introductory understanding of the SMSF sector,” Heffron said.
SMSF Association chief executive Peter Burgess recognised the value the new service will add for advisers.
“The commercial and professional opportunities for practitioners who secure the necessary qualifications to service the SMSF sector are endless, which is now approaching $1 trillion in assets and has more than 1.1 million members,” Burgess noted.
“Providing lifestyle SMSF advice requires an extended network of professionals working together for the benefit of the client – this can include accountants, auditors, lawyers, financial advisers, stockbrokers, actuaries and SMSF administrators.
“Upholding integrity of the SMSF sector and meeting the growing demand for advice is reliant on an increased pool of accredited specialists who have undertaken the necessary training and education. Having access to CPD-accredited resources such as Hub24’s SMSF Academy contributes to enhancing education standards among finance professionals.”
The SMSF Academy will include support for the Striver service, which assists graduates in finding jobs in the financial planning and accounting sector. To this end, modules one and two have been made available for Striver students.
“We are delighted to be continuing our support of Striver by providing the next generation of financial advisers with additional educational resources that enhance their knowledge and understanding of SMSFs,” Hub24 head of group marketing and communications Anne McDonnell said.
“Advisers make a huge difference to clients’ lives and advised clients report they feel better off, enjoy a higher quality of life, have more financial confidence and experience less financial stress. In the current economic environment, this has never been more important.”
