Opinion remains divided on whether the trusted status accountants enjoy among their clients and the greater public will be eroded if some practitioners are found to be providing poor SMSF advice under the licensing regime, according to a financial services research company senior executive.

The team at selfmanagedsuper would like to wish all of its readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as it signs off for 2015.

Specialist peer-to-peer lender InvoiceX is targeting SMSF members to become its next solid segment of investors.

The year 2015 has been significant for the SMSF sector as recognition of specified professionals operating in the space came to fruition, according to SMSF Association chief executive Andrea Slattery.

The ability of SMSF advisers and accountants to provide a one-stop shop for the advice needs of trustees will possibly be the biggest challenge for the sector in the coming year, according to a research house executive.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is continuing its scrutiny of property developers targeting SMSF trustees and in particular it is investigating incentive schemes being offered to advisers to direct these investors toward the asset class.

Financial services licensing provider Accountable Financial Solutions is offering its set-up, induction and training services free of charge to accountants and accountancy firms looking to use its licensing solution to comply with the new rules starting on 1 July 2016.