For self-managed superannuation fund advisers, 2013 is being billed as a year to stand up and be counted as change comes to the operating environment of specialist auditors, accountants and financial planners.
With superannuation already a key battleground between the government and opposition ahead of the September election, the SMSF Professionals’ Association of Australia (SPAA) will celebrate its 10th anniversary at its national conference on February 13-15 in Melbourne.
Titled “Revolution”, to reflect the way SPAA sees Australians approaching their superannuation, the conference will offer industry professionals a gala dinner, high-quality technical content, networking with peers and a deeper understanding of the broader economic and investment themes.
Headline speakers include Cliff Asness, managing and founding principal of AQR Capital Management.
Click on the video below for a brief overview of the SPAA Conference from CEO Andrea Slattery.
SPAA recently became a partner of the United Nations, Geneva-based Convention of Independent Financial Advisors (CIFA), which was established as a non-profit foundation whose goal is to protect and defend the interests of investors and support independent financial advice in the international arena.
CIFA has the major role of managing the United Nations ‘Charter of the Protection of Investor Rights’.
“By becoming the first Australian representative and partnering with CIFA, SPAA will be at the forefront of the debate on financial services issues as they relate to professional financial advice and investor protection around the globe,” said SPAA CEO Andrea Slattery.
“SPAA had to ensure there were no conflicts between the United Nations goals and CIFA’s objectives embodied in the CIFA’s charter and the current legislative regime in Australia, and on this matter we have had the green light from ASIC.”
CIFA, which was established in 2001, represents about 40 countries and about 300,000 financial advisers, with the bulk of the membership residing in Europe, Asia and North America.
