Count Financial and SPAA announce partnership to provide SMSF training

Count Financial (Count) and the SMSF Professionals’ Association of Australia (SPAA) have broken fresh ground by forming a partnership to enhance professionalism in the self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) industry, providing Count members with Count funded rebates for SPAA education and training.

The partnership, which recognises the commitment of both organisations to support accountants and accounting-based financial advisers, will focus on training, education and raising professional standards.

Count CEO David Lane said: “The partnership with SPAA will benefit Count’s existing advisers, as well as new advisers that join, with Count supporting them to become SPAA members by subsidising their membership fees.  The partnership will also provide Count’s advisers with a special rate to obtain the SPAA accreditation.  Count advisers who join SPAA will also get the benefit of enhanced access to training and education provided through SPAA’s webinars and conferences.   In addition, members will have input and access to SPAA’s thought leadership and advocacy work.”

SPAA CEO Andrea Slattery said the partnership with Count, one of Australia’s largest accounting based licensees, was a strong indicator of what direction the SMSF industry was taking.

“This partnership highlights the importance of continually lifting professional standards, as well as creating the architecture that will allow similar arrangements into the future. It is imperative that advisers commit to be at the forefront of professionalism because that allows consumers to make more informed decisions and to build their wealth efficiently to meet their personal goals,” Mrs Slattery said.

Mr Lane added: “We recognise that SMSF advice is a growing and technical area and we are excited to partner with SPAA, an industry leader in this field.  We believe that, through SPAA membership and accreditation, our advisers can benefit from being part of a professional organisation that specialises in SMSFs.”

Under the arrangement, Count and SPAA will also work together on projects of mutual interest.

“Both professional standards and advocacy will be critical over the coming years as we continue to see the sector evolve.  We look forward to working with SPAA to enhance the financial wellbeing of Australians by ensuring that the sector provides a strong and secure mechanism for retirement funding,” Mr Lane said.

Mrs Slattery said that the partnership with Count, would also benefit SPAA’s broader membership, adding to the network of specialist SMSF professionals.  The partnership will also involve joint education initiatives with Count, including webinars for members.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Count.  With Count’s strong focus on accountants, there is a natural alignment between the two organisations.  We are pleased to partner with Count and look forward to providing their advisers with access to SPAA’s professional services, network and specialist training programs.

“What SPAA firmly believes is that this partnership will, in the longer term, significantly improve the business proposition for accountants by raising their competencies and skills and reducing risk. It will also ensure Authorised Representatives are compliant with the current regulations and legislation in the SMSF sector,” Mrs Slattery said.