AMP SMSF managing director Natasha Fenech said the program would build upon AMP SMSF’s existing face-to-face SMSF specialist course, with the program now including the SMSF Association accreditation exam that awards advisers with SMSF Association SMSF specialist adviser accreditation designation.

The launch of the program follows the announcement by AMP in August last year that all existing and new advisers must hold a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), a Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP) or Masters in Financial Planning (MoFP) qualification by 31 December 2019 for existing advisers or within five years of joining an AMP practice for new advisers.

Advisers who successfully complete the association’s accreditation exam will be awarded the SMSF Specialist Adviser (SAA) designation. Advisers will also be required to join the SMSF Association.

SMSFA chief executive and managing director Andrea Slattery said every Australian had the right to quality of life in retirement and that the emergence of SMSF specialists is critical to achieving this goal in the sector of the SMSF market.

“This education option being offered to AMP advisers and their support staff demonstrates AMP’s acknowledgment of the importance of the SMSF specialist and its ongoing commitment to raising competency standards,” said Ms Slattery.

***Correction*** An earlier version of this story mistakenly said Andrea Slattery is the managing director of AMP SMSF. In fact, Natasha Fenech is.