The SMSF Regulations and Taxation unit, developed by the Association for its SMSF Specialist Advisor accreditation program, is now available as an elective unit in the Kaplan Professional and Deakin University Master of Financial Planning degrees.

This partnership means advisers can now graduate with a Master of Financial Planning and the SMSF Specialist Advisor designation (SSA™).

“We are thrilled to partner with Kaplan Professional and Deakin University to further enhance education standards and professionalism in the SMSF sector,” SMSF Association CEO John Maroney said.

“We have always maintained that SMSF advice should be underpinned by specialist education and these new partnerships offer a professional pathway for financial planning students wanting to obtain both a Master of Financial Planning degree and the SMSF Association’s SMSF Specialist Advisor designation.

“Students who successfully complete this elective may be eligible to have their SMSF Association membership upgraded to specialist member status and be able to use the SMSF Specialist Advisor designation – the symbol of excellence in a dynamic and rapidly growing SMSF sector.”

Kaplan Professional CEO Brian Knight said that the partnership will offer more choice and depth in specialist expertise to advisers, providing the opportunity to achieve a Master of Financial Planning together with this industry-leading SMSF advisor designation.

“As the industry’s largest provider of postgraduate qualifications, we are committed to offering more opportunity and support to advisers while keeping our course prices to a minimum,” Mr Knight said.

“Now being able to choose the new elective unit, which not only counts towards our Master of Financial Planning but provides access to the coveted SSA designation, is another incentive for advisers who are seeking to further specialise in their career.”

The elective provides the specialist technical knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary to provide competent and compliant SMSF advice. It also covers all aspects of SMSFs including the establishment, operation, and investment strategies unique to SMSFs.

“The University is excited to announce this partnership with the SMSF Association that allows Deakin financial planning students to complete the SSA educational requirements as an elective option within their Master of Financial Planning degree so they can graduate with an academic qualification and an SMSF Specialist Advisor designation,” Marc Olynyk, Financial Planning program director at Deakin University, added.

“The SMSF sector is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the superannuation industry and having a recognised designation to provide professional and competent SMSF advice is becoming increasingly important for advisers.”