The conference will be held over two days, from 21 to 23 February, and attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of technical sessions and workshops designed to elevate specialist superannuation advice and demonstrate how delegates can grow and excel professionally.

“The sector is constantly changing, as evidenced with the possibility of new tax on superannuation earnings exceeding $3 million,” said SMSF Association’s head of technical, Mary Simmons.

“We need to ensure collectively that we are always learning to remain at the peak of our abilities, and at the forefront of the industry, so we are best equipped for these new conversations.”

As well as invaluable technical advice, Ms Simmons said the conference will bring together the brightest minds in the SMSF sector.

“The networking opportunities and ability to share ideas and knowledge among industry peers adds significantly to the depth of learning and professional development,” she said

“Whether you’re advising clients just starting out in their working careers, clients closer to retirement or who have retired, the program delivers strategies for optimising superannuation contributions and planning for a secure retirement.”

As the new tax on super balances above $3 million becomes an inevitable reality, the association’s national conference emerges as an essential platform to unravel the intricate details and the impact on the superannuation industry.

“In addition to Meg Heffron’s plenary address on how to address the ‘doom and gloom’ narrative, we have a dedicated workshop to unpack the detail, and using case studies to focus on the nuances of the new tax landscape and how it interacts with elements such as the client’s total super balance and their transfer balance cap,” Ms Simmons continued.

“Addressing the needs of high-net-worth individuals, the program features sessions which provide detailed modelling and actionable insights about opportunities and a workshop on wealth management strategies to explore how alternative investment structures can seamlessly complement SMSFs.”

SMSF Association chair Scott Hay-Bartlem will close the conference with a keynote address on the ramifications that this new tax could have on beneficiaries and estate planning.

There will also be planned sessions to address the critical need for contingency planning – from navigating the initial death of a member and valid enduring powers of attorney to exercising trustee discretion responsibly and how best to manage rogue trustees.

Given the prominence of direct property holdings in SMSFs, the conference program also offers a range of sessions to explore different ways to structure property ownership, as well as insights into handling complex situations ranging from related-party transactions to managing limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBAs) in a rising interest rate environment.

Early bird registrations are now open, and following the overwhelming success and popularity of the workshops at previous national conferences, bookings for these are open.

“We expect the workshops at next year’s conference to reach capacity, so we encourage delegates to register early,” Ms Simmons said.

To view the program and register for early bird: SMSF Association National Conference 2024.