Vested interests

There are those with vested interests such as industry funds and retail funds that attack SMSFs for their own purposes. They rightly perceive SMSFS as a growing threat to their business model. Increasingly they are seeing their largest and most profitable clients voting with their feet by leaving their industry fund or retail fund and starting up their own SMSF. Some of the industry and retail funds criticisms of SMSFs are valid; most are not.

Nothing to see here, move on

In response, there are many who operate within the SMSF industry who, defending their vested interests, continue to argue that there is no problem whatsoever with consumer protection in SMSFs. They argue there is no need for regulators or the federal government to review the regulations currently in place that supposedly adequately protect consumers.

SMSF investors will continue to be preyed upon

Sadly, it was recently revealed that a one-stop SMSF business in Adelaide specialising in SMSF property investing had allegedly fleeced its clients and collapsed, owing millions. It is clear that some in our SMSF industry have done things that are unethical and wrong. As SMSF professionals, this saddens and embarrasses us.

My prediction is that, unfortunately, in the coming months and years, more and more instances of unscrupulous operators and their victims like this will come to light and taint the reputation of the whole SMSF sector.

As SMSF professionals we face a choice. Do we recognise this growing threat now and take the lead to better protect consumers or do we continue to bury our heads in the sand, pursue our own self interest and keep yelling that it is merely a small and/or rogue element in the SMSF industry? As SMSF professionals we know it is a minority operating in this way, but that is and will be scant consolation to those who are going to be ripped off by unscrupulous SMSF operators in the future.

Clearly a compensation scheme for SMSF investors is not the answer as it would likely lead to moral hazard issues, potentially furthering encouraging SMSF investors to take unnecessary risks.

The problem is one-stop property spruikers are encouraging investors to set up SMSFs to invest in leveraged properties that may be completely inappropriate, without explaining the true risks. The rising problem of highly geared single-asset SMSFs is going to continue to hang over our industry until we do something about it.

We should stop fighting reform and start demanding it

In my view, true SMSF professionals should stop arguing that the new federal government should not review consumer protections in the SMSF industry. That approach is rightly perceived by investors as merely self serving. Instead, as professionals, we should stand up and proactively demand the government examine better SMSF consumer protections.

We should take the leading role to ensure the long-term reputation of SMSFs as the retirement vehicle of choice for successful Australians is maintained and strengthened.

We should act in the best interests of consumers and we should act professionally. That is our greatest challenge and our greatest opportunity.

Tim Mackay, principal and wealth adviser at Quantum Financial.