Women seeking SMSF advice on the rise



Women are increasingly disposed to seek out specialist self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) advice to assist them on their super journey, the SMSF Association believes.
Research by the association and the Commonwealth Bank found while men were more likely to initiate the establishment of an SMSF, the disparity was narrowing as more women from Gen X and Y took the initiative.
The association's managing director and chief executive, Andrea Slattery, said: "But perhaps the most significant piece of data was the statistic showing 91 per cent of all SMSFs surveyed were either ‘very confident' (49 per cent) or ‘somewhat confident' (42 per cent) of having sufficient knowledge to take over the sole responsibility for managing their SMSF investments".
"I take great heart from this figure. It suggests to me that the decision-making in SMSFs is far more collective than is reflected in the raw numbers, and that women have the confidence to take control of the fund in the event of divorce, separation or death," Slattery said.
"They are also increasingly disposed to seek out specialist SMSF advice to assist them on their superannuation journey, mindful of the complexities in all areas of overseeing an SMSF, especially when the rules are undergoing constant change. Our SMSF specialists have the skills to deliver these services to them."
Slattery said it was imperative the Government took advantage of this growing interest by creating the right framework to help narrow the gap between the retirement income balances of men and women.
Recommended for you
Results are out for the latest sitting of the ASIC financial advice exam, with the pass rate falling for the second consecutive sitting.
Adviser losses for the end of June have come in 143 per cent higher than the same period last year, and bring the total June loss to over 350.
ASIC’s enforcement action is having an active start to the new financial year, banning a former Queensland financial adviser for 10 years in relation to fees for no service conduct.
ASIC has confirmed the industry funding levy for the 2024–25 financial year, and how much licensees can expect to pay.