Maintaining your knowledge and ongoing CPD/CPE hours is the most significant challenge for SMSF practitioners in today’s dynamic landscape.
Legislation is constantly evolving, and so is regulatory change. For SMSF professionals, this requires timely comprehension of these issues and strategies to ensure the delivery of relevant and timely insights and opportunities for SMSF clients.
As an accredited education of the SMSF Association, Smarter SMSF provides a range of CPD training to help support the minimum CPD obligations for both specialists and associate member of the SMSF Association.
Before we jump into the specifics for SMSF Association members, let’s take a step back to understand the delivery of SMSF education to professionals.
Structured vs. Unstructured CPD hours
The following table outlines how CPD hours can be attained through both structured and unstructured education. As an accredited education with the SMSF Association, all of Smarter SMSF’s CPD training for its CPD members is categorised as structured training:
| Structured | Unstructured |
| Clear set of objectives and a logical framework; where the participant will seek or receive a specific learning objective, and the CPE event will provide a structured means to achieve that objective. | Unstructured CPE has no set knowledge or learning objective or external structure. |
| Conferences & events (e.g. SMSF Day 2025) | Technical reading / listening – e.g. articles or podcasts (e.g. SMSF Adviser Show) |
| CPE activities provided by professional bodies or accredited training providers (e.g. Smarter SMSF CPD subscription) | Research and writing for technical papers |
| Formal in-house training provided for by / for employer | Regulator information & discussion sessions |
| Attendance of endorsed discussion groups | |
| Courses of study or professional body programs |
Accredited vs Non-Accredited CPD hours
Professional associations, such as the SMSF Association impose a maximum limit on the number of hours that have not been formally accredited with that member body. The reason for this is that any accredited activities are assessed by the association through a formal review process of the CPD session format, content and duration of the activity that is being undertaken. Furthermore, for the activity to qualify for accredited CPD hours, the activity/ies being provided must focus on specific knowledge areas that are relevant to the provision of advice on SMSFs (rather than for specific products).
How does this apply for SMSF Association members?
The SMSF Association requires a SMSF Specialist member to maintain a minimum of 90 CPD hours each triennium, with 25 hours minimum each year (1 July – 30 June). For an Associate member, it is 60 hours (triennium) and 15 hours p.a.
| CPD category | Sources | Allocation limit |
| Accredited | SMSF Association accredited external activities (e.g. Smarter SMSF)
SMSF Association activities (inc. Committee participation) |
Unlimited |
| Non-accredited | Other association education activities
Other organisation education activities Professional reading (sub-limit of 5 hours per annum) |
30 hours per triennium |
| Knowledge areas | SMSF, Superannuation, Practice Management, Ethics, Life Insurance, Securities, Managed Investments, General Insurance, Deposit Products | |
How does Smarter SMSF’s CPD subscription help you to meet your CPD obligations as a member of the SMSF Association?
Smarter SMSF’s CPD subscription packages and events during the year a range of online and face-to face activities to help meet your accredited and structured CPD obligations as a specialist or associate member with the SMSF Association
Let’s take a look at the following example to understand how this is achieved:
Example:
Andrew is a SMSF Specialist Advisor (SSA) and their CPD triennium covers from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2025. Here’s how his Smarter SMSF subscription will satisfy his CPD requirements:
-
- Attends SMSF Association National Conference [2023] – 15 CPD hours (S)
- Attends Smarter SMSF CPD webinars [2023] – 11 CPD hours (S)
- Attends Smarter SMSF CPD webinars [2024] – 11 CPD hours (S)
- Attends Smarter SMSF CPD webinars [2025] – 5.5 CPD hours (S)
- Attends 2 x SMSF masterclasses [2023] – 8 CPD hours (S)
- Attends 3 x SMSF masterclasses [2024] – 12 CPD hours (S)
- Attends 1 x SMSF masterclass [2025] – 4 CPD hours (S)
- Attends SMSF Day 2025 – 8 CPD hours (S)
- Attends 1 x local community CPD event [2023] – 1 hour (S) or (U)
- Attends 1 x local community CPD event [2024] – 1 hour (S) or (U)
- Conducts – 20+ hours of professional reading – 15 hours capped (U)
Andrew’s CPD hours for the triennium are categorised as follows:
|
Accredited |
Non-accredited | Total |
|
74.5 |
17.0 |
91.5 |
| Minimum – 60 hrs | Maximum – 30 hrs |
Min. 90 hrs |
As a result of the above activities (completed and to be completed), Andrew will meet his CPD requirements for the triennium with the SMSF Association through the utilisation of his Smarter SMSF CPD subscription (through to June 2025).
Smarter SMSF CPD packages
To find out more here about Smarter SMSF’s CPD training packages, or book a demo meeting of our smarter learning platform.
