Survey opens Monday 16 November 2026
A smarter future
The Future of SMSF returns in 2027
In 2018, the Future of SMSF report helped practitioners make sense of super reform and the move to cloud-based technology. In 2027 it returns as the sector faces another period of significant legislative and regulatory change, and a technology shift led by AI.
Survey opens
Monday 16 November 2026
Final report expected mid February 2027
3
survey waves
8–10
minutes per wave
3rd
edition
Why now
As in 2018, the sector is changing on three fronts at once
New funds are being established at a record pace while the rules, the regulators' expectations and the tools practitioners use are all shifting.
Legislative
6
legislative and regulatory changes this year, including Division 296 tax, AML/CTF and residential LRBA limits, with further consumer protection measures on the way.
Regulatory and capacity
−38.4%
fewer active SMSF auditors since FY20, while 52,020 new SMSFs were established in FY26, a record.
Technology
~40%
of new trustees used AI tools to assess an SMSF. Trustees now arrive AI-informed, and practices are deciding how far to adopt AI themselves.
Sources: ATO June 2026; Class 2026 Benchmark Report; Vanguard / Investment Trends via Class.
Our history
We have been here before
Since 2014, the Future of SMSF series has measured how practices actually work. Professionals used it to navigate super reform, the move from desktop to cloud-based technology and the shift towards specialisation.
2014
The inaugural Future of SMSF report
430 responses. A joint study by The SMSF Academy and BGL that captured the profession as cloud adoption began, with 44.8% of practices using cloud technology.
2018
A record survey after the 2017 super reforms
488 responses, published by Smarter SMSF with BGL, Class and Act2. Cloud use had reached about 90% of practices, yet 52.6% still priced by time cost. The report showed specialists won 74% of new business and grew 282% faster than generalists.
2019
The 5 Stages of an SMSF Business
A practical framework built on the 2018 findings, helping practitioners to successfully transition their SMSF business model.
2027
The Future of SMSF 2027
The AI shift, set against regulatory and legislative change, with a trend line running back through 2014 and 2018.
1,000+
downloads of the 2018 report
3,500+
professionals reached through conferences and webinars presenting the findings and building new SMSF business models for growth
918
practitioner responses across the 2014 and 2018 editions
The 2027 research
Three short surveys. One clear picture of the profession.
Each wave takes 8–10 minutes and stays open until late January, so you can catch up on any you miss. Responses are anonymous. When you finish, you can add your details to receive the final report free. Core questions repeat from 2014 and 2018 so the report can show how the profession has changed.
Wave 1 · from Monday 16 November
Your practice today
A snapshot of how SMSF practices are set up, priced and growing, and where AI already fits into the work.
Practice profile and capacity
Your role, team size, the work done by onshore and offshore staff, and what you outsource.
Services and pricing
Fee models and invoicing, and how regulatory change such as AML/CTF and Division 296 is affecting your fees.
Growth and consolidation
Revenue trends, your outlook for the next three years, and your appetite to buy, sell or partner.
AI baseline
Which AI tools you use today, on which tasks, and with what review in place.
Includes the core tracker questions from 2014 and 2018, so the trend runs back more than a decade.
Wave 2 · from Monday 7 December
The digital SMSF landscape
How SMSFs are now established, run and wound up in a digital world, and what that means for the practices behind them.
The digital fund lifecycle
Online establishment, electronic execution and signing, digital record keeping, Director IDs and online identity verification.
AI in practice
The tasks AI now handles, the time it saves, how its output is reviewed and governed, and what is holding firms back.
Technology and data
Data feeds, integrations, SuperStream data and the analytics practices use to stay ahead of client needs.
AI-informed trustees
Clients who arrive having researched with AI tools, and what they now expect on speed, cost and access to their fund.
Wave 3 · from Monday 18 January
Regulation, people and the outlook
How practices are absorbing a heavy year of change, and where the sector goes from here.
Regulatory readiness
Division 296, Payday Super, residential LRBA limits and AML/CTF: the workload, the cost and your confidence supporting clients.
Workforce and capacity
Hiring, succession and the junior pipeline, offshoring and AI, and capacity across audit and advice.
Licensing and the advice boundary
How practices work within the licensing framework, including execution-only services.
New funds and the outlook
Who is establishing SMSFs today, the quality of new funds, and where the sector is heading.
In every wave: a short pulse on your outlook, workload and confidence, so we can see how sentiment shifts from November to January.
Partner with usFinal report expected mid February 2027
A report, a live dashboard and a benchmark you can use
The flagship report
Free for every professional who takes part. Findings by practice size, specialisation and role, with a trend chapter running 2014, 2018 and 2027.
Interactive dashboard
Published alongside the final report. Explore the findings that matter to your practice, by size, specialisation and role.
Benchmark your practice
A tool to benchmark your practice against the results, by size, specialisation and role, released after the final report. Pricing to be announced.
Partner with us
Interested in partnering with us on the report?
For 2027 we're inviting service providers within the SMSF sector to become report partners and help give the profession clear guidance on what comes next. Partners support the report as a whole, and editorial independence terms are agreed in writing before any funding.
Founding partner
Named on the cover and all materials, with input on the question set, an embargoed briefing on the findings, and first choice of chapter for a partner perspective.
Supporting partner
A partner perspective on one chapter of the report, allocated by fit, with your logo in the report and on the dashboard.
Distribution partner
Acknowledged in the report, in return for inviting your members or clients to take part.
A partner perspective is a short, clearly labelled commentary that responds to a chapter's findings. It is written after the results are in and never changes them.
Aaron Dunn
CEO and co-founder, Smarter SMSF
Get in contact
Or call 1300 95 94 76 · team@smartersmsf.com
