Accounting firms tipped to further integrate with advice firms
A wealth advisory firm has predicted that over the next 12 months, the gap between the accounting and advice industries will be further bridged, with firms increasingly looking to integrate with other practices.
Paradigm Group managing director Patrick Nalty says accountants are increasingly coming to grips with the requirements of the licensing regime, and in many cases are deciding it may be easier to work with an advisory firm.
“I think the next 12 months will see a significantly greater number of accounting firms [either] becoming licensed or engaging with advisory firms,” Mr Nalty told SMSF Adviser.
“I actually see that as the way of the future. Accountants will actually go to pains to try and work out who they want as their professional outsource provider.”
He added that accountants are time-poor at the best of times and the licensing regime comes with a whole raft of onerous responsibilities they have not previously been trained for or educated on.
“That’s why I think practices are opting out [of licensing and] are saying, ‘Well I’m actually better off joint venturing with a financial advisory firm or forming a strategic alliance with a good planning firm, outsourcing to them and getting them to have those types of conversations with clients,” Mr Nalty said.
He expects accountants to have increasingly engaged conversations with the advisory community.
“By their nature, accountants are professionals and do not want to be breaching any laws.”
Miranda Brownlee
Miranda Brownlee is the deputy editor of SMSF Adviser, which is the leading source of news, strategy and educational content for professionals working in the SMSF sector.
Since joining the team in 2014, Miranda has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest superannuation stories in Australia, and has reported extensively on technical strategy and legislative updates.
Miranda also has broad business and financial services reporting experience, having written for titles including Investor Daily, ifa and Accountants Daily.
