SMSF admin firms make ground on data post-reform
The super reforms have triggered greater investment in the development of big data analysis by the major SMSF administrators which is predicted to see significant benefits for SMSF firms in coming years, according to one tech heavyweight.
Smithink director David Smith said some of the major SMSF administrators are increasingly looking at the role of big data, particularly following the introduction of the $1.6 million transfer balance cap, which could enable SMSF firms to offer further value to their clients.
“If you look at the big admin providers, they’ve got all of these SMSFs sitting in one big data base, and so then their ability to mine that data base and have a look at how SMSFs are performing, or what SMSFs have potential issues in them that need to be reviewed and addressed, are all ways that accounting firms can add more value to their clients and increase their efficiency,” said Mr Smith.
"With the recent $1.6 million transfer cap, some of the SMSF administration platforms are already developing ways for accounting firms to be able to identify those SMSFs with more than $1.6 million sitting in a pension account that need to be reviewed," he said.
“These administration platforms can very easily help these accounting firms and the SMSF administrators identify which funds need to be quickly addressed,” he noted.
“So over time, I think we’ll see a number of these platforms building more and more big data analysis of these funds to enable the administrators to do their job more efficiently.”
Mr Smith said some of the functions that this big data analysis will perform in the future will include identifying issues with funds and providing insights into the performance of SMSFs in order to help clients manage their fund more effectively.
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.
