In the third round of award announcements for the 2020 SMSF Awards, SMSF Adviser can reveal that Act2 Solutions has won the award for actuarial certificate provider, while Vanguard has won ETF provider. Further award winners will be announced this week.
SMSF Awards 2020
It has been another tumultuous year for the SMSF sector, with the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn impacting everything from investment to compliance. The ATO and the SMSF sector in general has worked tirelessly to address some of the unforeseen issues arising from the current environment. As always, SMSF professionals and their clients have relied heavily on SMSF service providers to guide them through this period of change. Partnering with firms that are adaptable and agile is critical at the moment and has a direct impact on the confidence and satisfaction of clients.
Now in its seventh year, the SMSF Awards recognise the excellence and innovation of the best performing operators servicing SMSF professionals. The winners are based on a survey which was distributed to SMSF Adviser’s database of SMSF professionals. The results were collated and determined by an independent analyst.
ACTUARIAL CERTIFICATE PROVIDER WINNER: ACT2 SOLUTIONS
Highly commended: Accurium
Actuarial certificates are a necessity to many SMSFs and finding a provider that not only offers an efficient service but technical expertise also, is highly desirable for both SMSF professionals and their clients. This year’s winner has won four times in the past five years and prides itself on its close relationships with clients.
Andy O’Meagher, director & Helen Molloy, chief operations officer, Act2 Solutions
“Act2 Solutions is in a fortunate position in so many ways. We are a small, independent company so can be quite flexible in our approach and responsive to the needs of clients. We have gathered a dynamic and extremely talented team of individuals who not only work together tremendously well but are also the best of friends. This makes for a happy, relaxed yet productive work environment. Whilst it may seem glib to say client experience is our focus, the truth is we treat each interaction as if the client is a friend.
The Act2 Team had a very challenging 2019/20 and to be recognised in this way has been an uplifting and stirring outcome for us. In the past couple of years, we were fortunate enough to gain the services of Rebecca Oakes. Her professionalism, extensive SMSF knowledge and open manner with clients has contributed significantly to this win. Kristy Jackson, our accounts guru, has certainly tightened up how things operate in that area and her skills with handling clients from every part of the spectrum is also a substantial component of this award. Last, but certainly not least, our marketing, HR and Chief Operations Officer, Helen Molloy has excelled in her ability to attract new clients and support and maintain the remarkable group of long-standing clients/friends that we retain.
We are thrilled to receive this award for the fourth time in five years and look ahead with excitement and anticipation as we have some new tricks up our sleeves to help improve our client services in the future. Thanks again to all who voted, from a very fortunate Andy O’Meagher, on behalf of the Act2 Solutions Team. We are humbled and appreciative.”
ETF PROVIDER WINNER: VANGUARD
Highly commended: iShares
ETFs have long been an important investment tool for providing diversification in SMSF portfolios. Remaining diversified in the current environment has never been more important with the outcomes and impact of COVID on different sectors and economies very uncertain. Vanguard, who has won the award several years in a row, has a long history of providing ETF products and has a strong focus on servicing SMSFs.
Robin Bowerman, head of corporate affairs, Vanguard Investments Australia
“The hallmarks of Vanguard’s ETFs are broad diversification across the major asset classes and low cost.
Many financial advisers recognise the benefits ETFs can offer their clients; low costs, broad diversification, transparency of strategy and pricing, and liquidity. Additionally, advisers are finding that ETFs – in particular our range of multi-asset class ETFs – offer an easy and cost-effective way to implement strategic asset allocation for their clients, letting them build broadly diversified portfolios to suit their clients’ appetite for risk and time horizons.
The market volatility and uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic will, understandably, be testing the resilience of investors. That’s why, more than ever, it’s important for SMSF trustees to remain diversified, spread their investment risk across different asset classes, and maintain low costs.
The latest Vanguard/Investment Trends SMSF report shows trustees of SMSF use of ETFs remained steady with diversification, low cost and access to overseas markets the main drivers. Equally the report showed financial advisers of SMSF trustees have a strong appetite for using ETFs, with diversification of SMSF portfolios their top priority.
Investing in broadly diversified ETFs offers investor portfolios access to often hundreds, or even thousands of companies across the globe offering instant diversification with the simplicity of one trade.
We were excited to recently add SMSF functionality to our Personal Investor offer, providing SMSF trustees access to our range of ETFs brokerage-free, along with our unlisted managed funds, and ASX listed shares.
While we offer a broad range of ETFs across all asset classes, we are constantly reviewing where we can offer ETF products that adhere to our mantra of providing low-cost diversification, with long-term sustainability.“
