Perpetual's SMSF administration arm Smartsuper has launched a technical information and advisory service for advisers and accountants seeking quick, accurate responses to specific SMSF questions.
General manager Michael Brown said the Perpetual Smartsuper consulting service is aimed at smaller firms that have SMSF clients but lack an in-house technical team.
"We're saying, let us be your technical experts," Brown said.
At base level, an annual subscription entitles clients to phone and email support on particular SMSF related issues.
"These might include questions on obscure pieces of legislation, like enduring power of attorney, about borrowing rules, about complicated transactions," Brown said.
The service also provides concise reviews of technical strategies, quarterly adviser workshops in each capital city, and access to technical resources on the Smartsuper website.
Brown said that in many cases, clients' questions relate to whether a course of action is viable or permitted under the legislation.
"It's the kind of information that's difficult to find in books or on the internet. We can help with specific questions and give people a clearer idea of what they can and can't do. We can quickly see what you may have missed, such as whether you're going to end up paying stamp duty twice for instance," he said.
Answers can usually be provided within 24 hours.
An annual subscription fee starting at around $1500 buys answers to specific questions. Services in drafting advice and more complicated work are charged at an agreed fee.
As well as supporting its direct SMSF clients, Smartsuper also supplies SMSF administration and other services to major financial institutions such as Macquarie Equities Ltd, HSBC, UBS, Bell Potter, Commonwealth Bank, City Group, AMP Financial Services and Hillross.
"Over the years our team has probably covered every question there is regarding SMSFs," Brown said.
"With this service we're making that knowledge available more broadly."
