The Institute of Financial Professionals Australia invites you to the 2026 Annual Conference & Expo, a two-day event designed to strengthen your practice and secure your future in an evolving financial services landscape.

With expert-led education, tailored learning streams, and unparalleled networking, this is where independent professionals come together to build resilience, share ideas, and unlock growth opportunities.

Exclusive Benefit for Annual Platinum Members

Valued annual Platinum members, are entitled to a complimentary ticket to this flagship event, allowing them to experience the full conference at no additional cost-just one of the many premium benefits of Platinum Membership.

To ensure seamless event planning, Platinum members must still register for the event to confirm attendance for capacity and catering purposes. A separate email with a unique 100% discount code, which must be applied during registration on the conference website will be sent to these members.

WHY ATTEND?

18+ CPD Hours Across Core Professional Areas

Earn more than 18 CPD hours across sessions covering legislated areas, including:

  • Professionalism and Ethics
  • Client Care and Practice
  • Regulatory Compliance and Consumer Protection
  • Tax (Financial) Advice
  • Technical Competence

Two Curated Learning Streams

Choose from two focused content tracks to shape your experience:

  1. Technical Mastery – Deep dives into tax, superannuation, and financial advice.
  2. Practice Growth & Innovation – Strategies for marketing, operations, and sustainable business growth.

All delegates will also receive post-event access to recordings from both streams, ensuring you can complete your CPD and revisit content at your own pace.

Beyond Knowledge: Build a Stronger, Brighter Future

Across two days, gain practical insights from leading industry voices, learn how to navigate change and seize opportunities, and uncover actionable strategies to future-proof your practice.

Unrivalled Networking & Connection

From dedicated networking breaks and workshops to the Expo Hall and our first-night Networking Dinner, you’ll make the connections that matter with fellow professionals, providers, and thought leaders shaping the industry.

Join us for the premier gathering of independent tax, accounting, superannuation, and financial advice professionals in 2026. Leave equipped with the skills, strategies, and relationships you need to build a stronger practice and a brighter future.

REGISTER HERE

Early bird pricing for full 2 days conference purchase only.

DAY 1

19 March 2026

In Person Prices

$440+gst MEMBER

$550+gst NON MEMBER

Register for Day 1 In Person Tickets

Online Prices

$380+gst MEMBER

$530+gst NON MEMBER

Register for Day 1 Online Tickets
DAY 2

20 March 2026

In Person Prices

$440+gst MEMBER

$550+gst NON MEMBER

Register for Day 2 In Person Tickets

Online Prices

$380+gst MEMBER

$530+gst NON MEMBER

Register for Day 2 Online Tickets
BOTH DAYS

19 – 20 March 2026

In Person Prices

$650+gst $750+gst MEMBER

$800+gst $900+gst NON MEMBER

Register for In Person Tickets

Online Prices

$500+gst $600+gst MEMBER

$650+gst $750+gst NON MEMBER

Register for Online Tickets

AGENDA

DAY 1

19 March 2026

Streams

PLENARY

TAX

FINANCIAL SERVICES

8:45 – 9:00 am

MC intro and President’s welcome

9:00 – 10:15 am

Legislation and regulations update

Natasha Panagis & Joshua Goldsmith

The tax, superannuation and financial services landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace. In this session, our technical team will walk you through the latest legislative and regulatory developments impacting the profession. You will gain practical insights into how these changes may affect your practice and your clients, helping you stay informed, compliant and prepared for what lies ahead.

10:15 – 10:40 am

MORNING  TEA

10:40 – 11:40 pm

Trusts, Tax and Trouble: Bendel, s100A and the ATO’s Next Move

Joshua Goldsmith

This session examines the practical uncertainty arising from the High Court appeal in Commissioner of Taxation v Bendel, which challenges the ATO’s long-standing treatment of unpaid present entitlements and their interaction with Division 7A. It addresses the central question facing advisers: will the Court ultimately endorse years of administrative practice, or materially simplify the landscape for family trusts?

The session will also explore the ATO’s clear signal that section 100A remains firmly in play, particularly where taxpayers seek to rely on a favourable outcome in Bendel to restructure or recharacterise their arrangements. Attention will be given to how the ATO is likely to approach these scenarios in practice.

In addition, the session will consider the implications for 30 June distribution decisions, documentation and “who actually benefits” analysis. It will conclude by examining possible government responses, including the prospect of a legislative fix, so advisers can guide clients with greater clarity and keep trust structures defensible in a increasingly scrutinised environment.

Optimising Super Contributions: Strategies to Maximise Client Outcomes

Michelle Griffiths

This session explores practical superannuation contribution strategies designed to maximise client outcomes. It will cover how to refine traditional approaches such as recontribution strategies, spouse contribution equalisation and downsizer contributions, highlighting the benefits these strategies can deliver for clients.

Practical tips and real-world case studies will demonstrate how to optimise concessional and non-concessional contributions while managing key risks, including excess contributions and total super balance limits. The session will also highlight how to avoid costly mistakes and support effective client strategies.

11:40 – 12:10 pm

Closing the Advice Gap: Practical Advice Delivery for Accounting Firms

George Haramis

Join this session to see how moneyGPS Professional is helping accountants deliver compliant, targeted digital advice at scale, closing the advice gap for clients who need guidance but cannot justify the cost of traditional models. We will step through how the platform captures client information via a secure digital fact find and produces single-topic Advice Plans and Statements of Advice issued under the moneyGPS AFSL, enabling firms to expand into advice in a controlled, practical way across areas such as superannuation, retirement and investments.

You will also hear what is coming next: from February 2026, moneyGPS will introduce RG146-qualified AI.Agents as part of its digital advice proposition, initially engaging end clients by phone in the style of a human GPS Coach, before evolving to on-screen Avatars for formal online meetings (Teams/Zoom).

Rounding out the forward view, moneyGPS is developing another Australian first for 2026: SMSF Digital Advice SoAs issued under the moneyGPS AFSL, a significant step-change for the accounting profession and the SMSF sector.

LIVs Explained: Structure, Stability and Portfolio Fit

Listed Association

This panel session will examine the enduring structural strengths of ASX-listed investment vehicles (LIVs), and why their closed-end design, stable capital base, and capacity to retain income and manage distributions continue to appeal to both investors and advisers.

Join us for a direct, practical discussion on where LIVs fit in modern Australian portfolios, and what advisers should be watching as market conditions and product structures continue to evolve.

12:10 – 1:10 pm

LUNCH

1:10 – 3:10 pm

WORKSHOP: Small Business CGT Concessions, Practical Applications and Common Pitfalls

The small business CGT concessions can deliver life-changing outcomes for clients, but only when the eligibility tests, structuring, and documentation are handled with care.

This practical two-hour tax workshop is designed to sharpen your confidence in applying the concessions in the real world, with a clear focus on what the ATO will expect to see, where advisers and tax practitioners commonly come unstuck, and how to protect your client and your practice.

WORKSHOP: Ethics in Practice - Navigating Real-World Client Challenges

Nidal Danoun

Ethical decision-making sits at the heart of professional financial advice, yet advisers are often required to navigate complex situations where the “right” course of action is not always clear. This workshop explores ethical thinking in a practical, real-world context, focusing on how advisers can strengthen moral awareness and apply ethical principles when dealing with clients.

The workshop will examine what it truly means to act ethically in practice, including how personal values, unconscious bias and competing pressures can influence decision-making. Through discussion of common ethical dilemmas and real-world case studies, we will unpack key issues such as conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and the importance of transparency and trust in client relationships.

Designed to be both reflective and practical, this workshop provides strategies to turn ethical awareness into ethical action, helping advisers elevate professional standards and confidently manage challenging client situations.

3:10 – 3:40 pm

AFTERNOON TEA

3:40 – 4:15 pm

Award-Winning Advice: What Top Practices Do Differently

Join us at the IFPA Conference and Expo for a straight-talking panel featuring recent Australian Financial Industry Awards winners across tax, superannuation and financial advice. These are practitioners who are not guessing. They are building firms that win trust, win work, and deliver outcomes in a market that is tighter, more regulated, and far less forgiving than it used to be.

In this session, our award-winning panellists will break down how referrals actually happen, how strong professional networks are built and maintained, and how they convert introductions into long-term client relationships without resorting to pushy tactics or fluffy marketing. Expect practical discussion on positioning, pricing, client experience, partnership strategy, and the systems and habits that sustain growth while keeping standards high. If you want real-world ideas you can take back to your practice and implement immediately, this is the room to be in.

4:15 – 5:15 pm

Unstoppable Velocity

Keith Abraham

Unstoppable Velocity is a high-impact keynote designed to help individuals and teams move from intention to execution by aligning their actions with what truly drives them. Rather than focusing on doing more, the session centres on doing what matters most, helping leaders and high performers turn ambition into meaningful progress by connecting goals with emotional motivation.

Through three core pillars: discovering personal drivers, defining clear and compelling goals, and building determination through focus and consistent action, attendees gain practical tools to increase clarity, engagement and follow-through. Blending insight, storytelling and practical frameworks, this keynote equips participants with a shared language for performance and accountability, and clear next steps they can apply immediately to build momentum and move forward with purpose.

5:30 pm

NETWORKING DRINKS

6:30 pm

DINNER

DAY 2

20 March 2026

Streams

PLENARY

TAX

FINANCIAL SERVICES

9:00 – 9:15 am

Day 1 Recap

Keith Abraham

As we commence Day Two of the conference, we invite you to join us for a concise 15-minute recap of the previous day’s highlights. Delivered in a energised and insightful manner, this session will revisit the key discussions, notable takeaways, and moments of importance from Day One. It will be an excellent opportunity for attendees to reflect on the insights shared, ensuring we carry forward the lessons and themes as we dive into the day ahead. We look forward to starting our second day with a clear focus and a shared understanding of the ground we’ve already covered.

9:15 – 10:15 am

SMSF Death Benefit Planning: Avoiding Disputes and Protecting Client Outcomes

Dan Butler

Death benefit planning is an area of practice involving significant legal and administrative risk, where errors can have lasting consequences. This plenary session examines the wide range of issues that can arise on the death of an SMSF member and explains why proactive, well-considered planning is essential.

Drawing on real-world case studies, the session will explore the critical decisions and arrangements that should be addressed before a member dies. It will highlight how effective planning can add significant value to an SMSF and its beneficiaries or, if overlooked, create serious difficulties for surviving trustees, beneficiaries and SMSF practitioners. The discussion will focus on key issues that arise after a member’s death, such as trustee discretion, beneficiary choice, incapacity, trust deeds and death benefit documentation, trustee duties and conflicts of interest, and will consider how these issues may be further complicated by proposed measures such as Division 296.

The session will provide advisers with a practical framework to identify and manage SMSF death benefit and estate planning risks, helping ensure client intentions are carried through and outcomes are protected when it matters most.

10:15 – 10:45 am

You’re a Target: Cyber Security for Tax, Super and Advice Practices

Rutland Smith

Financial professionals sit on a goldmine of sensitive information, tax file numbers, bank details, identity documents, superannuation data, payroll records, trust and company structures, and years of client history. That is exactly why your practice is a prime target. In this essential session with Rutland Smith, Director at Harvey Norman Technology for Business, Rutland will cut through the jargon and focus on the real risks facing tax agents, advisers and super specialists, including the most common threats targeting our profession, and the practical steps that reduce exposure before an incident becomes a business-ending event. Drawing on the framework covered in his earlier IFPA webinar, the session will also unpack the Essential Eight Cybersecurity Risk Mitigation Framework and your obligations when handling sensitive financial information, and the simple controls that most firms either delay or assume are already covered.

This is a “know what you do not know” briefing for practice owners and team leaders who want to protect clients, reputation, and cashflow. You will leave with a clearer view of where firms are typically vulnerable, what “good enough” looks like in cyber hygiene, and how to build a more resilient practice without wasting money on noise, gimmicks, or false confidence.

10:45 – 11:10 am

MORNING  TEA

11:10 – 12:10 pm

Property and Tax Planning: What Tax Advisers Need to Know

This session provides a practical overview of property and tax planning. We will examine how outcomes can differ under income tax versus GST, including why a transaction that looks like CGT on a mere realisation can still raise taxable supply issues for GST purposes.

The session will also address CGT versus property development or profit-making scheme characterisation using current ATO guidance as the anchor point.

Attendees will leave with a clearer sense of the key facts that matter, the questions to ask early, and the red flags that property investors need to look out for.

From Premiums to Payouts: Insurance in Super Explained

Stuart Sheary

Insurance inside super is an important risk management tool, allowing members to hold cover such as life and total and permanent disability (TPD) insurance through their fund. Premiums are generally deductible and paying them from super can ease personal cashflow.

This session explores practical strategies for managing insurance premiums and benefit proceeds within the super rules. We’ll explore when and by whom benefits can be accessed, along with key tax considerations and common payment strategies.

Finally, the session highlights frequent pitfalls to avoid when setting up or claiming insurance through super.

12:10 – 1:10 pm

CGT and Deceased Estates: Avoiding Traps in Death and Estate Planning

This one-hour session explores the CGT issues that can quietly undermine effective death and estate planning. The presentation will focus on three key areas, beginning with the tax and CGT implications that arise on death, including the income tax reporting obligations of executors and administrators.

The session will then examine the increasing use of testamentary trusts, where CGT outcomes can be complex and sometimes unclear in practice. It will also cover inherited property, highlighting how timing, occupancy and post-death use can determine whether a full exemption applies or a taxable capital gain arises.

The presentation will conclude with a practical checklist of the key questions to ask and common pitfalls to avoid when advising deceased estates and beneficiaries, equipping advisers to navigate these issues with greater confidence.

Retirement Income and Investment Strategies

As SMSF members move into retirement, investment strategies must shift from accumulation to funding sustainable income while managing risk and compliance. This session explores how advisers can assist trustees in developing retirement-focused investment strategies that balance cash flow needs, longevity concerns and capital preservation.

The session will examine key pension-planning considerations, including assessing sustainable retirement income levels and addressing member reluctance to draw more than minimum pension amounts due to longevity concerns. It will also consider strategic use of exempt current pension income (ECPI) and the tax and investment implications of restructuring assets to meet retirement objectives, including any potential capital gains and losses and whether strategies may need to be revisited in light of proposed measures, such as Division 296.

Practical guidance will be provided on managing liquidity and sequencing risk in line with SIS investment strategy requirements, and on clearly documenting and communicating the suitability of a retirement investment strategy for audit and compliance purposes.

1:10 – 2:10 pm

LUNCH

2:10 – 3:10 pm

PCG 2025/5: Part IVA, PSI and Profit Retention Under Scrutiny

This session provides a practical analysis of PCG 2025/5 and the ATO’s increased focus on the potential application of Part IVA to personal services income (PSI) arrangements. It will examine scenarios where Part IVA risk may arise, including situations where no PSI attribution occurs because the personal services entity is operating a personal services business.

The session will step through the key risk indicators and behaviours that can shift an arrangement from low-risk to heightened scrutiny, particularly in the context of income splitting and profit retention practices. It will also outline the types of arrangements that are more likely to attract ATO attention under the PCG.

The session will conclude with practical guidance on what advisers should be discussing with clients now to reduce the likelihood of ATO compliance action, including how to strengthen contemporaneous documentation and evidence that business structures are driven by genuine commercial considerations rather than tax minimisation.

Elder Abuse, Incapacity and SMSFs: Protecting Clients and Practitioners

As clients age and family arrangements become more complex, practitioners are increasingly exposed to issues of elder abuse, financial exploitation and loss of capacity, often without clear warning signs. This session examines the critical role advisers, accountants and auditors play in identifying, managing and responding to these risks within their client base.

The session will explore how loss of capacity affects client decision-making and professional obligations, including the legal framework governing incapacity and how it intersects with other structures, such as SMSFs. It will address what elder and financial abuse can look like in practice, the red flags practitioners should be alert to, and how vulnerabilities can be amplified within SMSFs.

Drawing on legislation, common law principles and real-world case studies, the session will provide practical guidance on how to navigate these situations ethically and compliantly. It will also focus on risk management strategies to help practitioners safeguard their clients, while equally protecting themselves from the professional risks associated with missed warning signs, inappropriate instructions or disputed decisions.

This is an essential session for practitioners seeking to strengthen their approach to elder abuse and incapacity, and to ensure their advice remains compassionate, defensible and fit for an increasingly complex client landscape.

3:10 – 3:30 pm

AFTERNOON TEA

3:40 – 4:15 pm

Division 296: What to Expect and What It Means for Clients

Phil Broderick

Division 296 is expected to significantly influence the way advisers support high-balance superannuation clients. In this one-hour session, we will unpack the latest announced design features, including the move to a realised earnings approach and the introduction of a second $10 million threshold.

The session will translate these settings into practical client outcomes, outlining who may be affected and how the tax is intended to apply in practice. Practical examples and strategies will be presented to help advisers guide affected clients with confidence and clarity.

We will also explore whether superannuation continues to be the most tax-effective structure for retirement savings in this context, and highlight the key planning discussions advisers should be having now to ensure clients are well prepared ahead of the proposed 1 July 2026 commencement date.

4:30 pm

Final wrap-up and prize draws

5:00 pm

NETWORKING DRINKS

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