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Home > Combine the Master of Financial Planning with the SMSF Specialist Adviser™ (SSA®) designation
Achieve Kaplan Professional’s highly-regarded Master of Financial Planning together with the SMSF Association’s SMSF Specialist Adviser™ (SSA®) designation at the same time.
In an increasingly competitive environment, financial advisers across the country are looking for ways to stand out from the crowd and further specialise in their career.
Kaplan Professional is proud to partner with the SMSF Association, offering advisers the opportunity to enhance their credentials and specialise in one of the fastest growing sectors of the superannuation industry.
To achieve both Kaplan Professional’s FAS-approved Master of Financial Planning and the SMSF Association’s SSA® designation, you’ll need to successfully complete:
You’ll be granted advanced standing into the Master of Financial Planning. This means Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning graduates will be required to complete just four more subjects and Graduate Certificate of Financial Planning graduates required to complete eight more subjects*.
*This is based on Kaplan Professional’s postgraduate financial planning qualifications. Qualifications completed elsewhere will be assessed for advanced standing on a case-by-case basis.
Simply complete the one subject – FPE020 SMSF Regulations and Taxation – to be eligible to apply for the SMSF Specialist Advisor™ (SSA®) designation.
The SMSF Association is the independent, professional body representing Australia’s self-managed super fund sector. We are here to improve the quality of advice and the credibility and health of a vibrant SMSF community. We believe that every Australian has the right to a good quality of life in retirement and the right to control their own financial destiny.
Our vision is to enable Australians to take greater control of their own financial destiny through a sustainable SMSF community.
Our mission is to lead the professionalism, integrity and sustainability of the SMSF sector.
Individuals enrolled in the FPE020 SMSF Regulations and Taxation elective subject can enjoy up to 12-months of complimentary SMSF Associate Membership (valued at $640) as this subject is being completed. On claiming this offer, students will receive complimentary membership until 31 March of the following calendar year. The SMSF Association membership cycle runs 1 April – 31 March. Terms and conditions apply*. Claim now.
SMSF Associate Members will gain access to additional resources that can support their studies, such as:
* To be eligible, you must register for this offer within 12 months of enrolment in FPE020 SMSF Regulations and Taxation with Kaplan Professional, and not be a current financial member of the SMSF Association.
Growing your profile with exclusive branding and ‘Find a Specialist’ online directory listing
Remaining at the forefront of the SMSF sector to ensure best-practice standards
Achieving an industry-leading designation (SSATM)
Enhancing your current SMSF skills and knowledge
Independent recognition of your SMSF expertise
Becoming an SMSF Specialist provides you with independent recognition of your SMSF expertise and knowledge with the industry-leading SMSF Specialist Adviser™ (SSA®) designation.
Attaining the highly-coveted SSA® designation demonstrates your knowledge to clients and your peers, while positioning you as an SMSF industry leader and expert.
Our knowledgeable Course Advice team is here to answer your questions and support you with your study plan, including subject selection and enrolment. Complete the form below to request a call or to ask a question.
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Kaplan Professional is offering education update presentations for advice firms – available online or in person – designed to help advisers navigate the evolving professional landscape.
The financial advice profession is rarely a straight path. Increasing regulation, rising client expectations, technological change and higher professional standards mean advisers must continually adapt to remain relevant and competitive.
This presentation maps the full career lifecycle of an adviser – from entry into the profession through to specialisation, leadership and long-term sustainability. At each stage, we explore the capabilities required, the common challenges advisers face, and the role education plays not just as a compliance requirement, but as a strategic enabler of professional growth.
• Education pathways from entry to senior leadership
• How capability requirements evolve across career stages
• The shift from minimum standards to advanced technical and strategic expertise
• The role of ongoing education in building resilience, sound judgement and sustainable careers
Designed for adviser teams and leadership groups, this presentation provides practical insights into how structured learning supports long-term performance, professionalism and business sustainability.
To book an education update session for your advisers please contact your Corporate Relationship Manager to arrange a suitable time.
Date: Wednesday, 11 March
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm AEDT
Fee: $280
Where: Online (Zoom)
Host: Matthew Farley
A certificate of attendance outlining CPD hours will be awarded at the conclusion of this workshop. A full list of topics is available on our website.
Date: Thursday, 19 March
Time: 1:00pm – 3:30pm AEDT
Fee: $340
Host: Dr Jenny Diggle
Kaplan Professional has expanded the Financial Adviser Accelerator Suite with a new set of practical topics designed to further strengthen capability across both technical and client engagement areas.
As client expectations continue to rise and advice scenarios become more complex, early career advisers must combine sound technical knowledge with strong communication skills and thoughtful decision-making. The latest additions to the suite support this ongoing professional development.
Practical frameworks to enhance credibility, strengthen adviser presence and build more meaningful, long-term client relationships.
Structured approaches to assessing appropriate cover, modelling client scenarios and supporting well-reasoned, client-centred risk advice.
Applying probability-based thinking to improve strategic judgement and support more confident decision-making in uncertain environments.
These additions build on the Financial Adviser Accelerator Suite focus on applied, real-world learning, equipping advisers with skills that can be immediately implemented in practice.
The ongoing expansion of the Financial Adviser Accelerator Suite reflects Kaplan Professional’s commitment to supporting advisers as they continue to develop deeper expertise and deliver high-quality, client-focused advice.
For advisers who have now met the education standard, the focus shifts from compliance to opportunity.
Kaplan Professional offers clear pathways to build on the bridging courses and subjects already completed and convert that study into a full, recognised qualification. Advisers who have completed individual units toward the education standard may be eligible to articulate into the Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning or Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning, formalising their academic achievement and strengthening their professional standing.
From there, eligible Graduate Diploma alumni can upgrade to the Master of Financial Planning, completing the remaining subjects to attain a postgraduate qualification that positions them above the minimum regulatory requirement. The Master’s program also provides direct pathways toward leading professional designations, including CFP® and SSA®, enabling advisers to align academic progression with industry-recognised credentials.
Advisers who have completed the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning are already eligible to obtain leading professional designations through the College for Financial Planning®. This includes globally-recognised credentials such as the Accredited Behavioural Finance ProfessionalSM (ABFP®) and Chartered Retirement Planning CounsellorSM (CRPC®) designation.
No further study is required to meet the education component for these certifications, allowing advisers to leverage their existing qualification to secure respected professional recognition and further strengthen their standing in the industry.
Beyond core qualifications, Kaplan Professional also offers access to additional specialist electives and professional designation pathways, allowing advisers to differentiate in areas such as superannuation, retirement, ethics and client strategy.
In short, completing the education standard doesn’t have to be the end point. With Kaplan Professional, it can be the foundation for higher qualifications, respected designations and long-term career progression.
Contact your Corporate Relationship Manager to discuss the education options and pathways for your adviser network. Alternatively, contact 1300 135 798 (option 2) or email courseadvice@kaplan.edu.au.
Kaplan Professional will host a special Women in Finance webinar on Tuesday, 3 March, celebrating the achievements, leadership and career journeys of women shaping the financial services industry.
The session will explore leadership, career progression and the role education has played in supporting professional success across diverse areas of the sector.
Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning dux, two-time Olympian and Financial Adviser at HLB Mann Judd.
Graduate Diploma graduate, business owner and founder of a caregiving training institute in Bangladesh, with more than 20 years’ industry experience.
Master of Applied Finance graduate and Director at BDO Sydney, specialising in governance, risk and assurance across financial services.
Date: Tuesday, 3 March
Time: 1:30pm AEDT
Location: Online (Zoom)
The webinar will include practical leadership insights, reflections on career growth, discussion on the impact of education in finance, and an interactive Q&A session.
Now
9 March
25 March
29 May
Kaplan Professional is offering eligible Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning alumni a limited-time opportunity to upgrade to the Master of Financial Planning at a fixed alumni price of $5,000.
This exclusive offer enables alumni to complete their remaining four subjects – two core subjects (FPC009 Complex Financial Planning and KAP001 Capstone Project) and two electives – at a substantially reduced cost compared to standard postgraduate tuition fees.
To access the offer, eligible alumni must enrol and commence their first subject by the Study Period 2 census date, 25 March 2026.
Upgrading to the Master’s degree provides advisers with the opportunity to deepen technical expertise, broaden strategic capability and position themselves strongly as professional standards across the industry continue to rise. The program also supports progression toward additional professional designations.
Full details, including subject structure, study plans and application steps, are available below.