FAQs

What is a Financial Services Guide?

A licensed financial services provider must give you a written financial services guide (FSG) before you start dealing with them.

The FSG explains:

• the services offered
• how the provider operates
• how they get paid (including any commissions)
• how they deal with client complaints
• any interests, associations or relationships that could influence them

This information should be presented clearly and concisely, with enough details for you to make an informed decision about whether you want the services described.

What information do I have to provide to enable you to give me the personalised attention I deserve?

We will ask you to provide us with a list of your personal goals, both financial and lifestyle, details of your current financial situation and other information you may feel is relevant, so that we can offer you appropriate advice unique to you individual situation.

You do not have to give us all the information that we request.  You certainly have the right not to, but if you don’t, the advice you receive may not be the most appropriate to address your goals and financial situation.

You should read the warnings contained in the Statement of Advice given to you carefully before making any decision relating to a financial product(s).

How will I pay for the service?

You may opt to pay us a fee or alternatively, we may be able to receive a payment called commission, which is paid to us by the financial product issuer(s).

If we give you personal financial advice, we will give you a Statement of Advice containing details of our fees and any payments made to us by a financial product issuer(s).

What benefit would there be to me if I were able to salary sacrifice?

You may be able to ‘salary sacrifice’ part of your before-tax salary straight into superannuation – which means it is taxed at a beneficial rate (15%), and paid before income tax (lowering your taxable income).  This can be a valuable way for some clients to save for retirement, but you will need to consult your employer to see if it is available to you.