1. About This Guide
It is important that you read this Financial Services Guide (FSG). This FSG will provide you with an understanding of who we are, the financial services and products we provide, what to expect from your interactions with us, including when or if you can expect to receive a product disclosure statement (PDS) or other documentation, how to contact us, how we and other relevant persons are paid, our business relationships, details of any potential conflicts, and information on our procedures for dealing with complaints or disputes and how you can access those procedures.
This FSG is designed to assist you in deciding whether to use any of the financial services offered by Simple Financial Choices Pty Ltd (ABN 58 629 890 900; Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL 537462) (SFC) (we, our, us), and also to inform you about remuneration that we may be paid in relation to the financial services offered.
No Paper!
Our communications with you about our financial products and services are fully digital.
By asking us to provide financial services to you (including by applying for a financial product), you agree to receive communications in digital form only.
Why you should read this document
This FSG contains important information that will help you decide whether
you should choose SFC to provide you with financial services and products. It covers:
- The financial services and products we are authorised to provide you with;
- How SFC is paid for providing you with those financial services;
- How you can lodge a complaint with us and external parties if you are unhappy about something; and
- The compensation arrangements which we have in place.
2. What financial services are we authorised to provide?
As an AFSL holder, we are authorised to provide the following financial services:
Provide general financial product advice to retail and wholesale clients in relation to deposit and payment products (including deposit products and non-cash payment products), superannuation, life insurance products, debentures, stocks or bonds issued by a government, interests in managed investment schemes (except IDPS), securities and retirement savings accounts; and
Deal in a financial product, by applying for, acquiring, varying or disposing of a financial product on behalf of another person, in relation to deposit and payment products (including deposit products and non-cash payment products), superannuation, life insurance products, debentures, stocks or bonds issued by a government, interests in managed investment schemes (except IDPS), securities and retirement savings accounts.
Generally, when we provide financial services, we act on our own behalf. However, we may act on behalf of others when we deal in a financial product (for example, we may act on behalf of a financial product issuer when arranging for a customer to acquire, or dispose of an interest in the financial product).
General Product Advice Only
It’s important to note that any advice we provide to retail clients will only be general financial product advice, and won’t take into account your personal financial objectives, situation or needs. So, before acting on any general advice, consider whether it’s appropriate to your personal circumstances. We may give you general advice in writing, over the phone, on the website, on the App, via email, mail or social media platforms, or at events.
In the event that you have any doubt or uncertainty in relation to a financial product, we recommend that you should always seek personal advice from an experienced financial adviser licensed to provide personal advice before you decide to invest in any financial product. If you do not obtain personal advice, you may face a greater risk that the financial products you select will not be appropriate for your objectives, situation or needs.
3. Our Services and How We are Paid
From time to time, we may offer a financial services in accordance with our AFSL, this includes Life Insurance Referral Services.
SFC may refer interested clients to a financial product issuer for the purpose of considering a financial product. We do not provide personal advice in relation to any financial products. If you choose to proceed, the product issuer will provide you with the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and any other required disclosure documents for the product you consider or acquire. Where we arrange or assist with your application for a financial product, we do so in a limited capacity and may be acting on behalf of the product issuer for that purpose, as permitted under our authorisations.
If you agree for us to share your details with a partnered product issuer, SFC may receive a referral fee from the product issuer. The fee is paid by the product issuer to us, is not an additional cost to you, and is payable regardless of whether you ultimately acquire a financial product. You may request further details about how we and our representatives are remunerated, including the fees that we may receive under referral arrangements.
Referrals to financial product issuers may be made under an authorised representative arrangement with Flare HR Pty Ltd, a related party of SFC. Where Flare HR acts as an authorised representative of SFC in connection with such referrals, Flare HR may receive the referral fee in full.
Product Disclosure Documents
When we provide information to you about the financial products we refer or distribute, we’ll provide access to the PDS and other relevant disclosure documents related to the financial product. These documents contain important information about the financial product, including its key features, fees, benefits and risks. They will help you make an informed decision about a financial product, so read the relevant PDS or disclosure documents carefully. Please contact us if you would like a copy of a PDS or other relevant disclosure documents.
For products issued by other financial service providers that we refer, the product issuer will make available the relevant PDS and Target Market Determination, and we will provide access to those documents where we provide information about the product.
Related Parties
SFC and Responsible Investment Services are wholly owned subsidiaries of Flare HR Pty Ltd (ABN 46 607 120 892) (Flare HR). Flare HR owns and operates the Flare HR Management and Benefits Platform, which integrates products and services to support the financial wellness of employees. The financial products SFC promotes or distributes may be made available to employees via this Platform.
4. Staff Remuneration
Staff Remuneration
Our staff receive a salary plus superannuation, and may receive bonuses and other benefits from time to time.
No Commissions Paid
We do not pay commissions to any staff or other third parties, for providing general advice to you or if you choose to make an investment in one of the financial products we promote or distribute.
5. Professional Indemnity Insurance
SFC holds Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance which provides cover for claims arising from the conduct of representatives who are or were employed by us, where we are found to have liability for financial loss suffered by a person to whom we have provided a financial service.
We understand that these arrangements satisfy the compensation arrangements required under section 912B of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). You do not have a direct right to claim under this insurance.
6. Your Privacy
We are committed to safeguarding the privacy of your personal information. We collect your personal information for the purposes of providing you with financial services and we will use the information to provide you with the financial products or financial services you have requested. The Flare Privacy Policy, which covers SFC, is available on the Flare website.
7. Enquiries and Complaints
If you have any feedback or complaints, you can contact us using the below details below:
Contact SFC and tell us about your complaint.
Our Contact Details:
Email: [email protected]
Phone (free call): 1300 352 734
You can view our latest Flare Complaints Policy, which covers SFC, on the Flare website. We’ll acknowledge your complaint within one working day of its receipt and aim to resolve your complaint within 30 days.
If an issue has not been resolved to your satisfaction, you can lodge a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). AFCA provides fair and independent financial services complaint resolution that is free to consumers.
AFCA Contact Details
Australian Financial Complaints Authority
Phone: 1800 931 678 (free call)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.afca.org.au
Mail: GPO Box 3, Melbourne VIC 3001
