RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual...

98
RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013

Transcript of RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual...

Page 1: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

RI Advice – FOFA TrainingMay 2013

Page 2: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

• Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain

• Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs• Recap of obligations and requirements• Generating an FDS• Client engagement re FDS • Preparation before 1 July & key timing• Activities x 5• Questions

• Morning Tea – 15 mins

• Best Interests duties – 40 mins• Recap of obligations• Changes to advice documents• Case Studies x 4

• Conflicted Remuneration – 20 mins• Recap obligations• Activities x 3

• Question & group discussion time – 15 mins

Agenda

2

Page 3: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

RI FOFA Readiness

• RI is well placed to meet FOFA obligations for:

– Annual Disclosure

– Best Interests

– Conflicted Remuneration

• Strong existing advice process focussed on quality advice

• Supported by:

– Templated advice tools

– Customised technology eg Xplan wizards etc

• FOFA will, however, have an impact on your business, especially in regards to additional effort required to meet Annual Fee Disclosure obligations

3

Page 4: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Advice Value Chain

4

Best Interests Duty

Disclosure

Ban on Conflicted Remuneration

Page 5: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-inMay 2013

Page 6: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

• Recap of obligations to confirm:

– Requirements

– Definition of Ongoing Fees

– Who should get an FDS (and who doesn’t need to)

– Methods for providing an FDS and timing

– Confirmation of disclosure/anniversary date options

– Process for re-setting disclosure date for new & existing clients

– Buying a book / change in servicing adviser – points to be aware of

Recap of obligations

6

Page 7: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

From 1 July 2013, all retail clients with an ongoing fee arrangement for more than 12 months must be provided with an annual Fee Disclosure Statement

Includes both existing clients and new clients from 1 July 2013  

Must include the following information for the previous 12 month period

Fee Disclosure Statement (FDS)

7

Page 8: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Defining Ongoing Fees

Any fee paid by or at the consent of the client for the provision of services under a written or implied ongoing service arrangement.

Adviser service fees (ASF) paid via platform or directly by client are ongoing service fees.

Generally trail commissions are not required to be disclosed as ongoing fees, however, ASIC’s regulatory guide on FDSs says fee recipients should be careful to ensure that wording on the FDS does not mislead clients.

In situations where commissions have been represented as payment for an ongoing service arrangement and done so with the clear consent or at the direction of the client, RI recommends that these payments be disclosed.

8

Legal source Commission disclosure required

Ongoing fee definition under FOFA No

Misleading Representation Regime Possibly if represented as part of ongoing service arrangement

ASIC regulatory guide Disclose if entered into with clear consent of or at direction of client

Page 9: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Who does not need to get an FDS?

Corporate super members who are not personally advised clients, i.e. the member has never specifically been engaged by the adviser to deliver personal advice for a fee;

Clients only paying insurance premiums;

Clients only paying trail commissions and no agreement was ever in place indicating ongoing services were being provided in return for the trail.

   

9

Page 10: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Providing the FDS

• How long do you have to provide the FDS to the client?

• Must be provided no later than the end of a 30 day period beginning on the client’s anniversary date, and

• EG: if arrangement was entered into on 1/5/2013, FDS is due no later than 30/5/2014• Must relate to a period of 12 months that ends no more than 30 days before the statement

is given to the client.• EG: in example above the FDS should include fee data from 1/5/2013 to 30/4/2014

• It may be provided at the time of the client’s annual review or separately.

• Can be provided face-to-face, via post or email

− A paper or electronic copy of the FDS must be retained on the client file. − If emailed directly to the client’s email address it can be sent without encryption.

− Note - the client must have previously SPECIFICALLY authorised the receipt of documents by email - holding the client's email address on file or from a fact find is NOT sufficient.

− If being sent to a non-client such as the Accountant, you will need to encrypt the FDS and in

the subject line you must include the word "Confidential". 

10

Page 11: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Disclosure Date

The Disclosure date for the FDS is the anniversary of the date that the ongoing fee arrangement was entered into.

RI has determined that the disclosure date will be:

the date of the last review between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2013; or

The date the ongoing service agreement was entered into; or

the date an authority to proceed was signed; or

Where you have taken all efforts to confirm the date, and this can not be determined, you can re-set the date (conditions apply).

 

11

Page 12: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Disclosure Date – Example

A client has an ongoing service arrangement that commences on 1 August 2013

The next disclosure date will be 1 August 2014. The Adviser has up until 30 August 2014 to issue the FDS.

The subsequent disclosure date is 01 August 2015.

Event Date

First disclosure day 1 August 2014

First FDS to be given on or before 30 August 2014

Date first FDS is actually given 15 August 2014

Period covered by first FDS 1 August 2013 – 31 July 2014

Second disclosure day 1 August 2015

12

30 August2014

Page 13: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Resetting the Disclosure Date

If it is impossible or unreasonably onerous to determine the day an ongoing fee arrangement was entered into with the client, ASIC has allowed a “no action” clause where for existing clients an Adviser can: nominate a date between 1 July 2013 and 31 January 2014 as the disclosure day

provide written notification to the client of the date you have nominated, explaining the significance of the disclosure day for the purposes of producing an FDS

provide an FDS to the client within 30 days of this chosen day The notification and the FDS can be sent at the same time  

13

Page 14: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Resetting the Disclosure Date

You may also reset the disclosure date (bring it forward) if:

The current disclosure date is not convenient for the client and they have requested a change;

You wish to spread the volume of FDS production across a number of months, (remember you can always bring the date forward, however you cannot push it back.)

It is more operationally efficient for your practice to disconnect the FDS dates from your client annual review dates and issue them in a bulk run once or twice per year.

Resetting a disclosure date effectively brings forward the disclosure day to a period earlier than the client’s original disclosure date.

When resetting, please note the following:

You must still issue an FDS for the period of the 12 months up to the new disclosure date.

Resetting FDS must also include disclaimers to clarify to the client that you are resetting the date. This can be done by selecting one of the appropriate paragraphs in the FDS template. The reset must be appropriately documented.

.Where resetting the FDS, remember to amend this date in your client management system (Xplan).

    14

Page 15: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Resetting the disclosure date for a group of clients - Exercise

15

In the simplistic example above, you have 5 clients due for review in the month of July 2013. The identified client anniversary dates are the 8th, 14th, 23RD and 27th July.

Whilst we recommend fee discussion are carried out in a review meeting, the practice has made a Bus. Decision to send out the FDS and would like to streamline this process for the back-office.

Questions:

1) Looking at your clients in July, can you reset the 4 clients to September 2013?

No, you can only push these clients forward, not back.

2) If you were looking at creating the simplest process for your practice, what date would you re-set the FDS anniversary date of these four clients?

To maximise process and provide a single FDS date in July, bring it forward to 1 July. This gives you to 30 July to disclose the FDS

3) What would be the reporting period that this FDS would cover? 1 July 2012 – 30 June 2013

Page 16: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Buying Client Books

 

• Servicing Adviser obliged to produce an FDS as at the disclosure date

• FDS must cover the 12 months until disclosure day. This must include ongoing fees paid by the client to the previous adviser or licensee (where this situation arises).

Enhanced due diligence – Before you buy

When purchasing a book of clients your due diligence processes must consider:• if the old ongoing service arrangements under the previous adviser are continuing?; or• are you going to establish a new service arrangement; and• are you able to determine the client’s disclosure dates, services entitled to, services

received and ongoing fees over the 12 months up to their disclosure date? • You should ensure the previous adviser can supply you with the information you need. If

you are unable to receive this information you may be forced to establish new arrangements or terminate ongoing fees.

 • You may also be buying “additional workload for your resources” if disclosure dates for a

large number of clients are close together.

16

Page 17: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Buying Client Books

For pre - 1 July 2013 Clients

•  If you are missing the information you need to send your client an FDS, you must have made a reasonable effort to obtain the information from the previous adviser and /or their licensee. You must keep evidence of having made reasonable efforts including keeping file notes and emails of your attempts on the client file.

• If after having made reasonable efforts, you are unable to obtain the information for the full 12 months to the disclosure date, you can issue an FDS with the partial information you were able to obtain.

• For existing clients as at 1 July 2013, ASIC will not take action against you if the FDS has incomplete information from the previous adviser / licensee.

 

For post - 1 July 2013 Clients

•  For new clients from 1 July 2013, if you are unable to obtain the information you need after the reasonable attempts, you must establish immediately a new ongoing fee arrangement with your client.

17

Page 18: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Generating an FDSMay 2013

Page 19: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Fee Disclosure Statement (FDS) generation

• RI solution links in to existing systems and processes ie:

– DMS Online

– Xplan

– RI best practice review process and ongoing service model

• Disclosing amount paid to the adviser

– may vary from amount client paid due to product rebates (RITC, ETR etc) so caveats/disclosure required to make clear for clients

• Solution enables you will meet minimum requirements

19

Page 20: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation – overview of automated solution

How the automated solution will work

Practice identifiesclients paying Fees & ensures

anniversary & services providedare set in Xplan.

Practice is responsiblefor identifying when FDS is due.

Client pay via productor direct to licensee. Clientsagree on ongoing services.

All revenue (productor Invoiced) directed via

brokerage team & processedthrough DMS. DMS does not

integrate with Xplan, hence no direct feed.

Issue : Brokerageteam can not controlhow fund managersreport payments,including naming

conventions. This canpotentially create amapping mismatchwhen it comes to

feeding thisbrokerage into

CommPay & Xplan.

CommPay will sit in between DMS& the practices Xplan. Post each pay run,all transactional data will be uploaded intoCommPay and this system will attempt to

Match to the Xplan client entity.

Xplan produces FeeDisclosure and Opt-in

Statements.

1

Page 21: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation – overview of process

21

Xplan DMS Online Xplan / CommPay Xplan

Ensure all client details are in Xplan

Ensure all client details are in Xplan

Consider doing a trial run FDS to determine what data gaps there are

Enter client details into Xplan:•Anniversary date•Service category / segment

Review records in DMS Online

Page 22: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation – Automated Solution: Overview of process

22

Picks up groupings from DMS & matches to Xplan. Creates an exception report if can’t

match

Picks up groupings from DMS & matches to Xplan. Creates an exception report if can’t

match

Enter new client details into Xplan

Enter new client details into Xplan

Xplan

New

New

New

New

Page 23: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation: Automated Solution – changes to existing process

• Continue with existing process ie DMS Online groupings, Manage Review & Client Segmentation processes in Xplan

• New processes:

– Client matching (of exceptions) in CommPay to ensure correct fee data flows through to Xplan

– New disclosure-related fields in Xplan:

– “Disclosure Statement Required” – start using this field to identify clients in Xplan who need an FDS

– “Next Disclosure Statement Date” field – start using that for all new clients with ongoing service arrangement (in addition to “Review date” field)

– Note: RI is working to provide bulk upload of Review Dates into this field for existing clients

– Reconciliation of services received by client with services entitled to in Xplan

– FDS generation in XPlan

23

Page 24: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation – Automated solution – client matching

Page 25: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation – Automated solution – client matching

Page 26: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation – Automated solution – client matching

Page 27: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation – Automated solution – client matching in CommPay

27

Go to the CommPay via the Xplan Dashboard

Click on Administration Functions > CommPay

Page 28: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation – Automated solution – client matching in CommPay

28

Mapping a CommPay client to an Xplan client using their name search •Note: mapping can also be done using the Xplan client entity number

View CommPay client name & Xplan Clients

Tick clients you want to link and select “Match”

Page 29: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation: Setting up Services & Fees for Ongoing Arrangements

29

Go to: Xplan > Client Service to enter “Services Entitled To” & Fees in relation to Ongoing Service Agreements

Page 30: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation: Automated Solution – important Xplan fields

30

Go to: Service – ReviewsIdentify who needs an FDS in DMS Online and

record this in Xplan here

Use this field for your Annual Disclosure Date for all clients.

Note: For existing clients we will retrofit this field for you from Review Date field

Opt-in date: enter date of agreement into this

field for new clients post 1 July 2013

Page 31: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation: Automated Solution – Search criteria

31

Go to: Xplan > SearchUse this to find all clients with Annual Disclosure date in certain month

For example: search for all

clients with “Next Disclosure date” in

month of Oct

Results: Shows all clients with FDS

due in Oct

Page 32: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation: Automated Solution – FDS Management Report

32

Use this to see a summary report on clients requiring an FDS

Results: Shows summary of status re Services for FDS

clients

You can run an FDS Management Report

Page 33: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation: FDS Wizard – Disclosing Services

33

Go to: Client Menu / Service / FDS Wizard

Select letter options

Services Entitled to:Automatically ticked in

line with ongoing service arrangements

Services Provided:Tick to confirm what

was provided to client

Free-text field if you need to explain / clarity anything re services &

what was provided

Tool tips provided to

explain steps

Confirm if resetting disclosure date

Page 34: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation: FDS Wizard – Disclosing Fees

34

Go to: Client Menu / Service / FDS Wizard

Select CommPay as source of fee data*

* Note: option available to input fee data manually if required

Choose what fees you are disclosing here ie:•ASF only•ASF & Commissions separately•Total fees (only use if not able to unbundle from product manufacturer

This screen also shows Fees as per Ongoing Service Agreement so you can quickly reconcile

Breakdown of fee data provided here

Page 35: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation: FDS Wizard – Generate FDS

35

Click generate FDS

Download FDS

Page 36: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

What does the FDS look like?

36

Cover letter Statement (linked to OGS agreement wording)

Services “entitled to” Services “provided” Fees charged

Important disclaimer info:• “Services provided” may include services that were made available to you or you had access to, which you did not utilise – allows you to tick where access was given but client didn’t take up service eg didn’t attend seminar

• In addition to fees disclosed other ongoing remuneration such as commissions may also be received – important sentence to cover off any perception of misleading & deceptive conduct when only disclosing ASFs

Page 37: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

In certain situations you may choose to generate an FDS manually ie not using CommPay fee data, eg if:

• Unable to complete client matching of exceptions prior to disclosure date, which means fee data via CommPay may not be correct• Unable to reconcile fee data from CommPay with amount you believe client should have paid and you prefer to enter the amount in manually• You have a fixed dollar-based ASF you charge your clients, which means you know easily how much they have paid (eg $100 per month for 12 months)

FDS Generation – Manual solution

37

Xplan

XRun DMS Reports and collate total fees

for client relating to ongoing service arrangements

Manually enter fee amount into Xplan

Page 38: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

FDS Generation – Manual solution

38

Select Manual as source of fee data*

Manually enter fee

Go to: Client Menu / Service / FDS Wizard

Page 39: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Client engagement re FDS

Ultimately your clients are paying you because they trust you

U.S Based consultant, Charles Green* defines trust as:

39

Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy   Self-Orientation

How do you rate yourself on the trust

scale?

• Credibility (i.e. competence, track record & ability to instil confidence)• Reliability (i.e. do you deliver on what you say you will deliver – service and advice outcomes)• Intimacy (i.e. how well do you engage with your clients on a personal level?)• Self-Orientation (i.e. to what extent are you putting their interests before your?)

*Article: Trust in Business: The Core Concepts April 29 2007

Page 40: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Client engagement re FDS

• In order to ensure the FDS does not potentially create issues with your clients, you need to understand the difference between your value and service proposition.

• CVP – This really needs to focus on the outcomes – The benefits to the client in having a relationship with you.

• CSP  - This is the mechanism which provides structure to help you deliver on your value proposition.

• When discussing your FDS, focus on value, not on the individual service widgets which you may or may not have delivered.... how much value does a newsletter really provide?

• RI have developed a Sales Script and re-worded a new master service agreement to help.

• Speak to your RPM if you would like to revisit your value or service proposition

40

Page 41: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

41

Annual disclosure – best practice timeframes

New client signs up for

ongoing service

program

Anniversary date (date ongoing

agreement commenced i.e.

review or ATP signed)e.g. 1 July 2013

Annual disclosure deadline expires –

penalties apply past this date

12 months + 30 days

eg 30 July 2014

Send out review offer letter/email/phone-call

4 weeks prior

however may vary

dependant on your review

process

Conduct Annual Review meeting & provide client

with Annual statement of

services & fees for 12 mth period ending 30 June

2014

First FD day – eg.1 July

2014

If face-to-face meeting not

possible, send out Annual statement

(by post/email)

Obligation met

When looking & value vs. fees, we recommend you make the process part of

your review process (i.e. face to face)

Page 42: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

Commence client matching (of exceptions) in CommPay – access scheduled for late May

FDS template will be available from mid June 2013   Training material and online tutorials in May and June.   Refer to RI Report for FOFA updates

Contact your RPM or practice Development Coach to assist you through the process.

Preparation for 1 July

42

Page 43: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Annual Disclosure – New support tools

• New letter templates are being developed:

– Cessation of client relationship

– Confirmation of services

– Re-engagement to confirm changes to service offer and/or price

– Letter to request data from adviser or licensee of a practice being purchased

– Update to FDS statement for partial disclosure

• To be released via RI Report in June

43

Page 44: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

6

Key milestones and timeframes

1 July 2013

National Conference

3-5 April 1 June 1 Mar

PD DaysReinforce solutions &

processes

July1 May

Start booking

reviews & preparing

for July clients

Monitoring & supervision

starts

FOFA starts

Identify who needs FDS

Group clients in DMS

Clear segmentation & service offers in Xplan

C&D client review & clean up

Anniversary date identified for all OGS clients

CommPay* access enabled.

Start client matching

Late May

* Release schedule TBC as dependant on Technology suppliers.

FDS Testing

FDS wizard released in Xplan*

17 June

FOFA Training via RBTs

Page 45: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Activities & Question TimeMay 2013

Page 46: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

Activity 1 – FDS

The Adviser has inherited a client that has an ongoing service arrangement that commenced in 2010.

The Adviser Service Fee (ASF) is $2,200 per year and is deducted monthly from an Investment Account.

What would be an the most relevant disclosure date?

46

The date of the new ongoing fee arrangement

I have implemented

The date of the new ongoing fee arrangement

I have implemented

Answer:

As a “new” ongoing fee arrangement has been structured, the second option would be the most relevant disclosure date.

Page 47: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

Activity 2 – FDS

An Adviser has purchased a new book of clients from another adviser and has had the servicing rights to their Macquarie Wrap super account changed to you.

On the disclosure date your records show the client paid you an Adviser Service Fee of $2,000 for the past 5 months but the previous adviser and their licensee says they are unable to release data for the prior 7 months to you.

What should you do?

47

Answer:

Issue the FDS with fees paid for the 5 month period with clear disclosures indicating this. All future FDS’s will need to cover the 12 month period.

Page 48: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

Activity 3 – FDS

The client agreed to a “Platinum” Service package in 2010.

As part of this, they are entitled to two reviews annually, newsletters, invitations to seminars and any phone queries they initiate. They attended one review but declined the second as they didn’t feel the need to review or make any changes.

What must be included in the FDS?  

48

Answer:

Outline the services entitled to receive, the services they actually did receive and the ongoing fees paid. In this example, if the service agreement is for the adviser to “offer” a review, and the client doesn’t take this up, the adviser has still met its obligation.

The FDS wizard/template does allow you to articulate this.

Note – the wording of your ongoing service agreement is important.

Page 49: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

Activity 4 – FDS

An Adviser is planning the schedule of FDS due dates for the year ahead. The Adviser identifies that 30 of the clients are due for an FDS by 31 July 2013.

22 of these clients pay less than $100 in ongoing fees to the business 5 clients generate $2000 in revenue per annum3 clients are top tier clients

The Adviser will not have the resources or time to complete all 30 statements by the due date.

What could be a solution?

49

Answer:

Turn off the fees for the 22 clients and ensure you deliver on your top tier clients.

Look to re-engage with the 22 clients to engage into a profitable new service arrangement.

Page 50: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Activity 5 - FDS

• You have 10 clients who have been on an ongoing service package for the past 6 years.

• The ongoing service entitles them to 1 annual review per annum. You agreed with one of the clients that the cost of the ongoing service package is $1,000 per year and you arrange with the client to pay $400 via an Adviser Service Fee with the remaining $600 being paid via trail commission from the product.

• At disclosure date, what should be included in the FDS?

50

Answer:

As you have made representations and agreed with the client that the ongoing service fee is to be paid from the ASF and commission, both the trail and commission should be included.

Page 51: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Best Interests DutyMay 2013

Page 52: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

What’s changed

From 1 July 2013 – reasonable basis – replaced by Best Interests Duty

The Law:

places the liability on you personally as the advice giver (previously on the Licensee)

details specific steps (Safe Harbour) that must be undertaken throughout the advice process

states - The client’s needs and interests must be placed ahead of your own or RI’s or associated entities (there was no statutory duty in the past)

Penalties for breaching obligations are civil (previously criminal) (Note: ASIC has other powers that it may apply resulting in criminal action being taken)

Penalties $200,000 adviser $1 million for licensee (potential for criminal action under other ASIC powers)

Page 53: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

Best Interests Duty – considerations

Any advice given to a client must recommend a strategy that is appropriate for the client and satisfy the best interests duty and related obligations.

Is the client in a better position than they were before they sought it?

Being better off is tested at the time the advice was given

Evaluation will be assessed on whether a reasonable adviser presented with the information that you had at the time of the advice, would consider that the client would be better off if they followed your advice

53

Page 54: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

Safe Harbour

54

Most RI Advisers are already doing this and generally will have little change to make.

The focus should be on ensuring you have a robust, defendable and well documented advice process.

Page 55: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Scoping your advice

Assess if you have the expertise to provide advice given the agreed scope and complexity of the needs and circumstances of the client.

 

Establish the scope of advice most appropriate to the client’s needs, objectives and circumstances;

Consider your authorisation and experience including your strengths / development areas in advice;

With the client’s best interests at heart, determine if you can proceed to provide advice on the agreed scope or have to decline to provide advice or refer the client

You must not limit the scope of advice inappropriately to your areas of qualification or experience

Page 56: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

  You must decline to provide advice if you do not have the expertise to give advice in the areas the client requires advice.

Best practice would be to source a qualified adviser from within the RI network or refer the client to a referral partner

 Identify potential gaps in your advice offerings where you may need to establish a referral arrangement with another professional (lawyers, accountants, other advisers);

56

Referring to another adviser

Page 57: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 Advice records

Under the Best Interests Duty, having documentation to prove a defendable and a robust advice process was used becomes as critical as ever.

Keeping comprehensive records on client files including research and documenting why the advice was appropriate for your client, remains a critical compliance requirement. Some examples of appropriate documentation to support your advice process are: 

Detailed file notes Any correspondence between you and your client or between you and the product

providers when conducting your research or reasonable investigation Working papers Fact finds Advice documents Recordings Any other supporting documentation that you feel is relevant.

  

57

Page 58: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Changes to Advice Documents

FSG & Adviser Profile

• Incorporates the Best interests obligations and the process to refer clients where an Adviser may have limitations in the advice they provide.

• Includes updated info in regards to conflicted remuneration

Fact Find - Key changes:

• Purpose for seeking advice section – new free text section for capturing why client seeking advice

• Wording in needs & objectives table has been changed to better reflect client needs

• Goals, needs & objectives section – now includes free text section to capture client’s actual words

• Goals, needs & objectives section - Advice limitations – new section for recording any limitations

• LOE – no longer includes scope of advice as it’s not a requirement to include in the LOE

• Authority to provide information – new page added to enable collection of client authority

Letter of Engagement  

• Standalone version of LOE with exactly same wording as current LOE.

• Provided as standalone version via Xplan merge report as scope of advice has been removed from version of LOE contained in Fact Find.

 

58

Page 59: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Changes to Advice Documents

Quick Plans - Key changes:

• Scope of advice section – updated wording to describe what’s in scope

• Inaccurate / incomplete information warning added

• ‘What you want to achieve’ section – text updated to create better linkage between strategy & objectives sections

RoA &  RoA File Note   

• Intro letter updated with better wording re scope of advice & incomplete / inaccurate info

 

SoA  & Strategic Review SOA – Key changes:

• Scope of this advice section – text updated to match new scope items in Fact Find (which better reflect client needs & issues) 

• Limitations text – added for when client hasn’t provided required info

• Objectives text amended to match new scope items and priority column added

• Overall text updated to ensure linkage between why strategy is right for client and meets their objectives

• New sentences added linking product to strategy

• Objectives text amended to match new scope items

Ongoing Service Agreement

• Wording improved to provide greater clarity around services (for future use in FDS) and to ensure focus is on Core Services provided by Adviser, rather than ancillary services

59

Page 60: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 

 

Best Interests Checklist – new tool

60

Complete this checklist to help you meet your best interests duty and related obligations. Tick the applicable boxes and retain all applicable supporting information in the client file to show how you have met your obligations.

Client name(s): ………………………………

1. Goals and objectives *

I identified and recorded the client’s objectives, financial situation and needs stated by the client

2. Advice area (the subject matter of the advice) and the scope of advice*

I identified and recorded the advice area sought by the client, either stated or implied *

If the advice area has been limited by the client or by me, I recorded by whom and why #

I identified and recorded the scope of advice that is consistent with the advice area sought by the client and the client’s circumstances *

3. Client information *

I made reasonable inquiries to obtain complete and accurate information about the client’s circumstances and recorded the information *

4. Expertise and referral *

I have the expertise and accreditation to advise the client on the advice area and products, and I am authorised by my licensee to do so #

I referred the client to another adviser who had the expertise to provide the advice #

I declined to provide advice as I did not have the expertise to provide it #

Page 61: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 

 

Best Interests Checklist – cont...

61

5. Investigating and recommending a financial product #

* This step is mandatory when recommending acquiring a new financial product, or disposing of, increasing or switching a holding in an existing financial

product. Tick the relevant boxes only

I formulated and recorded the strategy on which the advice was based before I investigated financial products #

I investigated approved financial products that might meet the client’s needs and achieve their objectives, and recorded the findings #

Where approved financial products did not meet the client’s needs, I investigated non-approved financial products that might meet the client’s needs and achieve their objectives, and recorded the findings #

I investigated a financial product that the client requested that I consider and recorded the findings #

I assessed the product information gathered and recorded the details #

I provided the client with general or strategic advice that was not product specific #

I obtained a waiver/approval to use a non-approved product and/or platform #

6. Judgements *

All judgements I made were based on the client’s relevant circumstances. I considered them when scoping the advice, determining the extent of my inquiries into the client’s circumstances, formulating the strategy and recommending the type of and the specific financial product *

I believe the client is likely to be in a better position if the client follows the advice *

7. Other reasonable steps *

I took other reasonable steps that, at the time, I regarded as being in the best interests of the client and recorded the details *

8. Appropriate advice *

The advice is appropriate to the client *

9. Prioritising the client’s interests ahead of my own *

I prioritised the client’s interests ahead of my own interests, my related parties and those of my licensee *

Page 62: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 

 Destroy all old stock

Fact Find FSG & Adviser Profile

 Use all new advice documents (in Xplan and on Adviser Services)

Fact Finds Letter of Engagement Quick Plans Record of Advice templates Statement of Advice templates Strategic Review SOA

Best Interests file checklist – new tool

Best Interests Duty 1 July 2013

62

Page 63: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

6

Key milestones and timeframes

1 July

National Conference

3-5 April1 Mar

PD DaysReinforce solutions &

processes

July1 May

Start booking

reviews & preparing

for July clients

Monitoring & supervision

starts

FOFA starts

Identify who needs FDS

Group clients in DMS

Clear segmentation & service offers in Xplan

C&D client review & clean up

Anniversary date identified for all OGS clients

CommPay* access enabled.

Start client mapping

Late May

* Release schedule TBC as dependant on Technology suppliers.

FDS Testing

FDS wizard released in Xplan*

Mid June

FOFA Training via RBTs

New Advice docs

released

30 June

Page 64: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

Case Study 1 – Replacing a Product

Situation: A client has requested an increase of $100,000 to their current AMP life cover and TPD sums insured of $300,000 as their mortgage has increased by this amount. Recommendation: You recommend the client obtain a new policy for $400,000 and cancel their existing policy, rather than apply for additional cover within the existing policy.

The terms of the insurance policies and the annual premiums are the same. Result for you: This entitles you to receive a commission of 120% of the annual premium of the entire $400,000 rather than just the increased amount of $100,000. The client accepts the advice and now requires medical checks which would not have been required if the cover had been increased on the existing policy under AMP . No loadings are applied to the client. If the client had held the existing policy, and with the increase they would have been entitled to a 5% increase in the level of cover at no extra cost due to them reaching the four year anniversary on the policy.

Has the client been placed in a better position?

Who has benefited from this advice?

64

The client is in a better position in the sense that they now have more appropriate levels of cover, however assuming that the policy definitions & terms are the same, they could be worst off compared to increasing cover under existing policy. The adviser has put their interest first.

Page 65: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 

 

Situation - You are a new Adviser that has a life risk only authority. You recently saw a new client who is a self-employed tradesman who requires income protection cover before he’ll be allowed on a building site. Discovery - You conduct reasonable enquiries in relation to the agreed scope of advice and during the Fact Find process discover the client is in partnership operating a hugely successful plumbing business with 20 employees. The client spends his time quoting jobs while his partner runs the logistics and admin. The client also tells you that he does not have any succession plans in place.   Recommendation - You consider the clients may have a need for a Buy/Sell Agreement and Business Insurance however as a newly qualified adviser, you don’t feel you have enough experience to provide advice in the additional areas identified.

Case Study 2 – Qualifications & Advice

What are your obligations under Best Interests?

65

As the client has highlighted areas outside the area of competency, you must either decline to provide the advice or refer the client to an appropriately qualified specialist (e.g. another RI adviser). You can not ignore the clients need or mutually agree to scope it out.

Page 66: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 

 

Situation - A couple engages your services to provide them with advice to address three objectives:  to pay off their home loan; to obtain education funding strategies for the expected educational expenses of two children; and to increase their superannuation balance.  Discovery - In the Fact Finding process you discover that they have a third child who has a disability and will require ongoing care for their entire life. You expand your questions to discover what plans have been made to care for the child in the short and long term.  Recommendation - The couple provides further information of the investment and insurances that have already been instigated to care for their third child. The client states that this investment does not need to be reviewed. However you discuss the need to review the insurances. The client agrees with this review. 

Case Study 3 – Scope of Advice

How should you address the additional investments and insurances under Best Interests?

66

The adviser has considered that the information provided was not sufficient to identify the clients relevant circumstances. The adviser uses a series of questions to determine if the client has made provisions for the child & to determine if the needs & objectives as well as the scope of advice should be amended. This demonstrates that the adviser is considering the scope of advice in relation to the clients best interests. Also it is considered that advisers who implement these types of processes are more likely to be able to demonstrate that they have met the BI duty & related obligations when they provide advice.

Page 67: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 

 

Situation - A 45 year old client has approached you wanting to consolidate super and review their risk position. It appears that this will be a simple scaled advice situation on the surface and you agree and begin the fact find process.

Discovery - During the fact find process, you find out the client is divorced from a partner who cannot work and supports a disabled child.  It is now clear to you this is not as simple as it first seemed. You are now aware that the client is the sole breadwinner and that you must ask more questions about what extra financial support the disabled child needs as a result of their medical condition. This includes such things as medical fees, adjustments to home or car and extra tools to assist the child through life at school or special education etc.

Case Study 4 – Scaled Advice

How should you address the additional investments and insurances under Best Interests?

67

The scenario requires you to make further enquiries because under the safe harbour requirements you must:-Identify the needs of the client that would be considered as relevant to the advice sought; and -Where it is reasonably apparent that information in relation to the client is incomplete, you must make reasonable enquiries to obtain all the information. As the provider of the advice with the expertise, it is your responsibility to know how far your enquiries should go, thereby setting the scale of the advice. You can adjust the level of your inquiries about the clients relevant circumstances to reflect the nature of the advice being provided as demonstrated in the example above.

Page 68: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Conflicted RemunerationMay 2013

Page 69: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 

The ban on conflicted remuneration is comprehensive and affects the following types of payments:

Fund manager to Platform payments (shelf space)

Product manufacturer to licensee payments

What advisers can accept from their licensee and from product manufacturers Monetary Soft-dollar benefits

Payments from employers to advice giving employees

Charging clients asset based fees on borrowed amounts

Conflicted remuneration – recap of obligations

69

Page 70: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

What is conflicted remuneration?

• Conflicted remunerations means any benefit, whether monetary or non-monetary, given to financial services licensee, or a representative of a financial services licensee, who provides financial product advice to persons as retail clients that, because of the nature of the benefit or the circumstances in which it is given could reasonably be expected to influence the financial product advice recommended by the licensee or representative to retail clients

70

Page 71: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Ban on conflicted remuneration structures – Superannuation, investments and platforms

• A prospective ban, from 1 July 2013, on:

– All benefits from any financial services business, relating to the distribution and provision of advice for retail financial products

– Includes a ban on initial and ongoing commission

– Benefits include monetary and non monetary benefits

– Grandfathering provisions for existing clients

– Existing clients in existing products are generally grandfathered

• Ban applies to all financial products (including managed investments, superannuation and margin loans) but excludes certain risk insurance products

Page 72: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Conflicted remuneration

72

Note: Monetary benefits from Life companies are

exempt

Page 73: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Ban on conflicted remuneration

• Excludes:

– ASFs directed by a client

– Payments in relation to general insurance

– Payments in relation to life insurance, other than:

– Group life insurance within superannuation

– Any life insurance for a member of a default super fund

– Payments where no advice is provided

– Payments in respect of wholesale clients

– Payments in respect of certain stockbroking activities

– Prescribed benefits or given in prescribed circumstances

Page 74: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 

 

Is the benefit conflicted?

In order to assess whether a benefit is conflicted you need to answer the following questions:  • Is the benefit designed / intended / reasonably capable of influencing the advice given? • Is the benefit specifically exempt from the definition of conflicted?• If the benefit is conflicted, has the benefit been grandfathered?• If the benefit is allowed to be accepted, how do I disclose it? In assessing whether it is conflicted it is important to consider:

• What the benefit is in nature (is it monetary or non-monetary? If non-monetary, is it educational, IT or entertainment?). Is it designed to align your interests to your client’s?

• What is the benefit designed to reward? (Product recommendations, volume linked sales, activity/sales, non-product linked measures?)

• Is it volume based? (linked to volume of product sold? – if so it is presumed conflicted)

• Are the benefits passed on to advisers who provide advice to retail clients? 

74

Page 75: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Grandfathering of existing arrangements

• FOFA grandfathers existing arrangements for existing members in an existing fund or investment (and some new member)

– Grandfathering of any arrangement that was entered into before 1 July 2013; and

– where a person was a member of the fund, and investor or had given a direction prior to 1 July 2014.

75

Establish new arrangements until 30 June 2013*Establish new arrangements until 30 June 2013* No new arrangements will be grandfatheredNo new arrangements will be grandfathered

Continue to on-board new clients into pre 1 July 2013 arrangements Continue to on-board new clients into pre 1 July 2013 arrangements No new clients grandfatheredNo new clients grandfathered

Continue to receive commissions and rebates on grandfathered client balances and additional moniesContinue to receive commissions and rebates on grandfathered client balances and additional monies

Continue to receive commissions and rebates on switches & top-ups within existing pre 1 July 2013 arrangementsContinue to receive commissions and rebates on switches & top-ups within existing pre 1 July 2013 arrangements

30 June 201330 June 2013 30 June 201430 June 2014An arrangement has potentially broad meaningApplies to platform & non-platform operators

* Subject to anti avoidance provisions.

Page 76: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Grandfathering of existing arrangements

• FoFA grandfathers existing arrangements for existing members in an existing fund or investment (and some new members)

– Grandfathering of any arrangement that was entered into before 1 July 2013

– Where a person was a member of the fund, and investor or had given a direction prior to 1 July 2014

– An “arrangement” has a potentially broad meaning – it may encompass contracts, agreements, understandings, schemes or other arrangements

– A “benefit” includes:

– Commissions

– Shelf-space payments

– Platform margin

– Soft-dollar benefits

– These measures now apply in relation to both platform and non-platform operators

Page 77: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Grandfathering of existing arrangements

• Existing client in existing fund/investment

Y Grandfathered

• New contributions to existing fund/investment

Y Grandfathered

• Switch within existing fund/investment

Y Grandfathering for super, pension and IDPS

Y “Limited” grandfathering for non-super mastertrusts

• Transfer to a new fund/investment/platform

Y Not grandfathered

Page 78: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Monetary Benefits

Benefit From To

Adviser Service Fees oAsset based fees (other than where investment is sourced from borrowing)oFixed feesoFlat SOA / ROA feesohourly rates as agreed by you and your client.

Client Adviser

Adviser Service Fees oAsset based fees (where investment is sourced from borrowing)

Client Adviser

Ongoing commissions (super and investments)

Product via Licensee

Adviser

Life insurance commission held both inside & outside of superannuation.

Product via Licensee

Adviser

Volume rebates Platform via Licensee

Adviser

Shelf space fees Fund manager

Licensee and / or Adviser

Purchase of practice Licensee Adviser

78

Conflicted Comments

No Fees paid for by client to adviser align the adviser to the client and are not conflicted. You can accept these and disclose them in the SOA / ROA.

Yes Specifically banned. You cannot charge a client this after 1 July 2013.

Yes but Grandfathered

You can continue to receive these and disclose them in the SOA / ROA. (Please note however Stronger Super legislation will impact on commissions from default funds)

Exempt Life insurance commission held both inside & outside of superannuation will continue to be paid (except for group cover inside super or retail in default funds and Mysuper funds)You can continue to receive these and disclose them in the SOA / ROA. (Note Stronger Super legislation will impact commissions from a default fund).

Yes Grandfathering may apply to existing pre 1 July 2013 arrangements. Grandfathering does not apply to new arrangements post 1 July 2013.

Yes Banned (subject to grandfathering of certain arrangements pre 1 July 2013)

No Allowed as long as there is no uplift in valuation for specific products / platform

Page 79: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Monetary Benefits cont...Benefit From To

You recommend OneCare Income Protection to a client after 1 July and receive 115% upfront commission.

Product Manufacturer via Licensee

Adviser

You have a client with an AMP Super Account – not in a default investment choice - that has been active with you as their Adviser since 2008. You receive a monthly commission payment of 0.6%pa.

Product Manufacturer via Licensee

Adviser

You purchase a client book with 100 clients who were with an adviser for many years as at 1 July 2013. The book was bought on 10 July 2013. The previous Adviser was receiving ongoing commission of 0.8% on super and investments.

Product Manufacturer via Licensee

Adviser

You have a large Corporate Super account as a client. You currently receive a trail commission which has been in place for the past 5 years.

Product Manufacturer via Licensee

Adviser

You agree with a client to charge a one-off ASF of $1,100 for the cost of your advice commencing July 2013.

Client Adviser

79

Conflicted Comments

Exempted Life insurance commissions are specifically exempt and you can continue to receive them. Disclose these in the SOA.

Grandfathered Grandfathering may apply to existing pre 1 July 2013 arrangements

Grandfathered The existing client arrangements as at 1 July 2013 can be assigned / transferred to a new adviser subject to same arrangements being in place with both licensees. However you should seek legal advice on how the sale contracts are structured.

Grandfathered This is grandfathered however note the impact of Stronger Super legislation on default funds.

No Client payments to advisers align your interests with the client. This is what the legislation is intended to do. This can be accepted and is disclosed in the SOA / ROA.

Page 80: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Non-monetary benefits

• Benefits where a payment does not occur between two parties are non-monetary.

• Non-monetary benefits are sometimes referred to as soft dollar benefits.

• A non-monetary benefit can be allowed if it is not capable or reasonably capable of influencing the advice given to a retail client.

• If non-monetary benefits are deemed to be conflicted remuneration, then a ban applies on amounts greater than $300.

• This applies to both benefits given from life insurance providers as well as non-life insurance providers.

• For soft-dollar benefits <$100 you do not have to record them

• For soft-dollar benefits >$100 up to $300 you must record this in your alternative remuneration register.

• For benefits >$300 you cannot accept these

 

80

Page 81: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Non-monetary benefits

Frequency of benefits

•  Note that the benefits above may be regular or frequently given (more than 3 times over a 12 month period).

•  If benefits are similar in nature (e.g. 4 dinners provided by a product manufacturer to an adviser within 12 months) they may be treated as related and all 4 dinners added as one benefit to see if they exceed the total $300.

• If benefits are unrelated / once-off then each individual benefit can be up to $300.

Non-monetary exemption

• Benefits with an educational or training purpose – not conflicted if it has a genuine educational or training purpose that is relevant to providing financial product advice. The benefit must:

– Take up at least the lesser of 6 hours a day or 75% of the time spent on the course; &

– The participant or their employer or AFS licensee must pay for travel and accommodation relating to the course, and events and functions held in conjunction with the course.

• Benefits for IT & Support – not conflicted if it is for the provision of IT software and support, and the benefit is related to providing financial product advice about the products issued or sold by the benefit provider; and complies with the conditions in the regulations. The benefit must:

– be provided by the owner or distributer of the software;

– access to an IT “help desk” for problems that an AFS licensee or representative experiences in using admin platform software where the benefit is provided by the software owner or distributer; and

– access to a website to place client orders.

81

Page 82: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Non-monetary benefits

Benefit – includes following examples (but not limited to)

Free or subsidised business equipment (Computers and other hardware, software, IT support (e.g. accounting, anti-virus and software) and stationery)

Hospitality (Tickets to sporting events or concerts and subsidised travel)

Lunches and dinners provided / entertainment Free use of conference facilities, training rooms for advisers

Arranging of loans to other licensees or representatives

Attendance at networking events (Conference) domestic and overseas.

Provision of marketing services (brochures, newsletters, promotional documents)

Promotions or other ways of recognising an employee based on product recommendations / sales

82

Page 83: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 

 

Do you employ advisers?

 Employers have specific obligations to ensure they do not provide conflicted remuneration payments to their employees who give advice to retail clients after 1 July 2013. Employers should consider the following questions.  Do you employ advice giving employees?

Do you reward employees based on the total amount of $FUA implemented or Specific Product volumes recommended?

Do you have long term incentive programs in place where rewards are calculated based on the volume of products implemented?

Have you sought HR legal advice on which measures may be conflicted?

Have you sought HR legal advice on how to restructure contracts / scorecards before 30 June 2013?

83

Page 84: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 

 

Employees – Salary vs Bonuses

 Fixed Salary

Salary payments and SGC are not conflicted remuneration, however, if you attach any conditions to them based on the amount of product sold or volume of funds implemented, they can influence the advice and can be conflicted. Variable benefits (bonuses, rewards and recognition)

BonusesShare of RevenueCriteria for promotion and salary increasesattendance at networking and entertainment eventsreward-focused conferences Long term incentives such as shares or options in the business Care needs to be taken on how these benefits are calculated and how closely they are linked to the volume of product implemented or advice given.  Generally an adviser’s contribution to the total revenue or net profit (regardless of product recommended) to your business or division will be less likely to be conflicted than an adviser’s scorecard being linked directly to $FUA implemented.  

84

Page 85: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 

 

Rewarding Employees

  When rewarding the Adviser, consider other criteria in addition to revenue generated

Meeting employer compliance policies – an “outstanding compliance rating”

High levels of client satisfaction

Client retention

The number of new clients the employee has brought to the business

Professional development achievement

Team and corporate value 

85

Page 86: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 

  

Issues to consider when evaluating performance benefits 

Purpose of the Performance Benefit Consider the behaviour you are trying to encourage through the benefit. For example is the scorecard criteria designed to encourage best interests advice.  

Link between the benefit & financial product advice

How direct is the link between the benefit and the value/number of financial products recommended to clients? It is likely to be conflicted if based on the volume of product sales compared to one based on the profitability of an employee’s business unit. 

Involvement of the recipient in the advice giving process

How directly involved is the recipient? If the recipient helps prepare the advice but does not provide input into the recommendations made to the client, the performance benefit is less likely to be conflicted. 

Environment in which the benefit is given Is the benefit given in an environment that encourages good financial advice that is in the client’s best interests? Consider including compliance with internal processes and legal requirements, adviser training undertaken etc. 

Weighting of the benefit in relation to total remuneration

What is the relative proportion of the benefit to the overall remuneration of the employee, which includes the benefit and salary? 

Performance Based Bonuses

86

Page 87: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

 

 

An adviser receives a $5,000 bonus from their employer.

The bonus was paid in recognition of client satisfactionan increase in new clientsproductivityoutstanding compliance ratings developing referral networks.

This is unlikely to be conflicted remuneration because it would not reasonably be expected to influence the financial product advice given. ASIC are less likely to scrutinise performance benefits that are designed to more closely align the interests of employees who provide advice to retail clients with the interests of their clients.  Where the remuneration is based on total employer profitability (e.g. $100,000 fee for service generated), as opposed to employee individual sales ($100,000 commission), would not be considered conflicted remuneration if it could not be reasonably expected to influence the advice give.

Rewarding Employees

87

Page 88: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

Activity 1 – Remuneration payments

Consider the following remuneration payments that Advisers typically receive.

Review the following payments and decide if the payments are permitted from 1 July 2013.

Benefit Conflicted Remuneration?

If yes - Grandfathered?

You recommend OneCare Income Protection to a client after 1 July and receive 115% upfront commission.

   

You have a client with an AMP Super Account that has been active with you as their Adviser since 2008. You receive a monthly commission payment of 0.6%pa.

   

You have a client transfer their Super account to you in July 2013. The previous Adviser was receiving ongoing commission of 0.8%.

   

You have a large Corporate Super account as a client. You currently receive a trail commission which has been in place for the past 5 years.

   

You agree with a client to charge a one-off ASF of $1,100 for the cost of your advice commencing July 2013.

   

88

No

Yes Yes

Yes

No

No

Page 89: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

Activity 2 – Soft Dollar benefits

Below are soft dollar benefits that Advisers may have received in the past. Using the decision tree provided, decide if these benefits are permitted to be provided and you are able to receive from 1 July 2013.

Conflicted ? Can you accept it?

Sporting events Bob is invited by OnePath to the State of Origin in Sydney, the cost of the ticket is $100. OnePath also provides dinner and drinks which cost $100.

Greg is invited by MLC to four football matches throughout the year. The cost of the ticket each time is $50. Drinks are provided which cost approximately $40 each event.

Bob is invited to the Formula 1 racing event in Melbourne by Asteron. The cost of the ticket is $500 for the weekend. Asteron pay for the airline ticket, accommodation and all meals cost being $2,500.

Conferences George is invited by Asteron to attend their 3 day international conference in Singapore. Asteron pays for George’s accommodation, other day trips and all meals however George pays for his own flights. The time spent each day on education and training activities is six hours.

Andrew is invited to attend the RI conference in the Blue Mountains. It is a three day event with between 6 and 5 hours of educational content each day. The cost of $2,800 for the conference is paid by Andrew and as he lives in Sydney, he drives to the venue.

Social events Debbie is invited to a bare foot bowls afternoon by Zurich. The day consists of lunch, drinks and the bowls game. The total cost of the day is $100.

Ken is invited to attend a seminar by a motivational speaker by ANZ. The cost of the event is $500.

Bob is invited to see Rolling Stones concert with dinner beforehand by Zurich. The total cost of the night is $600 per person.

89

No Yes

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

No Yes

No Yes

Yes No

Yes No

Page 90: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

 

Activity 2 - Soft Dollar benefits

Below are soft dollar benefits that Advisers may have received in the past. Using the decision tree provided, decide if these benefits are permitted to be provided and you are able to receive from 1 July 2013.

Conflicted ? Can you accept it?

Software Every month a product issuer offers the financial advisers of a dealer group an incentive of $500 if they sell a certain volume of the issuer’s products. From 1 July 2013, the product issuer no longer makes this offer (the product issuer has not elected to comply with Pt 7.7A before this date). Instead, the product issuer offers to provide the dealer group with access to software that it owns, which allows the performance of a client’s investment in the issuer’s products to be monitored. The software can be accessed by all of the dealer group’s financial advisers.

Marketing Allowances Asteron pays for an advertisement sign at the local football field for Joe Brown. This sign provides Joe’s company name, services and his licencee details. The cost of the sign is $500.

OnePath pays Bob $2,500 towards Bob’s new corporate brochure which describes his services.

Zurich pays $300 towards the client seminar that John is arranging for his A class clients. At this seminar a Zurich representative will provide a presentation on the benefits of Personal Risk insurance.

AXA contributions $1,500 towards the printing of client letters for Mary to inform her clients about the upgrade of the AXA Superannuation fund.

Educational George is invited by AMP to attend training at their city office which is a four hour session on their new products. Lunch is provided however George pays for his own parking.

Andrew is invited by OnePath to attend their Meet the Manager Day in Sydney. The day consists of 3 hours in the morning meeting the OnePath team with information on their services and process requirements. The afternoon 2 hour session is product training. Lunch is provided. OnePath pays for the flight and taxi fares to their office.

90

No Yes

Yes No

Yes No

No Yes

Yes No

No Yes

Yes No

Page 91: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Questions & Group DiscussionMay 2013

Page 92: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Conclusion

Annual Disclosure

• From 1 July 2013, all new and existing clients who receive ongoing advice must be provided with a Fee Disclosure Statement (FDS).

Best Interests Duty

• From 1 July 2013 all Advisers must ensure that they have acted in their client’s best interests, and prioritised the client’s interests above their own or the Licensee.

• Advisers must ensure their advice is appropriate as well as meeting the Best Interests Duties by demonstrating and providing evidence that they have followed the ‘safe harbour’ duty and related obligations

Conflicted Remuneration 

• Advisers will no longer be able to receive initial or trail commissions on new investment products from 1 July 2013. Any trail commission paid on Investment Loans, regardless of when the loan was established, are not permitted.

•  Employers (Proprietors) have specific obligations to ensure they do not provide conflicted remuneration payments to their employees who give advice to retail clients after 1 July 2013.

92

Page 93: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Adviser Services New FOFA section – coming soon

ASIC website   ASIC Regulatory Guides (RG) www.asic.gov.au/rg

RG 175 Financial product advisers—Conduct and disclosure RG 245 Fee Disclosure Statements RG 246 Conflicted remuneration

Regional Practice Development Manager or Practice Development Coach

Support

93

Page 94: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

AppendicesMay 2013

Page 95: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

The impact of Stronger Super and MySuper

• General fee rules

• Transition to MySuper

Page 96: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

General fee rules

• Apply to ALL super funds (except SMSFs and PSTs) from 1 July 2013

– Entry fees banned

– Conflicted remuneration banned

– Exit fees, switching fees and buy/sell spreads limited to cost-recovery basis

– Rules apply to performance-based fees

Page 97: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

Transition to MySuper

• 1 January 2014

– All default contributions must be paid to a MySuper fund

– New contributions for both existing and new members

– Existing balance can remain in existing fund

– Commission can be paid on FUM and life insurance

• 1 January 2014 - 1 July 2017

– Exact date agreed between APRA and Trustee

– Existing balance transferred to MySuper fund

– Accrued default amounts

– All commission ends

– FUM and life insurance

Page 98: RI Advice – FOFA Training May 2013. Introduction: RI FOFA Readiness & Advice Value Chain Annual Fee Disclosure & Opt-in – 1.5 hrs Recap of obligations.

MySuper and advice

• No bundled personal advice (except for intra-fund advice)

• MySuper funds can provide intra-fund advice

– Cost of intra-fund advice can either be shared across the MySuper membership or charged to those who use the service

• Fees for advice (outside intra-fund advice) would be on a fee-for-service basis

– Negotiated between member and adviser

– Paid from the member’s account

– Payments for advice would require express annual renewal

– No upfront or trail commission

– No shelf-space or volume rebates