Financial Services Guide
About this document
Your Financial Services guide is an important document which you should read before you decide to take up any service from Commission Refunders Pty Ltd (Commission Refunders).
This guide contains important information about:
- Who we are
- The services we offer you
- How we are remunerated
- What to do if you have a complaint
- How to contact us
Who we are
Commission Refunders Pty Ltd (ABN 35 151 902 457), is a Corporate Authorised Representative (No. 406517) of Infocus Securities Australia Pty Ltd (Infocus) ABN 47 097 797 049 AFSL / ACL No. 236523. We are regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
We do not provide any advice in relation to any of the financial products and services we are authorised to deal in.
Services we offer
Commission Refunders is non-advisory service authorised by Infocus only to deal in basic deposit products, managed Investments (including IDPS), securities, life insurance, superannuation and margin lending. Our service seeks to provide you complete transparency and access to commission payments normally paid directly to financial advisers or licensees.
This includes the following
- Superannuation funds;
- Allocated Pensions or Retirement Income Accounts;
- Managed Funds and Investments;
- Cash Management Trusts;
- Master Trusts and Wrap Accounts;
- Personal Insurance Policies (life insurance, TPD insurance, income protection & trauma insurance);
- Capital Protected Loans and Structured Products; and
- Home Loans, Commercial Loans and Reverse Mortgages.
Our service is very simple. Where you choose to nominate Commission Refunders to receive any continuing commission payments (trail commission) your financial products might generate, we will forward 100% of the commission received to your nominated bank account on the anniversary of your joining Commission Refunders.
As part of that service, we may send you information which we believe will help to keep you abreast of opportunities and changes in the financial services world.
Commission Refunders staff, directors and associates are authorised to provide general financial product information only. We are unable to provide you with any personal advice. This means that we will not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs.
Commission Refunders does not, either directly or indirectly, advise or recommend on financial services or financial products. The information contained on the Commission Refunders website does not take into account the appropriateness of investments for an individual’s circumstances, investment objectives, financial situation or the merit of any particular investments.
Commission Refunders can put you in touch with fee for service financial advisers upon request.
How we are remunerated
The amount of commission paid by product a provider varies considerably from provider to provider and can vary from year to year in some products. To be clear about the amount of commission payable you will need to refer to the information contained in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) which was current at the time you purchased the product.
Trailing commissions on products will generally range as follows:
- Investments 0% to 2%pa of the fund balance
- Margin Lending 0% to 1.1%pa of the outstanding debt
- Insurance 0% to 35%pa of the renewal premiums
Commission Refunders will pay you 100% of all trail commission we receive.
This means that if you have an insurance policy that costs you $1000 in premium, and the commission rate is 20%pa, we will collect $200 and forward this to you on the anniversary of your joining Commission Refunders.
In return we will receive any volume based payments or rebates that may be payable as a result of Commission Refunders receiving the trail commission. Payment of these rebates /payments is generally dependent on the total funds under advice or the total annual renewal premium in force at any particular time.
These payments are paid to Infocus and can range between 0% and 0.28%pa for investment and 0% and 22%pa for insurance. For instance, where your investment is $50,000 and Infocus is able to reach the hurdles e.g. minimum total funds under advice and the product pays a volume rebate of 0.28%pa, Infocus will receive $140pa.
Associations with product providers or issuers
Infocus Wealth Management Limited is the parent company of Infocus Securities Australia Pty Ltd (Infocus), Portfoliofocus Pty Ltd, Infocus Financial Planning Pty Ltd, Platformplus Pty Ltd and Alpha Fund Managers Pty Ltd (Alpha). Alpha Fund Managers Pty Ltd (ACN 124 085 883) is the investment manager of the Alpha Fund series of investments and Equity Trustees Ltd (ABN 46 004 031 298) is the responsible entity.
MLC Alliance Holdings Pty Ltd, also a member of National Australia Bank Group (“NAB”), holds 25% of the ordinary shares in Infocus Wealth Management Limited. NAB also owns Navigator Australia Limited (ABN 45 006 302 987 AFSL No. 236466) (“Navigator”) and Norwich Union Life Australia Limited (ABN 34 006 783 295 AFSL 241686) (“NULAL”).
Complaints procedure
If you have any complaints about the service provided to you, please contact Commission Refunders and tell us about your complaint.
If we are unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint within 3 days, please contact the Infocus Compliance and Professional Standards Manager on (07) 5458 9400 or put your complaint in writing and send it to the Compliance and Professional Standards Manager, PO Box 1856 SUNSHINE PLAZA QLD 4558.
We will attempt to resolve your complaint quickly and fairly. If the complaint cannot be resolved to your satisfaction you have the right to refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) of which Infocus is a member. FOS can be contacted on 1300 780 808 or you can write to them at GPO Box 3, Melbourne Vic 3001.
Infocus has Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance in place. This PI insurance also covers claims in relation to the conduct of Authorised Representatives who are no longer authorised by Infocus, but who were at the time of the relevant conduct.
Privacy
Commission Refunders value your privacy as much as you do. All information you provide is held in strictest confidence.
To read our Privacy Policy, please go to www.commissionrefunders.com.au
How to contact us
Commission Refunders Pty Ltd
PO Box 1856 SUNSHINE PLAZA QLD 4558
Phone: 1300 463 628 Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm Eastern Standard Time
Fax: 07 5443 1995
Email: admin@commissionrefunders.com.au
www.commissionrefunders.com.au
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Terms & Conditions
By entering and using the www.commissionrefunders.com.au website and related services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by the Commission Refunders ‘Terms and Conditions’. Your continued use of the Commission Refunders website constitutes an affirmative acknowledgement and agreement by you that you accept and agree to abide by and be bound by these terms and conditions and any subsequent modifications.
The www.commissionrefunders.com.au website is provided by Commission Refunders Pty Ltd (‘Commission Refunders’) ABN 35 151 902 457.
Use of the Commission Refunders website is free. Commission Refunders may monitor use of, limit, or withdraw its services in part or in whole at any time without prior notification and at its complete discretion. Commission Refunders may do this on an individual basis or across all Commission Refunders members.
Our Service
Our service consists of providing you a refund of trail commission across a range of product types including the following:
- Superannuation funds;
- Allocated Pensions or Retirement Income Accounts;
- Managed Funds and Investments;
- Cash Management Trusts;
- Master Trusts and Wrap Accounts;
- Personal Insurance Policies (life insurance, TPD insurance, income protection & trauma insurance);
- Capital Protected Loans and Structured Products; and
- Home Loans, Commercial Loans and Reverse Mortgages.
Commission Refunders may use personal details provided by you to communicate with you in regard to Commission Refunders and affiliated group companies, agents or sub-contractors for the purposes of providing additional financial products and services to you. You can opt out of this service at any time. If you decide to opt out of the service, we will cease to refund commission we receive from that point onward.
No Personal Advice Warning
Information published on this website has been prepared for general information purposes only and not as specific advice to any particular person. Any advice contained in this document is General Advice and does not take into account any person's particular investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs.
Before making an investment decision based on this advice you should consider, with or without the assistance of a qualified adviser, whether it is appropriate to your particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances.
Product Disclosure Statements contain information necessary for you to make a decision whether or not to invest in financial products mentioned on this website. You should obtain and read this document prior to proceeding with any decision to purchase a financial product. We have no influence over the content of the disclosure documents and do not endorse or guarantee the performance of any financial products or make an offer or recommendation with respect to any financial product.
Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the information contained in this document, Infocus, its officers, representatives, employees and agents disclaim all liability (except for any liability which by law cannot be excluded), for any error, inaccuracy in, or omission from the information contained in this document or any loss or damage suffered by any person directly or indirectly through relying on this information.
Use of General Information
Fund information should not under any circumstances be considered as investment advice or a financial product recommendation. The information has been prepared for general purposes only and does not have regard to your particular investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making any investment decision, you should consider whether an investment is appropriate in light of your particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances. If you are not comfortable to make your own financial decisions you should contact a licensed financial adviser.
To the full extent permissible by applicable law, Commission Refunders disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Commission Refunders will not be liable for any damages of any kind arising from the use of this site, including, but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and consequential damages.
Any information which appears in relation to an offer of financial products on this website or other publications has been provided by third party content providers or the offering company. Commission Refunders has not independently verified this information and simply acts as a publisher of information. Commission Refunders gives no assurances or guarantees that the information published on this website or any of its publications is accurate, complete or current.
Copyright
© This website, including all material posted to the site, is protected by copyright.
Commission Refunders is the copyright owner of all text and graphics contained on this website, except as otherwise indicated. Other parties’ trademarks and service marks that may be referred to herein are the property of their respective owners. You may print a copy of the information contained herein for your personal use only, but you may not reproduce or distribute the text or graphics to others or substantially copy the information on your own server, or link to this website, without prior written permission of Commission Refunders.
Your Responsibility
You cannot and should not rely on information provided on the website for deciding whether to acquire or dispose of a financial product, but must make your own investigations and if you consider appropriate, obtain qualified financial advice.
You acknowledge that information provided by Commission Refunders, whether verbally or in marketing and supporting material is simply published by it and not prepared by it. It is provided for guidance only and may not be relied upon as advice.
You will not reproduce, republish, broadcast or otherwise distribute information from the Commission Refunders website without the prior written permission of Commission Refunders.
Disclaimer
To the maximum permitted by law, Commission Refunders and its affiliates excludes all liability to any person arising directly or indirectly from using this site and any information or material available from or through it.
Commission Refunders limits any liability that cannot be excluded to restoring the service, re-supplying the material or refunding any amount paid to Commission Refunders for the service or material. Any products or services provided by Commission Refunders may be modified over time.
Applicable Law
This site is created and controlled by Commission Refunders in Queensland, Australia. As such, the laws of QLD and Australia will govern these disclaimers, and terms and conditions, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of laws. We reserve the right to make changes to our site and these disclaimers, and terms and conditions at any time.
Complaints
If you have a complaint about the service provided by us you should:
- Let us know your concerns. We value your feedback and the opportunity to improve our service. (include contact details )
Email or write setting out details of your complaint to
Commission Refunders Pty Ltd
Post: PO Box 1856 SUNSHINE PLAZA QLD 4558
Email: admin@commissionrefunders.com.au
Telephone: 1300 463 628
Fax: 07 5443 1995
- Outline the specific areas of service, which have not met with your satisfaction. Detail in your letter, as simply as possible, all the facts relating to your complaint and how you believe we can investigate and resolve this matter to your satisfaction.
Commission Refunders will investigate your complaint and will make every effort to ensure you receive a fair and prompt reply. We will endeavour to resolve your complaint within 45 business days. We will keep you informed of what is happening to your complaint if this investigation cannot be resolved within this time.
If you still do not get a satisfactory outcome, you have the right to take the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
Commission Refunders’ parent company, Infocus Securities Australia Pty Ltd, is a member of the external complaints resolution scheme operated by FOS. FOS provides free advice and assistance to customers not satisfied with the responses provided by member companies to their complaints. FOS may undertake an independent external investigation of the complaint or enquiry. Member companies like Infocus are bound by any decisions made by FOS. You can write to
Financial Ombudsman Service
GPO Box 3
Melbourne VIC 3001
Telephone toll free: 1300 780 808.
Privacy Policy
Commission Refunders is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of personal information maintained within the organisation. Commission Refunders maintains all personal information in accordance with the National Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988. This privacy statement provides information about the personal information that Commission Refunders collects, and the ways in which Commission Refunders may use that personal information.
Personal information collection
Information Commission Refunders collects may include (but not be limited to) the following kinds of personal information:
- Name, address and contact details including email and phone numbers;
- Details of funds you hold and bank account details for the purposes of payment of Commission Refunds on those funds;
- Information about your use of this website, including information that you provide for the purpose of registering with the website;
- Any other information that you send to Commission Refunders.
Using personal information
Commission Refunders may use your personal information to:
- Administer this website, including enabling your access to and use of the website services;
- Communicate with you in regard to Commission Refunders and affiliated group companies, agents or sub-contractors for the purposes of providing additional financial products and services to you;
- Disseminate information that may be of assistance to you;
- Assist in the development of new or enhanced products, surveys or services.
Where Commission Refunders discloses your personal information to its agents or sub-contractors for these purposes, the agent or sub-contractor in question will be obligated to use that personal information in accordance with the terms of this privacy statement.
In addition to the disclosures reasonably necessary for the purposes identified elsewhere above, Commission Refunders may disclose your personal information to the extent that it is required to do so by law, in connection with any legal proceedings or prospective legal proceedings, and in order to establish, exercise or defend its legal rights.
You can ask to be removed from any Commission Refunders mailing list or database at any time by contacting the Privacy Officer on admin@commissionrefunders.com.au.
Securing your data
Commission Refunders maintains strict standards and security procedures to prevent unauthorised access to your personal information whether it is in an electronic or paper format, and to ensure the correct use of this information. Your data is stored in a central database that is password protected with access available only to authorised persons. Paper documents are kept in filing cabinets in secure offices and can only be accessed by authorised persons.
Sharing information
Commission Refunders does not usually share information with anyone else other than its internal staff and advisers on a restricted basis. It does share information as required by law e.g. the ATO, Centrelink.
Updating this statement
Commission Refunders may update this privacy policy by posting a new version on this website.You should check this page occasionally to ensure you are familiar with any changes.
Other websites
This website contains links to other websites.Commission Refunders is not responsible for the privacy policies or practices of any third party.
Contact Commission Refunders
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or Commission Refunders’ treatment of your personal information, please contact us
- by phone 1300 463 628;
- by email admin@commissionrefunders.com.au; or
- by post to
Privacy Officer
Commission Refunders Pty Ltd
PO Box 1856
SUNSHINE PLAZA QLD 4558