Restrict use of the word ‘advice’ unless that is what it really is
It is time to get the word “advice” out of the equation with respect to “general advice”, “intrafund advice” and “robo-advice”, according to the AMP-focused, The Advisers Association (TAA).
TAA chief executive, Neil Macdonald has issued a statement declaring that it is time to address the issue of financial product information being called “advice” when it is not.
“We believe that terms such as ‘general advice’, ‘intra-fund advice’ and ‘robo-advice’ are typically financial product information services, and it is therefore potentially misleading and deceptive to call them anything else,” Macdonald said.
“In the interests of consumer education and transparency, it is time to call spades, spades.”
He said that was why his organisation was calling for the term ‘intra-fund advice’ to be renamed 'intra-fund information' and ‘robo-advice’ to be termed 'robo-information'.
"Our preference is to remove the term ‘general advice’. When FSR was being introduced ‘Financial Product Information’ was proposed, which is a more accurate description," Mr Macdonald said.
“As we in the financial advice profession know, true personal financial advice has to consider and meet the client's best interests obligation and includes an extensive process which involves investigation of the client’s needs, detailed analysis of their circumstances, research into the most suitable products and services to meet those needs, development of a strategy and the production of a statement of advice that outlines solutions to help them meet those needs,” he said.
“This extensive process is not followed by those providing general advice, intra-fund advice or robo-advice. It is essential that those financial product services are renamed, so that they are not mistaken by consumers for personal financial advice.”
Macdonald said renaming the terms would also help level the playing field for financial advisers.
“At present advisers are subject to much stricter rules and disclosure requirements than those providing financial product information and the FASEA code makes it hard to provide scoped or scaled advice,” he said.
“In cases where financial advisers are simply providing financial product information, then in order to level the playing field, they should receive the same concessions as other financial product information providers.
“This would enable more everyday Australians to get their straightforward questions about a product quickly, simply and easily answered."
TAA's call for clarity around the terms was included in its recent submission to ASIC's affordable advice review.
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