Standards & Guidance

Financial Services Council Standards

Compliance with the Financial Services Council's ("FSC") Standards is compulsory for all full FSC members.  By adhering to FSC's Standards, member companies have undertaken to develop processes and products that provide investors with a quality assurance that goes beyond the base-line of the legislative and regulatory framework.

On a day to day basis, FSC's Standards are overseen by the Senior Policy Managers responsible to the relevant Board Committee under which the Standard sits. Collectively the FSC Standards are overseen by the Standards Oversight and Disciplinary Committee and the FSC Board.

All enquiries in relation to the Standard should be sent in writing to standards@fsc.org.au

NOTE: We are currently in the process of updating all our Standards to reflect changes occurring as a result of our renaming as the Financial Services Council. This will take some time. In the interim, however, all Standards are still applicable to members and compliance with the Standards is still a compulsory part of FSC membership.  

FSC Contacts

Stephen Judge
General Counsel
P: (02) 8235 2526
E: sjudge@fsc.org.au

Joanna Beeston
Legal Counsel & Company Secretary
P: (02) 8235 2531
E: jbeeston@fsc.org.au

 
Click here to read Frequently Asked Questions on FSC Standards and Guidance Notes 

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Standard No. 1 - Code of Ethics & Code of ConductShow

    • The Code of Ethics and the Code of Conduct are designed to promote an investment and financial services industry of the highest integrity. The Codes recognise that the object of industry participants is to work to the highest standards of professionalism and generally meet and where possible exceed the public's expectations. The Code of Conduct sets out the procedure for Financial Services Council members to comply with Financial Services Council Standards and the sanctions applied to those members in breach.

      Financial Services Council Standard No. 1 Revised 4 May 2012

Standard No. 2 - Equity TrustsShow

    • The main features of this Standard are: to indicate to Managers, when reporting dividend imputation credits derived from investments in Australian shares, the formats they may choose to report the credits to their Investors; The formula for calculating the franking level of distributed Income; and the basis for quoting Franking Credits.

      Financial Services Council Standard No. 2

REPEALED Standard No.3 - Investor ReportingShow

    • The Financial Services Council Board has repealed Financial Services Council Standard No 3 - Investor Reporting (retrospectively, effective from 1 July 2003). The Standard was repealed on the grounds that the Financial Services Reform Act ("FSRA") is prescriptive in the area of periodic reporting and confirmation of transactions.

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REPEALED: Standard No.4 - Ongoing Fee MeasureShow

    • This Standard was repealed in February 2004 and adopted as Guidance Note No. 18 and 19. (Also refer to Financial Services Council Circular dated Monday 16 May 2005). Guidance Note No. 18 and 19 were repealed when the Government Indirect Cost Ratio came into effect on 1 July 2006.

Standard No.5 - Operational Capability StandardShow

    • The main features of this Standard are: specification of the standards to be adopted by a member in the operation of its business; guidance in the interpretation and application of those Standards; and a note to members of the relevant regulation that is applicable in the operation of their businesses.

      Financial Services Council Standard No. 5 - 49K

Standard No. 6 - Product Performance: Calculation of ReturnsShow

    • The main features of this Standard are to specify the principles adopted when calculating Total, Growth and Distribution Returns; enable proper assessment of Product returns when comparing Month-End returns, after fees and tax paid by the Product, with market indices and other Products (ie peer comparisons), ensure there is as much consistency as possible with the Australian Investment Performance Measurement and Presentation Standards and Global Investment Performance Standards

      Financial Services Council Standard No. 6 - 71K
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REPEALED: Standard 6B - Calculation of Returns: Superannuation Investment OptionsShow

    • This Standard was repealed by the Financial Services Council Board on 28th October 2010.

REPEALED: Standard No. 7 - References to IFSA LogoShow

    • This Standard has been repealed pending the introduction of a new Standard setting out the requirements for the use of the new Financial Services Council logo.

Standard No. 8 - Scheme PricingShow

    • This Standard sets out the principles to be adopted in the calculation of Scheme prices, and prescribes standards for, among other things, transaction cost factors, arbitrage opportunities, backdating, frequency of pricing, rounding adjustments and process documentation. Standard No. 8 has been subject to substantial revisions, transitional arrangements apply. The new Standard is mandatory for all members from 1 July 2007. In the meantime, Financial Services Council members should comply fully with either the old Standard or the new Standard. Members are welcomed to comply with the new Standard before the effective date.

      Financial Services Council Standard No. 8 Revised - effective 1 July 2007 - 51K
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Standard No. 9 - Valuation of Scheme Assets and LiabilitiesShow

    • This Standard sets out the principles to be adopted in the valuation of Scheme assets and liabilities and provides guidance in the interpretation and application of those principles. The Standard prescribes, among other things, standards relating to independence, market values, the existence of properly regulated markets and valuation frequency. Standard No. 9 has been subject to substantial revisions, transitional arrangements apply. The new Standard is mandatory for all members from 1 July 2007. In the meantime, Financial Services Council members should comply fully with either the old Standard or the new Standard. Members are welcomed to comply with the new Standard before the effective date.

      Financial Services Council Standard No. 9 Revised - effective 1 July 2007 - 63K

REPEALED: Standard No. 10 - Presentation of Returns Information: Super and Non-Super Investment OptionsShow

    • This Standard has been repealed in accordance with the Board's decision to repeal Standard 6B: Calculation of Returns: Superannuation Investment Options.

Standard No. 10 - Presentation of Past Performance Information and Visual PromotionsShow

    • The main features of this Standard are: To specify standards to be adopted by Financial Services Council an member in the promotion of its Financial Products and Services; as well as provide guidance in the interpretation and application of those standards.

      Financial Services Council Standard No. 10
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Standard No.11 - Genetic Testing PolicyShow

REPEALED: Standard No. 12 - ASIC Fee TemplateShow

    • The Financial Services Council Board has repealed Financial Services Council Standard No. 12 - ASIC Fee Template in response to the Government introducing the Enhanced Fee Disclosure Measures (Corporations Amendment Regulations 2005) from 1 July 2005. The regime effectively removes the need for this Standard.

Standard 13 – Voting Policy, Voting Record and DisclosureShow

    • The main purposes of Standard 13 Voting Policy, Voting Record and Disclosure are: (a) in relation to Australian investments, to require the formulation of an Operator’s voting policy (including proxy voting) for each Scheme it operates; (b) whether or not an Operator engages the services of a voting or proxy consultant in exercising its voting rights; and (c) to require disclosure of the above matters and details of the exercise of such voting rights by the Operator (on an “entity and resolution level” basis) in respect of each financial year for each Scheme it operates. (“Scheme” is defined in FSC Guidance Note 5 Industry Terms and Definitions, and includes REs of registered schemes and RSE licensees of superannuation funds.)

      FINAL Standard 13VOTING POLICY VOTING RECORD AND DISCLOSURE
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Standard No. 14 - Alternative Forms of Renumeration in Wealth Management Industry Show

    • This Standard specifies the principles that relate to the payment and/or receipt of alternative forms of remuneration by Financial Services Council and FPA members, and requires the provision of information to both clients and prospective clients as to the type and amounts of certain forms of alternative remuneration received by Financial Services Council and FPA members for services rendered. This Standard is effective from 1 July 2010. Members are encouraged to comply with this version from 31 January 2010.

      Financial Services Council Standard No. 14 - Effective 1 July 2010

Standard No. 15 - Rebates & Related Payments ("Guide")Show

    • The main features of the Guide are: to standardise definitions of the terms Rebates, Commissions and Payments. To improve transparency and consumer understanding of rebates and related payments as well as providing disclosure guidelines for rebates and related payments.

      Financial Services Council Standard No. 15 - 61K

Standard No. 16 - Family Medical History PolicyShow

Standard No. 17 - Incorrect Pricing of Scheme Units - Correction and CompensationShow

Standard No. 18 - Best Practice Guidance for Disclosure in the Mortgage Trust SectorShow

    • This Standard establishes the parameters of minimum disclosure requirements relating to Mortgage Trusts or Schemes, where a majority of the assets are/or are intended to be Mortgage investments. It seeks to standardise the approach taken by Scheme Managers when communicating information about investment policies and the composition of the fund. It also indicates where it is appropriate to disclose this information – the PDS or alternative communication mediums.

      Financial Services Council Standard No. 18 - Effective 2 July 2008 - 120K

Standard No. 19 - Adviser Fees in SuperannuationShow

    • The main feature of this Standard is the implementation of arrangements for the "Member Advice Fee" (MAF) and the "Plan Service Fee" (PSF) in accordance with the Financial Services Council's Superannuation Member Charter: A New Commitment to Superannuation Members (as released by the Financial Services Council on 17 November 2009).

      Financial Services Council Standard No. 19 (updated 10 May 2012)
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Standard No. 20 - Superannuation Governance PolicyShow

    • The purpose of Standard 20 Superannuation Governance Policy is to promote strong governance arrangements by trustees of superannuation entities. Standard 20 includes requirements for: (a) the board of a superannuation RSE licensee to consist of a majority of independent directors and also have an independent chair; (b) a prohibition on competing directorships (namely, acting as a director on competing superannuation funds); (c) ESG risk reporting disclosure for MySuper investment options; (d) an RSE licensee board policy concerning diversity of board membership; and (e) disclosure of proxy voting records (the proxy voting requirement applies to both superannuation RSE licensees and responsible entities of registered managed investment schemes – also see FSC Standard 13 Voting Policy, Voting Record and Disclosure).

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