Terms & conditions.

All of our client engagements are subject to the following Terms and Conditions:

1. Professional standards

The best financial advice provides you with knowledge, confidence and results. It is professional trusted support.

We are committed to meeting the highest professional standards. We hold our own Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) and all of our financial advisers are registered with the Australian Securities & Investment Commissions (ASIC). We meet the standards of the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), the Professional Standards for Financial Advisers and the Financial Planners and Advisers Code of Ethics. These standards require us to act honestly and with integrity at all times, provide financial advice which is in your best interests and to prioritise your interests ahead of ours.

2. Annual engagements

We provide services on an annual engagement basis. This means we engage with our clients to provide services over 12-month periods. At the commencement of each period, we will document the services that we will provide to you over the coming year, the fees you will pay and any other remuneration we may receive from third parties.

It is always your choice whether you re-engage us at the end of each 12-month period. We will only commence a new annual engagement where you have notified us of your decision in writing.

3. Documenting our advice

Our advice will be based on the laws relating to tax and superannuation at the time of the advice. Laws can and do change often, and consideration of these changes is a benefit of continuing to engage our services.

We prepare our advice on the basis that we have a reasonably detailed understanding of your position and priorities. Where our assumptions are incorrect or your situation changes, please let us know immediately so we can ensure our advice continues to be appropriate. Where the scope or complexity of the work we are undertaking on your behalf increases due to unforeseen issues, we reserve the right to alter our fees. We will consult with you before any additional charges are incurred.

We do not guarantee the performance of any investment. All investments apart from cash can lose significant value in a short period of time.

4. Engagement for external advisers

From time to time we may engage external advisers to assist you in the area of tax, debt and banking, estate planning, general insurance and other areas as the need arises.

We will not engage external advisers on your behalf without your consent, and we will seek a fee estimate from them prior to the commencement of their work. Fees for the engagement of external advisers will be billed to you directly and the external advisers will be responsible for the advice given.

We do not receive any form of payment from our external team of experts; rather our focus is on identifying the most appropriate professional to undertake the work.

5. Confidentiality

We recognise the importance of protecting the confidentiality of your personal information. We comply with the Australian Privacy Act at all times. We also require our service providers which hold your personal information to comply with the Australian Privacy Act at all times.

If you engage our services, you authorise us to hold your Tax File Number or Australian Business Number and any other personal information we consider necessary to provide advice. You are always able to request that we no longer hold your TFN. For security purposes, we will also remove your TFN from our files if we no longer need to hold it.

We may share the information you provide us with your spouse/partner or any duly appointed person. We will not use your confidential information for our benefit or to your disadvantage. For further assurance of your confidentiality, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

6. Providing information to others

If you engage our services, you authorise us to provide your personal and financial information to financial institutions, other professional advisers and any parties where that information is required or authorised by Commonwealth or State Laws. We will always seek your consent before sharing information with other professionals.

7. Marketing information

From time to time, we may email you information about financial matters, our services and the services of associated businesses which we believe will be of interest to you. If you do not wish to receive these emails, you may tell us at any time by sending an email to communications@capital-partners.com.au.

8. Instructions

Our advice will be tailored to your financial situation. We rely on you to provide us with complete and accurate information, you can also nominate a person to provide documents and information and to give instructions on your behalf in writing (Authorised Person). Please ensure you promptly inform us of any changes in your financial situation.

You may instruct us over the phone, via email and in writing. In some cases, we may require you to put your instruction in an email or in writing.

Note: If your shares are held on a custodial platform, you will not be able to give us instructions to exercise voting rights.

9. Conflicts of interest

We take our responsibility to serve your best interests seriously and this means we work to avoid any conflicts of interest. Where a conflict arises, it will be disclosed to you in writing.

10. Complaint resolution

We endeavour to provide you with the best advice and service at all times. If you are not satisfied with our services, then we encourage you to contact us. You can call us or put your complaint in writing to our office.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you can refer it to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. You can contact AFCA on 1800 931 678 or via their website www.afca.org.au. AFCA provides a fair and independent complaint resolution service that is offered to you free of charge. 

We hold professional indemnity insurance for the financial advice services that we provide.

11. Ceasing your agreement

We provide services on an annual engagement basis. At the end of each service period, our engagement with you will automatically cease.

Either party may cease the agreement at any time by providing notice in writing. In this event, all of our obligations to you will cease on that date.

On termination of your engagement;
• You must pay us all amounts outstanding for the advice preparation fee; and,
• We will cease to be responsible for any services in relation to your insurance policies from the date of termination.

12. Invoices and Payment

Your initial fee for our services is payable upon engagement. Any ongoing strategic advice fees can be paid in advance as a lump sum or via recurring monthly instalments.

We generally issue an initial invoice to you at the time you sign our Proposal for Services, but may issue invoices on a more frequent basis depending on the nature of the work or if requested by you. All invoices will be in accordance with the fees agreed in your Proposal for Services, Annual Engagement Renewal document or as otherwise agreed with you. All invoices are due and payable 7 days from the invoice date, and will be sent via email.

We accept all the generally accepted forms of payment, namely:

• Credit/debit card
• Direct debt arrangements
• Electronic funds transfer.

Any objections or discrepancies regarding invoicing or payment must be communicated to us prior to the payment due date.