IF THINGS GO WRONG

Option 1 – Internal Complaints Process

Contact your adviser to express your dissatisfaction. They are professionals and this will give them – and you – an opportunity to consider the matter, and to respond. Your adviser will be required to have an internal complaints process. Contact the principal of the organisation or firm through which you received advice. Your advisers firm should have high level complaints processes in place. However sometimes resolution cannot be reached and there is a ‘deadlock’ in the internal complaint process.

Option 2- Dispute Resolution Scheme

If you have reached deadlock under the adviser’s internal complaints process you ought proceed to make the complaint to your adviser’s Approved Disputes Resolution Scheme (ADRS). Under law, all advisers must belong to (be a member of) one of the four Schemes. This is a free service to consumers.  As part of your adviser’s disclosure requirements they must inform you what ADRS Scheme they belong to. You can also find out which ADRS your adviser belongs to by searching the online database of advisers at fspr.govt.nz.

As the name implies an Approved Disputes Resolution Scheme aims to find a way to resolve the issue without expensive or time-consuming litigation through the courts. In the first stage, the ADRS case manager will discuss the complaint with both parties to the dispute; in the second stage, the ADRS case manager will try to reach an agreed resolution between the parties to the dispute; finally, if an agreed outcome is not able to be reached, a decision will be made based on the facts and any applicable law. This decision is binding on the adviser – but not on you, unless you agree to a binding settlement.

ADR Schemes can investigate these types of complaints about their members: any breach of contract with a consumer, not following industry codes of practice (which may include not dealing fairly or responsibly with a consumer), conduct that is not fair or reasonable in the circumstances, breaking the law. There may be some complaints the dispute resolution schemes can’t look at. For more information, please visit the schemes’ websites:

Option 3 – Make a complaint to the Regulator

Lodge a complaint to the Financial Markets Authority (fma.govt.nz). The FMA is the government agency which regulates all financial advisers and can take action under relevant legislation, regulations and the Code of Conduct for Advisers. It may be that the adviser has breached the terms of their authorisation, Code of Conduct obligations, disclosure obligations or consumer law such as the Fair Trading Act or Consumer Guarantees Act.

Option 4 – Make a complaint to Financial Advice New Zealand

Every Member of the Association is bound by the Association’s bylaws, Code of Ethics or Practice Standards.  Members also make this Professional Promise to their clients:

Financial Advice New Zealand Professional Promise As a member of Financial Advice New Zealand, I will always: Place your interests above mine Act with integrity Be fair and reasonable Restrict my advice to those areas where I am competent Avoid or disclose any conflict of interest Protect your confidentiality Seek to continually improve as your adviser

If your complaint relates to a breach of the Association’s Code of Ethics, Rules of Conduct, Practice Standards or Bylaws please read your Adviser’s obligations here https://financialadvice.nz/constitution/

Please check if your adviser is Member of the Association https://financialadvice.nz/find-an-adviser/ We can only process a complaint against one of our Members.

Financial Advice New Zealand will investigate complaints regarding Member’s alleged breach of the Association’s Code of Ethics, Practice Standards, Bylaws and Rules of Conduct. If the matter is subject of any disciplinary, regulatory (FMA/ADRS), criminal or civil investigation or proceedings the Association may temporarily suspend their investigation until conclusion of those proceedings and the impact of such findings from those proceedings may be considered.

The Association has powers to bring charges against a Member and call for a hearing of the Professional Conduct Committee (PPC), Adjudication Body or the Board of Financial Advice New Zealand with one or more (but not limited to these) courses of action:

Require the Member to provide a written apology to the complainant Censure the Member Require the Member to complete professional development or other remedial training Order the Member to take advice in relation to the management of the Member’s practice Require the Member to provide reports on the Member’s practice Require the Member to change their business practices and procedures Make an order for costs* (these are regarding the hearing expenses incurred) Refer the findings the Certification Committee who have to power to suspend or terminate membership and make other deliberations Notify any relevant Government or statutory authority Publish decisions of the PPC Adjudication Body and Board in the newsletter or official publication of the Association, and on the Association’s publicly accessible website, for a period of not less than six months

*The Association cannot order restitution to a client such as for any money lost or damages.  In such cases you would need to take a complaint and seek remedial action under the adviser’s Approved Disputes Resolution Scheme (this is a free service to the consumer) or bring a civil action against the adviser in the courts (however civil action and the engagement of legal advice is very expensive).

Complaints Form

Complaints Procedure Quick Guide