We warmly invite members of mySolutions to consider the many benefits of being an IFSO Scheme Participant, and enjoy the mySolutions group rate for annual IFSO Scheme levies.
The IFSO Scheme offers Participants a wide range of unique services and valuable resources including:
Step 1: Apply to join using the online application form.
Choose "Company" application type.
Step 2: When your IFSO Scheme membership is confirmed and you are issued your IFSO Scheme Participant number:
Step 3: If you have more than one Financial Adviser engaged by your FAP, use the online application form to add them to the FAP record.
Choose "Individual" application type.
DRS schemes' annual levy year is for the twelve months 1 July to 30 June. The IFSO Scheme will not charge your FAP for any period you have already paid to another DRS, including any amount paid to another DRS as part of your termination notice period.
If you have additional Financial Advisers (or Nom Reps) that join your FAP during the year your FAP will only charged for that portion of the levy year that remains.
mySolutions Group Rate
When you are part of this group your FAP annual levy* will be calculated on the number of Financial Advisers (and Nominated Representatives) your FAP engages as at 1 July, but charged at the lower mySolutions group rate. The mySolutions group rate for the 2023-24 levy year $191.29+GST per adviser, per annum. The larger the group becomes, the lower next year's levy rate will be.
All Participants of the IFSO Scheme must tell their customers the IFSO Scheme is available to them, that our service is free of charge and our contact details. Complaint fees charged by the IFSO Scheme may not be passed on to customers.
Suggested actions:
1. Change your disclosure regarding your Dispute Resolution Service e.g. on your website complaints webpage or "About Us" document, using the wording below.
[Insert name of your Financial Advice Provider] are a Participant of the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme).
You can refer your complaint to the IFSO Scheme if it has not been resolved after going through our complaints process. This is a free, independent dispute resolution service which will consider your complaint and, either reach an agreed outcome, or make a decision.
Contact details: Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme, www.ifso.nz or call freephone 0800 888 202, P O Box 10-845 Wellington 6143, New Zealand
2. Download our IFSO Scheme logo to accompany the wording above.
3. In addition, we suggest you tell your customers about your complaints process and the IFSO Scheme when your customers make complaints to you. In our experience, Participants are more successful at resolving complaints early when they provide clear complaints process information to their customers when they receive a complaint. Use this wording:
If we are not able to resolve your complaint through our internal complaint process, you can refer your complaint to the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme). [Insert name of your Financial Advice Provider] is a Participant of the IFSO Scheme. The IFSO Scheme provides a free, independent dispute resolution service to consumers. You can contact the IFSO Scheme by:
Email: info@ifso.nz Website: www.ifso.nz or make an online complaint. Freephone: 0800 888 202 Address: P O Box 10-845, Wellington 6143
About the IFSO Scheme
The IFSO Scheme has been approved by the Minister of Consumer Affairs to provide an external disputes resolution service for consumers with complaints about their financial services providers. Financial service providers are required to belong to a dispute resolution scheme. The IFSO Scheme has over 4,000 Participants and can formally investigate a complaint if it is about a Participant of the IFSO Scheme.
Since 1995, the IFSO Scheme has provided a free and independent service for thousands of consumers. Each year the IFSO Scheme responds to over 4,000 complaint enquiries and resolve over 300 complaints.
The templated complaint policy and processes are in MS Word format - which you can edit, tailor and brand to suit your business.
The complaints register template is in MS Excel spreadsheet format - which you can edit and tailor to suit your business.