The law should be amended to provide that ongoing fee arrangements (whenever made):
- must be renewed annually by the client;
- must record in writing each year the services that the client will be entitled to receive and the total of the fees that are to be charged; and
- may neither permit nor require payment of fees from any account held for or on behalf of the client except on the client’s express written authority to the entity that conducts that account given at, or immediately after, the latest renewal of the ongoing fee arrangement.
Government Response
The Government agrees to require advisers to seek annual renewal, in writing, of ongoing fee arrangements; to require advisers to record, in writing, the services that will be provided and the associated fees; and mandate the client’s express written authority for the payment of fees from any account held for or on behalf of a client given at, or immediately after, the latest renewal of the ongoing fee arrangement.
These requirements will apply for all clients. Currently, financial advisers are only required to seek clients’ agreement for ongoing fee arrangements for new clients after 1 July 2013.
The Royal Commission has highlighted problems with clients being charged fees for services that have not been provided. This is mostly associated with clients in ongoing fee arrangements. These changes will help ensure clients actively consider whether they are deriving benefits from ongoing fee arrangements.