Financial advice - putting your interests first.

There are 2-options.

1. You can appoint your own financial adviser OR 

2. We can connect you to an adviser in your local area to help you. Click here to connect with an adviser.

Yes. We would be happy to connect you to a financial adviser in your local area. We’ll make sure they are qualified and licenced to provide you financial advice.  With your permission we’ll provide them with information about you and your Fidelity Life policy(ies) and they’ll usually be in touch within 2-3 business days.  Alternatively, we can provide you with the contact details an adviser in your area so you can contact them directly.

All advisers must be operating under a current Financial Advice Provider (FAP) license.

This means they:

• should clearly explain to you how you will pay for their services and any ongoing costs.
• are qualified to provide the financial advice service.
• must follow the Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services. The Code requires advisers to treat you (their customers) fairly, act with integrity, give suitable advice and ensure it is properly understood, protect your information, and have knowledge, competence and skill appropriate to the service they provide.
• will provide you with an outline of the service they provide.
• make and keep a record of your needs and goals like, what or who are you looking to protect. This helps to ensure the products offered to you meet your needs.

When getting advice from an adviser, you should expect:

• your adviser to ask what your needs are and understand who or what risks you’re looking to plan for.
• your adviser to talk through their recommendations and explain why they think these are right for you, explain how they’re paid, explain how their complaints process works and tell you who you can contact if you’re unhappy with any level of the service they provide you.
• financial advice to be explained to you in plain language, and the adviser should be happy to answer your questions, so you fully understand your options.

We will continue to assess and process your application as normal.

• If we have any questions or to let you know the outcome of your application, we’ll be in touch with you directly, or an appointed representative you’ve chosen. This is someone you may have chosen to act on your behalf, like a solicitor or family member.

• If you need financial advice in relation to your application, we can put you in touch with a financial adviser in your local area who is qualified and licenced to provide financial advice and can assist with any advice you might need about your application.

We will continue to assess and process your claim as normal.

• If we have any questions or to let you know the outcome of your claim, we’ll be in touch with you directly, or an appointed representative you’ve chosen. This is someone you may have chosen to act on your behalf, like a solicitor or family member.

• If you need financial advice in relation to your claim, we can put you in touch with a financial adviser in your local area who is qualified and licensed to provide financial advice and can assist with any advice you might need about your claim.

From 17-March 2023 financial advisers, and anyone providing a financial advice service, must either hold or operate under a Financial Advice Provider (FAP) licence. Financial advisers must also be qualified to provide the financial advice services they offer to you. 

The intent of these changes are to give you more confidence:

• when seeking financial advice.
• in the quality of that advice.
• that you will be protected.
• that your policy continues to meet your needs throughout your life.

The Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) is an online public register managed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Anyone can use the FSPR to identify if a financial adviser is operating under a licenced Financial Advice Provider.

• Go to https://fsp-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz/#
• Search their name using the ‘Search for a financial service provider’ field.
• If they have ever been registered on the FSPR they will appear on the list of search results.

Finding their FSP number and whether they are registered and licensed:

From the list, select the financial adviser and go to “View FSP Details” screen and check each of the following:

• i. On the ‘General Details’ tab, the FSP Status should state “Registered’. If “Deregistered” is displayed, the individual is unable to provide financial advice services.
• ii. On the ‘Financial Services’ tab the current Engaged by Financial Advice Provider should display a company/licence holder’s name. If “Not currently engaged by any Financial Advice Providers” is displayed, the individual is unable to provide financial advice services.
• iii. On the ‘Financial Services’ tab, in the ‘Financial advice service’ section the Additional Information should state either ‘Financial Adviser’ or ‘Financial advice provider – licensee – full license’, and Authorisation Status should state ‘Licensed’.

These terms are similar, but there are differences:

Financial advice is where a recommendation or an opinion is provided to you regarding the acquisition or disposal of a ‘financial product’.

Financial advice services includes financial advice (as above) plus ‘financial planning’, a step-by-step approach to help you meet your financial life goals. Financial planning also helps to financially prepare for unexpected life events such as untimely death, serious sickness or injury, and times when your income maybe disrupted.

Financial products include:

• lending (e.g. personal loans & mortgages),
• insurances (e.g. general, life, and health insurances), and
• investment products (including KiwiSaver, Superannuation, term deposits, shares, investment funds etc.).

It is important to understand what these terms mean for you:

Financial Adviser.
An individual or person who operates under a licenced Financial Advice Provider (FAP) providing financial advice services to you. Financial Advisers must be registered on the Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR), and may be engaged by an Authorised Body, or directly by the FAP they represent. You are most likely to work one-on-one with a Financial Adviser.

Nominated Representative.
Unlike the Financial Adviser, a Nominated Representative does not need to be registered on the FSPR, and may only be able to provide a limited service to you.

Authorised Body.
A business entity (i.e. a limited liability company) that provides financial advice services without needing its own FAP licence, but is registered on the Financial Service Providers Register as an Authorised Body of a FAP licensee. The Authorised Body may engage Financial Advisers and, in certain circumstances, Nominated Representatives.

Financial Advice Provider.
The holder of a Financial Advice Provider licence issued by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). The FAP is ultimately responsible and accountable for the conduct and actions of all of its representatives (i.e. Financial Advisers, Nominated Representatives, and Authorised Bodies) that provide financial advice services to you.

Intermediary.
Individuals or businesses that are involved in providing financial advice services or distributing financial products to you. They are not representatives of product providers (e.g. insurers such as Fidelity Life) but are usually paid a commission by the product provider for distributing the products of the product provider.
All intermediaries are bound by the Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services (the Code).

The Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) is an online public register managed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Anyone can use the FSPR to identify if a financial adviser is operating under a licenced Financial Advice Provider.

• Go to https://fsp-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz/#
• Search their name using the ‘Search for a financial service provider’ field.
• If they have ever been registered on the FSPR they will appear on the list of search results.

Finding their FSP number and whether they are registered and licenced:

From the list, select the financial adviser and go to “View FSP Details” screen and check each of the following:

• iv. On the ‘General Details’ tab, the FSP Status should state “Registered’. If “Deregistered” is displayed, the individual is unable to provide financial advice services.
• v. On the ‘Financial Services’ tab the current Engaged by Financial Advice Provider should display a company/licence holder’s name. If “Not currently engaged by any Financial Advice Providers” is displayed, the individual is unable to provide financial advice services.
• vi. On the ‘Financial Services’ tab, in the ‘Financial advice service’ section the Additional Information should state either ‘Financial Adviser’ or ‘Financial advice provider – licensee – full licence’, and Authorisation Status should state ‘Licensed’.