Issue date: 10 November 2023
The provider of the services described in this Financial Services Guide (FSG) is Stockspot Pty Ltd (Stockspot), Stockspot ABN 87 163 214 319 is a licensed Australian Financial Services provider (AFSL 536082) regulated by ASIC.
The purpose of this FSG is to help you make an informed decision about the services we offer. This FSG is an important document that explains how we provide financial services to you. You should read this FSG carefully before using our services. It is intended to give you sufficient information to decide whether to obtain financial services from us.
In this document you will find information about:
This Financial Services Guide (FSG) is dated 7 November 2022 and is provided to you by Stockspot Pty Ltd ABN 87 163 214 319 (Stockspot, We, Our or Us) to inform you of the financial services we provide and to comply with our obligations as an Australian Financial Services Licensee (AFSL 536082). This FSG contains only general information about the services we offer.
You can contact Stockspot at:
Email: enquiries@stockspot.com.au
Postal address: PO Box R1573, Royal Exchange NSW 1225
Phone: (02) 8091 8090
Our mission
Our mission is to make investing accessible for all Australians. We combine financial experience with industry leading strategies to deliver high-performing, low-fee investment portfolios.
Our guiding principles:
Under our Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL 536082), Stockspot is authorised to provide general and personal advice on, and deal in, the following classes of financial products to retail and wholesale clients (within the definition of the Corporations Act): Securities; Interests in Managed Investment Schemes including IDPS; Superannuation; and Miscellaneous Financial Investment Products limited to managed discretionary account services (MDA). We are not authorised to include or provide custodial or depository services.
The Stockspot website provides general information as well as advice about investing, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and MDA Services. Where we provide general advice, that information or advice does not take into account your personal and financial circumstances, needs and objectives. Accordingly, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice with regards to your personal and financial circumstances before acting on that advice.
You can also apply for personal investment advice from Stockspot via the websites https://www.stockspot.com.au and https://blog.stockspot.com.au. Stockspot will assess your personal circumstances and suitability for the Stockspot Model Portfolios which are offered as part of an MDA Service. If you are considered a suitable candidate you will be provided with an MDA Contract which includes a Statement of Advice (SOA) and Investment Program and complies with Division 3 of Part 7.7 of the Corporations Act. The SOA and MDA Contract will be issued in digital format for you to review and sign if you would like to proceed with the advice and access our services. We will also email you a copy to the email address provided in your application.
We will also provide you with other relevant documents including PDS documents for any financial products we recommend and Service Agreements for any service providers.
Any personal advice we provide is valid for six (6) months from the date you take the Stockspot risk profile assessment. If you have not acted on this advice but wish to proceed after six (6) months, we will ask you to re-complete the risk profile assessment to ensure that we have collected the most relevant and up to date information about you.
More information on investing: For general information about investing (including a managed funds calculator to help you understand the effect of fees and different investment options) go to www.moneysmart.gov.au or visit Stockspot's website at www.stockspot.com.au
An MDA Service is a facility for making a financial investment that has the following key features:
Rather than being part of a large pool of money and/or investments, your portfolio is owned by you and managed for you pursuant to the Investment Program included in your SOA and MDA Contract.
You are always the direct legal and beneficial owner of the investments which are registered in your name.
In order to access this service, you agree to give Stockspot (the MDA Provider) authority to make investments on your behalf according to an agreed Investment Program. In developing the Investment Program, Stockspot will apply our principles of diversification and risk management to meet your investment requirements. With a MDA Service, you will be the beneficial owner of the portfolio, and have the ability to see the exact composition and value of your portfolio at any time (via our secure online service).
You also agree to give Stockspot (the MDA Provider) authority to oversee the services provided to you, including: MDA Management, Execution, Cash Management, Reporting and Audit.
To find out more information about the structure of the MDA Service offered by Stockspot, please read the MDA Guide and the MDA Contract we provide to you.
Stockspot (the MDA Provider) will be responsible for reviewing the Investment Program included in the SOA once every 13 months.
Where your relevant personal circumstances have changed you will be responsible for informing Stockspot. Stockspot will review the Investment Program and MDA Contract to ensure it remains suitable for you.
In order to provide you with MDA services you need to open an MDA. To open an MDA you must enter into an MDA Contract with Stockspot before the MDA service can be provided.
The MDA Contract will include an Investment Program that is prepared in accordance with the requirements in Division 3 of Part 7.7 of the Corporations Act (ie. provision of personal advice to retail clients and Statement of Advice) and Division 2 of Part 7.7A of the Corporations Act (ie. best interest obligations). The Investment Program will contain the following information:
It is important to understand that, even with a sensible diversified investment strategy and appropriate time horizon, investing always involves some risk.
The financial performance of the Stockspot Model Portfolios may be influenced by a variety of general domestic and international economic factors and business conditions, which are outside the control of Stockspot. These include (but are not limited to) changes in the inflation rate, commodities prices, exchange rates, interest rates, government fiscal, monetary and regulatory policy, natural disasters, health pandemics and acts of terrorism.
Stockspot may employ certain strategies that depend upon the reliability and accuracy of the analytical investment processes. To the extent such investment processes (or the assumptions underlying them) do not prove to be correct, your Stockspot Model Portfolio (or chosen Stockspot Sustainable Portfolio) may not perform as anticipated, which could result in losses. Please carefully read the risks summarised in the MDA Contract, the PDS documents for each ETF, and the Terms and Conditions issued by the Third Party Service Provider and Cash Account provider.
No guarantee can be given in respect of the future earnings of the MDA Service or the capital appreciation of your investments within the MDA. The price of investments that Stockspot has purchased on behalf of you can fall and rise over time. There are risks associated with the underlying investments within the MDA, which are outlined in the relevant PDS for each ETF. You should carefully consider the risks of each ETF before deciding to invest in this MDA.
The operating performance of the MDA Service may also be impacted by industry risk factors. These factors are outside the control of Stockspot. Such factors include (but are not limited to) increased compliance costs and variations in legislation and government policies.
To counter the potential impacts of industry risk, all Stockspot Model Portfolios are constructed on a direct-ownership basis. This means that you, as the investor, do not have counterparty risk. Regardless of the status of Stockspot or its suppliers, you, as the full legal and beneficial owner of your investments, separately hold your investments under your own unique Holder Identification Number (HIN). You can use your HIN to check your holdings at the share registries.
In order to offer personal advice to you, we need to understand your financial needs, objectives and risk profile.
This enables us to advise on an investment strategy that is appropriate and relevant to your situation.
It will take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs (relevant personal circumstances) as provided by you in the Stockspot application process.
To determine the right investment strategy for you, we have a comprehensive risk profile assessment that asks a series of questions on your:
We will not pass on your personal financial information to third parties unless you give us permission so please complete the survey as accurately as possible. The information you provide us determines the advice and recommendations we provide to you. If you provide incorrect or incomplete information our advice may not be appropriate for your circumstances.
Based on the information provided on your risk profile, financial circumstances and objectives, if appropriate, Stockspot will recommend an Investment Program including a Stockspot Model Portfolio. Our services are not appropriate for everyone so if your personal circumstances are outside the scope of our expertise we will instead advise you to contact an appropriate specialist financial adviser.
If we do suggest a Model Portfolio, the underlying Investment Strategy for the Model Portfolio will be included in the Investment Program which forms part of the MDA Contract and is included in the Statement of Advice we give to you during the application process. You may also have the option to choose a Sustainable version of the Stockspot Model portfolios.
Please read the contract carefully because it explains the basis for our recommendations and details the services we offer. If you agree to the SOA and Investment Program and wish to enter into the MDA Contract you will be asked to digitally sign the MDA Contract to access our services.
We retain all MDA Contracts for as long as you are our client and for at least seven years after you have closed your account. You may request a replacement copy of your MDA Contract at any time within that period. If you decide that our services are not what you were after, you are welcome to terminate your MDA Contract and our services at any time. There are no exit fees payable by you for withdrawals from your Stockspot account.
The privacy of your personal information is of significant importance to us. We value your trust and aim to help you manage and build wealth over the long term. The protection of your personal information is a vital part of this relationship. We only share your information with third parties when it's necessary.
These include:
Service partners: organisations that we partner with to supply products and services, for example, broker and cash account provider.
Email platform or advertisers: we may also use your personal information to tell you about products and services we think may be of interest and value to you, you can always unsubscribe from the service by ‘unsubscribing’ from the platforms.
In addition to this Financial Services Guide, you may also receive from Stockspot;
Where you maintain the advice relationship with us, a Statement of Advice may not be provided for further advice situations provided that your circumstances and the basis of the advice are not significantly different. However, we are required to keep a record of the advice. You may request a copy of the Record of Advice (ROA) we keep up to seven (7) years after the advice was given.
Apply for our services
You can apply for our MDA services by agreeing to and electronically signing your personalised MDA Contract. Upon receipt of your information we will need to verify your identity as part of our Know Your Client (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) obligations.
Make an investment
To make an investment you will need to deposit funds into your Stockspot cash account. Stockspot will use these funds to invest into your Model Portfolio, and endeavor to invest within one business day of the funds being received. You can top up your investment by depositing funds into your Stockspot cash account in the same way.
Select your active account
You can select where new deposits will be invested. Choose either your Stockspot Model Portfolio or Stockspot Savings. Manage your active account settings in 'Transfer Money - Deposit Funds'.
Transfer money
You can transfer money between your Stockspot Model Portfolio and Stockspot Savings from the 'Transfer Money - Move Money' section of the Stockspot investment dashboard. Keep in mind that this may involve selling some of your investments and realising capital gains or losses. We recommend you seek advice from your tax agent about the tax consequences first.
Make a withdrawal
Withdrawal requests can be made in the 'Transfer Money' section of the Stockspot investment dashboard. To receive a cash payment from your Stockspot account, you are required to nominate a bank account in the same name as your account for funds to be transferred into. Withdrawals take four to five business days. This is in line with the ASX T+2 settlement period for investments. Once the funds clear they are transferred to your linked account the next business day. There are no additional costs to sell your investments.
Withdrawal requests received prior to 10am Monday-Friday are usually processed the same day.
Withdrawal requests received after 10am Monday-Friday or on weekends are processed the next business day.
Stockspot does not charge any fees for full or partial withdrawals.
Update your profile
You can notify us of any change in your personal situation, risk profile or circumstances by updating your profile in the 'Investment profile' section of the Stockspot investment dashboard. We recommend you keep your profile up to date and let us know about any changes as soon as possible.
Opt out
You can opt out of our services at any time by making a full withdrawal request. The process takes 4-5 business days for the funds to arrive in your linked bank account. There are no brokerage or exit fees payable for full withdrawals from your Stockspot account.
Asset Transfers
If you are transferring to another adviser or service you must notify Stockspot in writing:
https://www.stockspot.com.au/contact-us/
There is an administration fee of $30 per holding for Off-Market Transfers and HIN transfers out of Stockspot. There is no cost for selling your investments directly via the Stockspot dashboard.
For portfolios under $10,000, Stockspot will phase-in the investments gradually in order to effectively manage risk versus return for smaller portfolios. During the phase in period, the portfolios are well diversified with exposure to growth and defensive investments.
We recommend that you aim to build your portfolio to $10,000 as soon as possible (ideally within 12 months) to ensure that you enjoy the full benefits of diversification.
| MDA Provider |
Stockspot Pty Ltd (AFSL 536082) has been authorised as a MDA Provider and is responsible for managing your account pursuant to this Investment Program. Stockspot is Australia's first and largest automated investment adviser and fund manager. See www.stockspot.com.au for more information about Stockspot |
| Adviser |
Stockspot Pty Ltd (AFSL 536082) is your Adviser. Stockspot is responsible for:
See www.stockspot.com.au for more information about Stockspot |
| Third Party Service Provider |
FNZ Securities Brokerage services are provided by FNZ Custodians (Australia) Pty Ltd ACN 624 689 694 (trading as and hereafter referred to as "FNZ Securities"). FNZ Securities is part of the FNZ Group which is a global wealth creation platform with end-to-end technology systems that partners with more than 650 major financial institutions, has over US$1.5 trillion in assets under administration and over 20 million end customers worldwide. Locally, FNZ Securities is a market and trading participant of ASX and Cboe, a general participant of ASX Clear and a general settlement participant of ASX Settlement. We invite you to click on the following link to access the FNZ Securities Terms and Conditions (inclusive the Financial Services Guide and Best Execution Arrangements). Please refer to the document named ‘Client Agreements / Terms and Conditions / Disclosures - applicable for clients of FNZ Securities that receive services via an Australian financial services provider (i.e. Australian intermediary)’. |
| Client Cash Account Provider |
Cash accounts are issued by Bank of Queensland Limited (BOQ) ABN 32 009 656 740, AFSL and Australian Credit Licence No 244616. Stockspot holds a separately managed BOQ Money Market Deposit Account for each client in the name of Stockspot Pty Ltd as bare trustee. DDH Graham Limited (DDH) ABN 28 010 639 219, AFSL 226319 is the agent, administrator, and distributor of the BOQ Money Market Deposit Accounts. |
| VIX Verify | ID verification services |
| AWS | Secure server |
| KMB Business Advisers and Chartered Accountants | Audit services |
In order to provide our services as a MDA Provider and Adviser, Stockspot has relationships with Third Party Service Providers, Cash Account Providers and Portfolio auditing services (as outlined above). Stockspot has chosen these external service providers because they are the most suitable for this MDA. The commercial relationships Stockspot has with external service providers in no way conflicts with the provision of financial services to you.
Stockspot does not receive any financial incentives from external service providers or the ETF issuers. Any rebate Stockspot receives on cash amounts invested with the cash account providers will be rebated to you. Stockspot does not pay commissions to third parties.
Stockspot, employees thereof and individuals at “arms length” to Stockspot may also hold MDAs with Stockspot.
Should Stockspot become aware of any other conflict of interest or association that might impact its ability to act in the Client's best interest, it will immediately inform the client of such conflict or association and or fully disclose details within the Statement of Advice (SOA).
Stockspot provides a dispute resolution service to all of its clients free of charge. This obligation is a key tenet of the consumer protection principles of the Australian Financial Services Licensing system. If you have a complaint about any services you should contact Stockspot by phone (02) 8091 8090 or email: complaints@stockspot.com.au to explain your situation and concerns.
If you need additional assistance to lodge a complaint due to difficulty with a language, disability or any other reason, we can help you make your complaint.
If you would like to nominate a representative to lodge a complaint for you please send us a signed authority granting permission for the third party to act on your behalf.
What happens next:
Stockspot will acknowledge your complaint either verbally or in writing within 24 hours. Following on from this we will assess and investigate the circumstances that gave rise to your complaint.
In some circumstances we will be able to resolve your complaint within 5 business days of receipt. If this is the case, Stockspot will confirm with you verbally that you are satisfied with the outcome of the matter. At this stage, Stockspot will not provide a written response unless you request one.
In other circumstances your complaint may take longer to resolve. Stockspot will do everything possible to resolve your complaint within 30 calendar days of it being received. We will provide you with a written response detailing the outcome of your complaint. If we reject any part of your complaint we will provide you with the reasons for our decision, identify and address the issues you have raised in your complaint and set out the reasons for our findings.
If we are unable to respond to your complaint within 30 calendar days we will send you a delay letter (prior to the expiry of the 30 calendar days) detailing the reasons for the delay and if we require any further information from you.
Still not resolved?
We value your feedback and welcome the opportunity to resolve your concerns in the first instance, however understand in limited circumstances this may not be possible. If an issue has not been resolved to your satisfaction, you can lodge a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). AFCA is a fair and independent financial services complaint resolution scheme that is free to consumers.
Website: www.afca.org.au
Email: info@afca.org.au
Telephone: 1800 931 678 (free call)
In writing to: Australian Financial Complaints Authority, GPO Box 3, Melbourne VIC 3001
In accordance with Regulatory Guide RG126 and Section 912B of the Corporations Act 2001, Stockspot has Professional Indemnity Insurance in place, which covers the work done by Stockspot's representatives.
Did you know? Small differences in investment performance and fees and costs can have a substantial impact on your long-term returns.
For example, total annual fees and costs of 2% of your investment balance rather than 1% could reduce your final return by up to 20% over a 30 year period (for example, reduce it from $100,000 to $80,000). You should consider whether features, such as investment performance or use of an MDA Service are appropriate for you.
To find out more: If you would like to find out more, or see the impact of the fees based on your own circumstances, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) website (www.moneysmart.gov.au) has a managed funds fee calculator to help you check out different fee options.
The following information shows fees and other costs that you may be charged. These fees and costs may be deducted from your account, from the returns on your investment or from the funds and assets held in your MDA.
Stockspot does not provide tax advice and you should obtain tax advice from an accountant or other professional tax adviser in relation to the application of tax legislation.
You should read all the information about fees and costs as it is important to understand their impact on your investment.
The arrangement between Stockspot and you is governed by the terms and conditions of the MDA Contract. The following tables set out the fees and costs for this MDA.
| Type of fee or cost | Amount | How and when paid |
|---|---|---|
| Fees when your money moves in or out of the managed investment product | ||
|
Establishment fee The fee to open your investment |
Nil | N/A |
|
Contribution fee The fee on each amount contributed to your investment |
Nil | N/A |
|
Withdrawal fee The fee on each amount you take out of your investment |
Nil | N/A |
|
Exit fee The fee to close your investment* |
Nil | N/A |
| Management costs | ||
|
MDA Service Fee¹ The fees and costs for managing your investment |
Bronze: $5.50 per month All other memberships: up to 0.055% per month of your investment balance, excluding money invested in Stockspot Savings (fees quoted inc. GST – further details provided in table below) |
Calculated based on the average of your starting and ending account balance at the 15th of each month, and debited before the end of each month |
| Service fees | ||
|
Switching fee The fee for changing investment options |
Nil | N/A |
|
Performance Fee¹ The fee on new net profit within a month |
Nil | N/A |
|
Transaction Fees¹ The fees charged by the Third Party Service Provider for the provision of dealing services |
Nil | N/A |
*Refer to administration fees (below) for more information on broker-to-broker transfers
Not less than 30 days notice will be given by Stockspot to you of changes to the terms and conditions of the fees and charges set out under MDA Fees.
The MDA Service Fee is charged on a tiered basis determined by your investment balance. No fee is charged on money invested into Stockspot Savings.
The following tables outlines the tiered structure:
| MDA Service Fee - Tiered Fee Structure | |
|---|---|
| An all inclusive fee based on your average account balance each month. | |
| Bronze |
0% for the first 6 months, then $5.50 per month (Incl. GST) New clients investing $10,000 or less |
| Silver |
0.055% per month or 0.66% p.a (Incl. GST) For account balances between $10,001 - $49,999 Automated rebalancing and dividend reinvestment |
| Gold |
0.055% per month or 0.66% p.a. (Incl. GST) For account balances between $50,000 - $199,999 Access to Stockspot Themes for portfolio customisation Automated rebalancing and dividend reinvestment |
| Platinum |
0.044% per month or 0.528% p.a. (Incl GST) For account balances between $200,000 - $1,999,999 Access to Stockspot Themes (for portfolio customisation) Automated rebalancing and dividend reinvestment |
| Diamond |
0.033% per month or 0.396% p.a. (Incl GST) For account balances of $2M+ Automated rebalancing and dividend reinvestment Access to Stockspot Themes (for portfolio customisation) Dedicated Investment Adviser |
This fee is paid to Stockspot and automatically deducted from your Client Cash Account each month
The following table provides an example of how the fees and costs within the Stockspot MDA can affect your investment over a one year period.
| EXAMPLE | BALANCE OF $20,000 WITH NO CONTRIBUTIONS DURING THE YEAR | |
|---|---|---|
| MDA Service Fee |
0.055% (incl GST) per month Annualised rate is 0.66% p.a. (incl. GST) |
Total fees payable to Stockspot on a $20,000 portfolio would be $11 per month (incl GST) (approximately $132 p.a.)
|
The following table provides an example of how the fees and costs within the Stockspot MDA can affect your investment over a one year period. The example assumes a balance of $20,000 at the beginning of the year with a contribution of $10,000 during the year.
| EXAMPLE | BALANCE OF $20,000 AND $10,000 CONTRIBUTION DURING THE YEAR | |
|---|---|---|
| MDA Service Fee |
0.055% (incl GST) per month Annualised rate is 0.66% p.a. (incl. GST) |
If you had an investment of $20,000 at the beginning of the year and you put in an additional $10,000 in 6 months, you would be charged a fee of $11 per month (for the first 6 months) and $16.50 per month thereafter (based on your account balance). This equates to 0.66% of your portfolio balance per year (incl GST) and includes:
|
MDA Service Fee
The MDA Service Fee is calculated based on the average of your starting and ending account balance at the 15th of each month, and debited before the end of each month from your Stockspot Client Cash Account. Fees are automatically debited from the cash balance in your account.
When you lodge a full withdrawal request, the Management Fee will be calculated on the average balance in your account for the month on a pro-rata basis and deducted from the account prior to the account closure being processed and finalised.
The Management Fee is quoted inclusive of GST.
Fees on multiple accounts
If you have multiple accounts as the primary account holder, your fee tier is determined by your combined investment balance across all accounts, including any non-fee paying accounts. This helps many Stockspot clients enjoy lower fees based on their total investment balance across all of their accounts.
Only your first account is eligible for the 'first 6 months free' offer.
All eligible kids accounts continue to be fee-free until the portfolio balance reaches $10,000 or the child turns 18.
Transaction fees
There are no transaction fees applicable to this MDA Service. Brokerage costs are included in the MDA Service Fee.
ETF management fee
ETF management fees are charged by each fund issuer and included in the traded unit price. On a portfolio-weighted basis, the ETF management fees are typically 0.27% to 0.30% per year for Stockspot Model Portfolios. ETF management fees for the Stockspot Sustainable portfolios range from 0.34% to 0.47% per year. ETF management fees for the Stockspot Topaz Income and Stockspot Topaz Inflation Portfolios range from 0.35% to 0.44% per year. ETF management fees for the Stockspot Themes range from 0.04% to 0.74% per year.
Administration fees
There is an administration fee of $30 per holding for Off-Market Transfers and HIN transfers out of Stockspot. There is no cost for selling your investments directly via the Stockspot dashboard.
Remuneration or other benefits received by Stockspot's Representatives
Directors, Employees and Representatives of Stockspot receive salaries, bonuses and other benefits from Stockspot.
External service providers to this MDA Service including Execution, Cash Management, Reporting, Audit and Compliance Services are paid from the fees collected by Stockspot.
Staff remuneration and benefits
Stockspot staff are remunerated based on salary (including bonuses) and may be shareholders of Stockspot so participate in profits earned in relation to the Stockspot business.