What is FAIS

The Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (37 of 2002) affects the way in which a Financial services provider (FSP) conducts business and interacts with Consumers, and guides Consumers in their daily dealings with their chosen product provider.
The Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (37 of 2002) regulates the activities of all financial services providers (FSP) who give advice or provide intermediary services to Consumers of certain financial products. The Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act requires that FSPs be licensed and crates a professional code of conduct with specific enforcement measures. All FSP’s must ensure that they comply with the legislation, and with certain specific fit and proper requirements as stipulated in the act.

10 questions to ask your financial adviser

  1. Are you registered with the Financial Services Board as a Financial Service Provider (FSP)?
  2. Are you an FSP representative?
  3. Do you have indemnity insurance?
  4. Which company’s products are you licensed to sell?
  5. What products are you licensed to sell?
  6. What are your qualifications?
  7. Will you do a financial needs analysis for me?
  8. Will you provide me with my risk profile?
  9. How will you be paid and how much? What other incentives do you receive?
  10. How often will I see you?
YOUR RIGHTS

A financial service provider (FSP) may not request or induce you in any manner to waive any right or benefit you have in terms of the FAIS Act, nor can an FSP recognise, accept or act on any such waiver by you. Any such waiver is null and void in terms of the FAIS Act.

HOW TO COMPLAIN TO THE OMBUD

If you receive inappropriate advice or your financial service provider (FSP) or FSP representative has not followed the proper procedures, you are entitled to complain to the Ombud for Financial Service Providers. The Ombud for Financial Service Providers is Charles Pillai.
Telephone: 0860 324 766
Fax: (012) 348 3447
Postal address: PO Box 74571, Lynnwoodridge, 0040
Email: info@faisombud.co.za

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