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What a financial advice provider's website must say

The 12 things New Zealand law requires a financial advice provider to make publicly available on its website, in plain English.

By the Riverhorse Compliance team · Last checked 15 November 2026

The short answer

If you give regulated financial advice to retail clients and you have a website, the law requires certain information to be publicly available on it. The rule is regulation 229C of the Financial Markets Conduct Regulations 2014, and the list is in clause 4 of Schedule 21A of those regulations. Its purpose, in the regulation's own words, is to give clients "access to information that will help them to find a financial advice provider that meets their needs".

If no website is kept by you or for you, the website rule doesn't apply. You must still give the same information in writing to any member of the public who asks, as soon as practicable.

Where it has to be

The regulations say information is "publicly available" when it is on a website kept by or for the provider in a way that makes sure:

• the information, or a link to it, is prominently displayed on the home page or on an appropriate section of the site
• if it sits on a section of the site, the home page prominently displays a link to that section
• members of the public can easily get to it at all reasonable times.

The information must also include the provider's name and contact details, and be clearly identified as coming from the provider.

Many firms use a clearly labelled link on the home page, such as "Disclosure", that opens the page or document. Whether a link is prominent depends on how the page looks: a small link lost among many others may not be.

The 12 things

Some of these apply only "if" something is true of your business. The rule is to publish all that apply.

1. Your licence. A statement that you hold a licence from the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) to provide a financial advice service; or that you are authorised under someone else's licence, with the name of the licence holder; or that you are exempt.
2. Licence conditions. A brief summary of the effect of each licence condition that limits or restricts the advice that may be given.
3. Types of products. The types of financial advice products you give advice about.
4. Product providers. If you give advice about products from particular providers only: say so, and either name them or describe them well enough that they can be identified.
5. Limits on your service. A brief explanation of any material limitations or restrictions on the scope of your advice service. A limit is material if a reasonable client would expect it to influence, or be likely to influence, a decision about whether to seek or get advice from you.
6. Fees. If clients will or may have to pay fees, expenses or other amounts for the advice: a brief explanation of when, or in what circumstances.
7. Conflicts of interest. If any conflict of interest (other than commission) exists or is likely to arise: a brief description of each one and the steps taken, or to be taken, to manage it.
8. Commissions and other incentives. If any will or may be given in relation to advice: a brief explanation of when, or in what circumstances, and the steps taken to manage the conflicts. You may describe similar commissions as a group rather than listing each one.
9. How to complain. An explanation of how to make a complaint.
10. Your complaints process. An overview of your internal complaints process.
11. Dispute resolution. A statement that a complainant has access to a free, independent dispute resolution service that may help if the complaint isn't resolved through your own process; the name of the scheme you belong to; and the scheme's contact details for making a complaint.
12. Your duties. A statement that you, and anyone giving advice on your behalf, are bound by duties to meet the standards of competence, knowledge and skill in the code of conduct; to give priority to the client's interests; to exercise care, diligence and skill; and to meet the code's standards of ethical behaviour, conduct and client care. You don't have to quote the Act or name its sections, so long as the statement gives an adequate account of what the duties mean.

Keeping it right

What your website says has to match what you actually do. The Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 has its own rule about disclosure information that is false or misleading, or likely to mislead (section 431P).

It is worth reading your disclosure again whenever something changes, for example:

• you move to a different licence, or your licence conditions change
• you change dispute resolution scheme
• you start or stop working with a lender, insurer or other product provider
• your fees or the way you are paid change.

How a review helps

Our review reads your public website and the documents you send us, check by check, against these requirements and the rest of the law that applies. It tells you what is fine, what isn't and how to fix it. You can see a sample report before you order.

General information only – not legal advice.