Digital financial services are transforming how disclosure information is delivered, accessed and understood by consumers. As financial products and advice increasingly move online, licensees and authorised representatives must ensure their disclosure practices remain compliant, accessible and effective in a digital environment.

This course provides practical and regulatory guidance on facilitating digital financial services disclosures in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 and ASIC Regulatory Guide 221. It explains how Product Disclosure Statements (PDSs), Financial Services Guides (FSGs) and Statements of Advice (SOAs) can be delivered electronically, including through innovative digital formats and the ASIC ‘publish and notify’ relief.

Participants will explore ASIC’s expectations when using digital disclosure methods, including client consent, opt-out rights, privacy considerations and record-keeping obligations. The course also examines how providers can manage technological and compliance risks such as phishing, fraud, data security and accessibility issues, while continuing to meet the overarching requirement for disclosures to be clear, concise and effective.

By completing this course, learners will be equipped to assess, implement and review digital financial services disclosure practices that support regulatory compliance, consumer protection and improved client engagement.

Who this course is for

This course is suitable for:

• AFS licensees and responsible managers
• Financial advisers and authorised representatives
• Compliance managers and risk professionals
• Superannuation trustees and administrators
• Digital product and platform managers in financial services

What you will learn

In this course, you will gain practical knowledge and regulatory insight into:

• The legislative framework governing digital disclosure under Parts 7.7 and 7.9 of the Corporations Act 2001
• ASIC relief and guidance supporting digital and innovative disclosure methods
• The ‘publish and notify’ model, including opt-out requirements and delivery obligations
• Privacy, accessibility, record-keeping and consumer protection considerations in a digital environment

Learning objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Identify the legislative and regulatory requirements that apply to digital delivery of financial services disclosures under the Corporations Act 2001 and ASIC instruments.
2. Explain ASIC’s guidance and relief mechanisms, including the publish and notify method and their application to PDSs, FSGs and SOAs.
3. Apply good disclosure principles to determine appropriate digital disclosure methods for different financial products, services and client groups.
4. Evaluate digital disclosure practices to assess compliance risks, consumer accessibility, privacy obligations and record-keeping requirements.

Key topics covered

• Digital delivery of financial services disclosures
• Use of electronic addresses and client nomination
• Publish and notify relief under ASIC Instrument 2025/447
• Digital disclosures for superannuation default members
• Innovative PDS, FSG and SOA formats
• Accessibility, usability and client engagement
• Privacy, anti-scam and cyber security considerations
• Record-keeping and version control obligations

Compliance alignment

This course is aligned with:

• Corporations Act 2001 (Parts 7.7 and 7.9)
• ASIC Regulatory Guide 221
• ASIC Instrument 2025/447
• Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles
• ASIC Good Disclosure Principles (RG 168)