Product design and distribution is now at the core of Australia’s regulatory framework for financial services.

Whether you’re a finance or mortgage broker, product issuer, or distributor, understanding and applying the principles of Product design and distribution ensures that financial products meet the needs, objectives, and financial situations of consumers. With the increasing focus on responsible lending and consumer-centric product development, this course provides a comprehensive overview of the product design and distribution obligations introduced through ASIC’s Regulatory Guide RG 274.

Developed in response to the Financial System Inquiry (FSI), these obligations address the limitations of a system that relied too heavily on disclosure and financial literacy. The course explores how product providers and distributors can improve consumer outcomes by adopting stronger governance practices and designing products aligned with clearly defined target markets.

Participants will learn the principles behind effective product design and distribution, how to comply with ASIC’s requirements, and how to apply these obligations within the context of financial and mortgage broking. Key topics include target market determination, record-keeping, reporting obligations, business impact, and ASIC’s role in supervision.

This course takes a practical approach to help finance and mortgage professionals understand and apply product governance throughout a product’s life cycle, from conception to distribution. By focusing on the importance of aligning product offerings with consumer needs, participants will be better equipped to ensure compliance while supporting fair and transparent financial markets.

What You’ll Learn

• The origins and importance of product design and distribution obligations
• Key requirements under ASIC’s RG 274
• How to define and document target market determinations (TMDs)
• Record-keeping, reporting, and ongoing monitoring of financial products
• The business impact of compliance and ASIC’s role in enforcement
• Strategies to design and distribute products that improve consumer outcomes

Who Should Enrol?

This course is ideal for:

• Finance and mortgage brokers
• Financial product issuers and distributors
• Compliance, risk, and governance professionals
• Financial advisors and planners
• Business owners and managers in financial services

Learning Outcomes

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

✅ Understand the fundamentals of product design and distribution obligations under RG 274, including ASIC’s expectations.
✅ Analyse how poor product governance contributes to poor consumer outcomes.
✅ Apply best practices for meeting compliance and record-keeping requirements.
✅ Evaluate your business’s product governance to align with the needs and objectives of your target market.

Whether you’re designing financial products or distributing them, this course ensures you stay compliant, consumer-focused, and business-savvy.

No prior knowledge of ASIC’s RG 274 is required.