Legal

Effective Date: 22 September 2025

The Investor Standard (“TIS”, “we”, “our”, “us”) provides financial content, market insights, stock information, research, and educational resources. By accessing or using our services—including our website, newsletters, reports, and other publications (“Services”)—you acknowledge and agree to the terms outlined in this AFSL & Financial Advice Disclaimer.

This document is intended to clarify:

  • How TIS operates in relation to Australian financial services law, including the Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) framework.
  • The scope and nature of the financial information we provide.
  • Your rights, responsibilities, and limitations of use.

1. AFSL Status and Regulatory Context

1.1 No AFSL Held

  • TIS does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL).
  • We operate under the exemption in section 911A(2)(eb) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), which permits the provision of general financial product advice without a licence.

1.2 General Advice Only

  • Our content is general in nature and cannot be personalised to your circumstances.
  • We do not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs.

1.3 Regulatory Compliance

  • We comply with relevant ASIC regulations, including:
    • Guidance on general financial advice (RG 175, RG 244)
    • Financial product promotion requirements
    • Privacy and data protection laws (Privacy Act 1988 (Cth))

1.4 Purpose of Exemption

  • The AFSL exemption allows TIS to provide:
    • Market information and commentary
    • Educational and analytical content
    • Non-personalised stock analyses, valuations, and sector insights

2. Nature and Scope of Content

2.1 Educational Focus

TIS provides content to:

  • Educate investors about financial markets, sectors, and instruments.
  • Enhance financial literacy and understanding of investment concepts.
  • Provide examples of investment strategies, valuation frameworks, and portfolio analysis.

2.2 Information Provided

  • Market news, analysis, and updates
  • Stock recommendations and thematic stock lists (general advice only)
  • Sector deep-dives, megatrend research, and macroeconomic commentary
  • Global market insights and cross-asset research

2.3 Non-Personalised Nature

  • All content is general and educational.
  • No recommendation should be considered tailored advice.
  • Users should not rely solely on our content to make investment decisions.

3. Financial Advice Limitations

3.1 No Personal Advice

  • TIS does not provide personal financial, taxation, legal, or accounting advice.
  • Our analyses are illustrative and may not suit individual circumstances.

3.2 User Responsibility

  • All investment decisions are made at your own risk.
  • Users must undertake independent verification and due diligence.
  • Professional advice from licensed advisors should be sought before acting.

3.3 No Offer or Solicitation

  • Nothing on our Services constitutes an offer, invitation, or solicitation to buy, sell, or hold any financial product.

4. Risk Disclosures

4.1 Investment Risk

  • Investments involve risk of loss, including principal.
  • Past performance is not indicative of future results.

4.2 Specific Risks

  • Projections, analyses, and forecasts are based on assumptions and may materially differ from actual outcomes.
  • Market conditions, liquidity, and external events may affect returns.

4.3 Third-Party Data

  • TIS may source data from third-party providers.
  • We do not guarantee accuracy, completeness, or reliability of such data.

5. General Financial Product Information

TIS provides:

  • Summaries of financial products, markets, and sectors
  • Educational resources for investment strategies and portfolio management
  • Analysis of economic indicators and global market trends

TIS does not provide:

  • Personalised financial product recommendations
  • Guarantees of investment returns or performance
  • Advice tailored to individual circumstances

6. User Obligations

By using our Services, you agree to:

  • Accept full responsibility for all investment decisions
  • Conduct independent research and verification
  • Use content only for educational, informational, or research purposes
  • Not reproduce or redistribute our content without written permission

7. Intellectual Property

  • All content, logos, graphics, and research materials are owned by TIS or its licensors.
  • Unauthorized use may result in legal action.

8. Limitation of Liability

  • TIS, directors, employees, and contributors do not accept liability for:
    • Losses or damages arising from reliance on content
    • Errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in information
    • Investment decisions based on content
  • Use of our Services is entirely at your own risk.

9. Subscription & Membership

  • Certain content may require a paid subscription.
  • Membership access is governed by terms, cancellation policies, and refund conditions.
  • Users are responsible for account security and confidentiality.

10. Privacy & Data Protection

  • We collect user data per Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
  • Data is used to deliver content, newsletters, and services.
  • Users can opt-out of marketing communications.

11. Third-Party Links

  • TIS may link to third-party sites.
  • Links do not constitute endorsement or verification.
  • TIS is not responsible for content accuracy, privacy, or security of external sites.

12. International Access

  • Services are primarily for users in Australia.
  • International users must comply with local regulations.

13. Updates and Modifications

  • TIS reserves the right to update this disclaimer at any time.
  • Continued use constitutes acceptance of revised terms.

14. Contact

For questions regarding our AFSL exemption, financial advice scope, or regulatory matters please contact us