Information Security and Privacy Policy

Abridged Planning Solutions Pty Ltd provides administrative services and prepares financial advice documents for the needs of financial advisers and other contract paraplanning firms in Australia. The management of the company issues this policy in order to protect client financial and account information, other confidential information of clients, employees and other stakeholders, as well as to enable continuous availability of assets for secure and efficient operation

Customer Care

The services we provide are undertaken in a way in which includes the safeguarding of data and confidentiality of information.

Protecting information assets

This policy provides the framework for setting objectives of information security, protection of information assets and ensuring the continuity of critical business operations.

To ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of information the Information Security team of Abridged Planning Solutions Pty Ltd conducts a risk assessment and continuous review of risks pertaining to information security.

Employees and business partners are expected to use information assets for legitimate business purposes, with protection and preservation of confidentiality, integrity and availability of the assets for secure business operations.

We maintain an effective system of information security which include: a secure information environment, the implementation of security guidelines, review of security risks, testing of security solutions, the implementation of control measures to reduce security risks and enable business continuity, analysis of security incidents, use of reliable IT solutions and raising employee awareness regarding the protection of data and confidential information.

All technology used to provide our services is held in a secure location with full password protection.

Compliance

Abridged Planning Solutions Pty Ltd conducts its business activities with integrity and compliance with applicable laws and regulations relating to the operation of the company, and in particular, with regards to the protection of trade secrets, copyright and licensing rights and the protection of personal data.

Privacy Policy

How we handle your personal information

1. Privacy is Important

It is the policy of Abridged Planning Solutions Pty Ltd to respect the confidentiality of information and the privacy of individuals. As such, any personal information collected by Abridged Planning Solutions Pty Ltd that is not generally publicly available information, i.e. as is available on the internet, is treated as confidential information. We are committed to the protection of your personal information and to compliance with Australian Privacy Law. All confidential information will remain the property of the disclosing party.

2. Information we collect

We collect information from financial advisers regarding their business, strategies and products they recommend, or similarly, obtain the same information from contract paraplanning firms who provide similar services for financial advisers. We also collect personal information about individuals who are clients of financial advisers. All such information is not passed on to any third parties and is used exclusively for the purpose of work performed by Abridged Planning Solutions Pty Ltd.

Sensitive Information

The Privacy Act also protects sensitive information, such as health information that is collected in a Client Data Collection form. We may allude to sensitive information and incorporate this in the financial plans we prepare as required to present an accurate picture of a client’s current position, however, will always do so in a professional and compassionate manner.

3. How do we use your information?

We may collect, use and exchange your information so that we can:

- Prepare accurate and appropriate financial planning documents

- Develop appropriate strategies where required

- Perform other services as required in order to meet the requirements of your business

Your information may be disclosed to external service suppliers who supply administrative, financial or other services as required to complete the contracted work. Your information may be disclosed as required or authorised by law and to anyone authorised by you.

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or improper disclosure. We do not disclose personal information to overseas entities.

Upon discovery of any unauthorised disclosure or misuse of confidential information, the receiving party will promptly notify the other party and will act to prevent any further disclosure or misuse.

Gathering data for research purposes

We may collect and use information to get a more integrated view of customers and provide better services. Abridged Planning Solutions may combine information it has with information available from a wide variety of external sources. Abridged Planning Solutions Pty Ltd is able to analyse the data in order to gain useful insights which can be used for any of the purposes mentioned earlier.

4. Keeping your information secure

We may keep hard copy or electronic records on our premises and systems or offsite using trusted third parties. Our security safeguards include the following:

  • Where available we prefer to access your information through a temporary secure access, such as through a VPN or other arrangement set up through your IT specialist, to your own network and financial planning software so that the information remains stored on your systems.

  • Unless otherwise agreed and approved, access to financial planning software and systems is provided by the disclosing party.

  • If we use third parties that handle or store data, we ensure that appropriate data handling and security arrangements are in place.

  • We have appropriate virus protection and intrusion detection systems and virus scanning tools to protect against unauthorised persons and viruses accessing our systems.

  • We train and remind staff of their obligations with respect to your information.

  • Where we hold a copy of your data, where practical, we keep information only for as long as is required to complete the work and destroy data when it is no longer required for the purposes of providing our contracted services to you.

  • Any documents created for the purpose of the contracted work will be stored in your systems and software.

5. Privacy Complaints

Where you have a concern about your privacy, or consider a breach of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) has occurred, you have the right to make a complaint to our Privacy Officer privacyofficer@abridgedps.com.au and we will attempt to resolve your complaint. If you feel your complaint has not been satisfactorily addressed, you may contact the Australian Privacy Commissioner through their website www.oaic.gov.au or by telephone on 1300 363 992.