Prepare your systems before ASIC tests them.
START HERE →
Contain exposure and regain control quickly.
START HERE →
Build compliance infrastructure that scales with you.
START HERE →
Strengthen oversight without adding headcount.
START HERE →
Our approach is built on what holds up under regulatory review, not generic compliance templates.
We combine regulatory expertise, independent compliance reviews and [complyᵉ] to expand your compliance capability without increasing headcount.
Licensees Supported
Advice files reviewed
Regulatory Questions Answered
Compliance Publications
See more of your risks, your framework, and the evidence that proves it works.
Outsourced compliance means having a fully functioning compliance capability embedded in your business, accountable for how your compliance infrastructure operates in practice.
We act as your external compliance function, responsible not just for advice, but for the design, operation, and ongoing performance of your systems.
This includes:
Designing and maintaining compliance and risk frameworks that provide clear, defensible control across your licence obligations
Conducting adviser file reviews and ongoing monitoring to identify advice risks early and demonstrate oversight in practice
Managing breach reporting and remediation to ensure timely, accurate disclosure and reduce regulatory exposure
Preparing for ASIC surveillance and regulatory reviews so your systems, records, and decisions stand up under scrutiny
Supporting Responsible Managers and governance oversight with structured reporting and systems that evidence accountability, informed decision making, and effective licence control
This replaces the need to build and manage an internal compliance team, and removes reliance on fragmented, one-off consulting engagements.
Instead, you have a consistent, integrated capability covering frameworks, monitoring, governance, and regulatory engagement.
We don’t just advise. We implement, operate, and continuously refine your compliance systems so they work in practice and withstand regulatory scrutiny.
From more than 24,000 advice file reviews across 200+ licensees, our approach reflects what works in practice and where compliance frameworks fail.
Our systems are based on observed regulatory outcomes, not theory.
This means your compliance infrastructure is not only implemented, but defensible when reviewed by ASIC, auditors, or AFCA.
If you need help with a specific issue, review, or regulatory matter, we also support targeted engagements where appropriate.
We provide different levels of embedded compliance support, from targeted engagement through to a fully outsourced compliance function.
Core frameworks, targeted reviews, and focused support to address specific issues or meet immediate licence obligations
Ongoing monitoring, oversight, and integration into your business operations to maintain control and consistency
End-to-end management of your compliance systems, monitoring, and regulatory obligations as an extension of your business.
Across each level, the underlying shift is the same.
Regulatory expectations have shifted. It is no longer enough to have policies in place. You need systems that produce evidence.
Documentation doesn’t stand up on its own
Policies and frameworks are necessary, but they do not demonstrate how compliance operates day to day.
Regulators expect evidence, not intent
What matters is whether your systems show monitoring, oversight, and decision-making in practice.
Compliance is becoming continuous
Periodic reviews are not enough. Governance, monitoring, and record-keeping need to be embedded into operations.
Most firms are structurally under-equipped
Even well-run businesses struggle to maintain consistent, defensible compliance without the right infrastructure.
This is exactly what [complyᵉ] is built to solve.
[complyᵉ] provides the operational structure behind your compliance obligations. It turns frameworks into working systems that generate defensible records, support oversight, and demonstrate how your compliance actually operates.
In practice, compliance infrastructure refers to the operational systems used to manage governance oversight, monitoring programs, incidents, remediation and defensible compliance records within a structured environment.
Platforms such as [complyᵉ] are designed specifically to operationalise these activities for AFSL and credit licensees.
Think of it as your Compliance Operating System.
It provides:
This is how compliance moves from documented frameworks to systems that can be demonstrated and defended.
You will typically engage us if you are:
If compliance is becoming a constraint on your business, this is where we step in.
Understand whether your current compliance approach will stand up under regulatory scrutiny, and where outsourced capability can strengthen your business.
These are the issues we help licensees navigate as part of their ongoing compliance capability, from licensing through to managing regulatory risk in practice.
You are ready to become self-licensed if you can demonstrate to ASIC that you have the competence, financial resources, and systems to operate an AFSL independently on an ongoing basis.
You are typically ready if you have
Expanded Answer
Readiness for self-licensing is not just about your experience as an adviser. It is about whether you can operate a compliant financial services business without relying on a licensee.
ASIC will expect you to demonstrate organisational competence through Responsible Managers with relevant qualifications and experience. These individuals must be actively involved in the business and able to oversee advice, compliance, and operations in practice.
You also need sufficient financial resources to operate sustainably and meet your obligations, including compensation arrangements and dispute resolution requirements.
A key test is whether your compliance and risk management systems are not only documented, but implemented and operating effectively. This includes policies and processes for advice delivery, breach reporting, supervision, record keeping, and, where relevant, AML/CTF obligations.
You should also consider the operational workload. Self-licensing means taking responsibility for audits, regulatory change, breach reporting, and ongoing engagement with ASIC and AUSTRAC. If these functions currently sit with your licensee, you will need to replicate that capability internally or through external support.
In practice, many advisers overestimate their readiness. The key question is not whether you can obtain a licence, but whether you can meet your obligations consistently once you have it.
If you are confident in these areas, the next step is to prepare and lodge your AFSL application.
Why it matters
Moving too early into self-licensing can expose you to compliance failures, licence conditions, or financial strain. ASIC assesses your ability to meet ongoing obligations, so gaps in readiness can delay approval or create ongoing regulatory risk.
Practical guidance
ASIC expects AFSL holders to have documented, implemented, and actively monitored compliance infrastructure that supports their licence obligations. This includes governance structures, risk management frameworks, advice processes, breach reporting, and record keeping. Compliance infrastructure must be practical, tailored to your business, and capable of operating effectively on an ongoing basis.
Expanded Answer
Compliance infrastructure refers to the systems, policies, processes, and controls that enable you to meet your AFSL obligations on an ongoing basis. ASIC expects your compliance infrastructure to go beyond documented policies and be embedded in how your business actually operates.
In practice, ASIC is assessing whether your compliance infrastructure works consistently and can be relied upon, not just whether it exists.
Core components of compliance infrastructure include a clear governance framework with defined roles and responsibilities, including responsible managers. You also need a structured risk management framework that identifies, assesses, and manages operational and compliance risks.
Your compliance infrastructure must support clearly documented and consistently applied advice processes. This includes client onboarding, fact finding, strategy development, advice preparation, and review.
It must also include systems for breach reporting and incident management, complaints handling through an external dispute resolution scheme such as AFCA, and accurate record keeping.
Monitoring and supervision are critical elements of effective compliance infrastructure. This includes regular file reviews, audit processes, and controls to ensure representatives comply with legal and licence obligations.
If you are a reporting entity, your compliance infrastructure must also support AML/CTF obligations, including a compliant program and reporting capability to AUSTRAC.
A common failure point is where compliance infrastructure is documented but not consistently followed, tested, or updated as the business evolves.
Why it matters
ASIC assesses whether your compliance infrastructure operates effectively in practice, not just on paper. Weak, generic, or poorly implemented compliance infrastructure increases the risk of breaches, remediation costs, and regulatory action, particularly once you are operating independently.
Practical guidance
You should engage compliance support before applying for an AFSL, when planning to become self-licensed, or when your regulatory obligations increase or become more complex. It is also appropriate when you lack the time, resources, or internal expertise to manage compliance effectively, or when you need independent advice to support strategic decisions such as acquisitions, recruitment, or external review.
Expanded Answer
Compliance support is most valuable at transition points or when your obligations increase. This commonly includes applying for an AFSL, moving to self-licensing, changing licensees, or expanding your advice services.
Engaging support early allows you to design compliant systems rather than correcting gaps later. This includes preparing AFSL application documentation, establishing compliance and risk management frameworks, and ensuring your advice processes align with regulatory expectations. If you are a reporting entity, this may also extend to AML/CTF program design and reporting processes.
Compliance support is not only needed at formal transition points. It is often required when internal capacity is stretched or when issues fall outside your experience. This includes situations where you do not have the time to manage compliance properly, lack dedicated resources, or are dealing with complex or unfamiliar regulatory issues. In practice, many compliance issues arise not because obligations are unclear, but because they are not prioritised or resourced appropriately within the business.
Compliance support is also valuable in strategic situations where an independent and objective view is required. This includes business acquisitions, onboarding advisers, or preparing for external scrutiny such as professional indemnity insurance renewal or a potential sale of the business. In these scenarios, compliance is not just about meeting obligations. It is about demonstrating that your systems, governance, and advice processes will withstand external review.
Ongoing support can assist with breach reporting, audit preparation, policy updates, and responding to regulatory change. If your current licensee manages these functions, you will need equivalent capability once you operate independently.
Delaying support often results in rework, ASIC requisitions, or increased regulatory risk, particularly where documentation or governance frameworks are incomplete or not operating effectively.
Why it matters
Compliance failures are often linked to poor setup, insufficient resourcing, or lack of independent oversight rather than intent. Engaging support at the right time reduces the risk of delays, licence conditions, or breaches, and helps you operate with confidence under ASIC and, where applicable, AUSTRAC oversight.
Practical guidance
Your advice is compliant if it meets legal and professional obligations, is appropriate to the client’s circumstances, and is supported by clear, accurate documentation. This means following your advice process, maintaining proper records, and being able to demonstrate how and why the advice is in the client’s best interests on an objective basis.
You can typically confirm compliance if
Expanded Answer
Compliance is judged on both the quality of your advice and the evidence supporting it. It is not enough for advice to feel appropriate. You must be able to demonstrate this through your file.
In practice, the key test is whether an independent and objective reviewer can understand what you did, why you did it, and conclude that the advice is appropriate and in the client’s best interests.
Based on our review of more than 24,000 advice files over 14 years, this is where many issues arise. Advice may be appropriate, but the file does not clearly demonstrate the rationale or the steps taken to arrive at the recommendation.
Key indicators include whether you have followed a consistent advice process, gathered and considered relevant client information, and based your recommendations on that information. Your Statement of Advice and file notes should clearly explain the rationale for your recommendations and any alternatives considered.
Documentation is critical. If it is not recorded, it is difficult to prove compliance. This includes client instructions, assumptions, research, and communications.
Ongoing review and supervision also play a role. Regular file reviews, peer checks, and audits help identify issues early and reinforce consistent standards.
If you are a reporting entity, AML/CTF checks must also be completed as part of your client onboarding and monitoring processes.
Ultimately, compliant advice is advice that can withstand scrutiny from your licensee, an auditor, or ASIC.
Why it matters
Non-compliant advice can lead to client remediation, breach reporting, and regulatory action. Clear, defensible advice reduces risk and supports consistent outcomes, particularly in a self-licensed environment.
Practical guidance
The most common compliance failures in advice businesses include poor or incomplete documentation, inconsistent application of the advice process, weak breach reporting, inadequate supervision, and outdated compliance frameworks. These issues typically arise where systems exist on paper but are not consistently applied in practice.
Key failures include
Expanded Answer
Most compliance failures are not caused by complex legal issues. They are operational gaps in how advice is delivered and monitored.
Based on our review of more than 24,000 advice files over 14 years, these issues are rarely isolated and often reflect systemic weaknesses in how compliance is embedded within the business.
Poor documentation is one of the most common and most consequential failures. File notes, Statements of Advice, and client records often fail to clearly explain the rationale for advice. If it is not documented, it is difficult to demonstrate compliance.
Inconsistency is another key issue. Advisers may not consistently follow the documented advice process, leading to gaps in fact finding, strategy development, or client communication.
Breach reporting is a significant risk area. Businesses often fail to correctly identify reportable situations, assess their significance, or report them within required timeframes. This remains a key focus for ASIC.
Supervision and monitoring are often inadequate. Without regular file reviews and active oversight, issues can go undetected and become systemic.
Compliance frameworks can also become outdated. Policies and procedures may no longer reflect current practices or regulatory expectations, particularly as the business evolves.
In practice, these failures often reflect a disconnect between documented frameworks and how advice is actually delivered. Most compliance failures are not new issues, but existing weaknesses that have not been identified or addressed.
Why it matters
These failures are common triggers for ASIC surveillance, AFCA complaints, and remediation programs. Left unaddressed, they often lead to systemic issues, client harm, and regulatory action, particularly in self-licensed businesses.
Practical guidance
The team are not only leaders in compliance and corporate governance, they are a team of innovators.
Life Insurance Direct Australia
I have no hesitation in recommending their services to any licensee.
Ozplan
When choosing someone to work with, we wanted someone who has their finger on the pulse and is not afraid on how to tell it is.
Diverger Ltd
ACL / AFSL applications | AFSL licensing| Quarterly health checks
Compliance management system |
Reporting and benchmarking |
Flexible dashboards
Risk-based review | Compliance monitoring | Comparative analysis
Responsible Managers | Advisers | Operational Staff | Compliance Teams
Policies and procedures | Tools and checklists | Manuals
Lawyers for financial services |
Regulatory engagement
Commercial disputes
From considering an AFSL or ACL application to answering your questions or managing compliance within your financial services business, we support you at every stage.
AFSL licensees, Credit Licensees and Advisers engage Assured Support when they need practical compliance support that aligns with ASIC expectations and supports high-quality advice and lending practices.
Licensees typically work with Assured Support when they need support with areas such as:
Many licensees also use the [complye] compliance management platform alongside our advisory support to manage compliance workflows, monitoring, and breach reporting more efficiently.
Our practical guidance and proven frameworks remove the confusion, worry and time involved in navigating regulatory obligations.
Choose from a range of AFSL and ACL compliance, governance and risk management services tailored to the needs of your business.
Delivers basic compliance fundamentals and business assurance for you.
Provides strategic analysis and expert advice on industry trends and opportunities.
Gives you the benefit on-call experts actively, and proactively, working in your business.
Manage complex AFSL compliance obligations simply, effectively and efficiently with [complye] — a cost-effective Regtech solution built on twenty years of deep compliance expertise.
Identify patterns and root causes to drive continuous improvement and effectively mitigate legal and regulatory risks.
Generate agendas, minutes, and board papers that emphasise your AFSL compliance obligations.
Including benchmarking and reporting. Receive insights on clear, trackable remediation strategies through ongoing file-based reviews.
Gain direct access to Assured Support’s expert AFSL compliance consultants for immediate, personalised advice on pressing queries.
AFSL compliance is what we do best, so you can get back to business. Engage with AFSL compliance providers you can trust.
Every fortnight “Three Hit Tuesday” delivers thought leadership, considered analysis and insights that will help you improve your advice, more effectively manage your regulatory risks and make you better informed than your peers.
"*" indicates required fields
We respect your privacy. We know everyone says that, but we promise that we won’t sell your contact details to dodgy telemarketers, spam your email or otherwise exploit your trust.