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Business types in this industry

The financial and insurance services industry includes:

  • investment advisers
  • stockbrokers
  • financial planners
  • wealth management firms
  • insurance agents and brokers
  • superannuation providers
  • insurance companies.

The businesses in this industry typically:

  • provide financial advice
  • provide financial, insurance and superannuation products
  • buy, sell, create or change ownership of financial assets
  • manage financial assets
  • regulate financial activities.

Industry statistics

Industry research is an important part of planning for your business, it may help you identify:

  • economic and industry trends
  • establish or improve your business
  • help you keep pace with your industry.

See statistics about Australian Industry and Finance on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website.

Check out the profile for the financial and insurance services industry, on the Labour Market Insights website. This will give you an idea of what's happening in the Australian job market.

Legislation standards and initiatives

It’s important that you are aware of the laws that apply to the financial and insurance services industry including: 

APRA activity legislation

Companies with Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) oversight should also consult the legislation that applies to APRA activities. This legislation includes:

Codes of practice and ethics

Codes establish service standards for the financial services industry. They include:

Licences and permits

State and territory governments manage the licences and permits for the financial and insurance services industry.

The licences and permits you may need include:

Find licences and permits for your business

Search the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) to find information on the licences and permits you may need.

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Taxation

The financial and insurance services have specific goods and services tax (GST) measures. Know your GST obligations and register with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to ensure you can claim your GST credits.

Levies and charges

Levies and charges fund activities that benefit the industry or economy as a whole such as consumer protection and regulation of the industry. Levies in the financial and insurance services industry contribute to:

Employ people

If you employ staff, you need to comply with Australia’s national workplace laws specific to the financial and insurance services industry.

Workplace health and safety (WHS)

There are general work health and safety regulations for all businesses, however there are state and territory WHS requirements that apply to businesses in the financial and insurance services industry:

Insurance

Alongside compulsory insurances, the financial and insurance services industry has specific insurances. These insurances may include:

  • General liability - cover against legal liability for personal injury, property damage and advertising liability.
  • Superannuation trustees liability - cover against actual or alleged breaches of trust or law, neglect or misleading conduct with respect to a super fund.
  • Investment managers insurance (IMI) - covers breach of duty, directors and officers liability claims and fraud.
  • Commercial crime - covers theft, extortion and fraud from internal employees, external sources or a combination of the two. This insurance can also cover costs associated with data restoration, investigation costs and lost interest.
  • Professional indemnity insurance - covers potential damages relating to negligence or breach of duty created by an error, omission or act during the delivery of professional services.

Some banks and insurance companies may also be able to register for the Australian Government Financial Claims Scheme. This protects depositors of authorised deposit-taking institutions and customers of general insurance companies from potential losses caused by the failure of the company.

Find support

If you need advice or support, consider getting help from your industry association, a business adviser, accountant or legal professional.