01 / The meaning
What it means.
The company’s authorised representative number and the licensee’s AFSL number identify different roles. Being a representative does not make the company the licensee or the insurer issuing a policy. The authorisation can cover particular services and product classes, so a general reference to financial services should not be interpreted as permission to provide every kind of financial advice.
Check the legal name, licence relationship and service scope in the financial services information supplied to you and the relevant ASIC register. People working through a corporate representative may also operate under particular authorisation arrangements. If a service falls outside the stated scope, ask who will provide it and under what authority. Regulatory registration is a way to understand authorisation, not a guarantee of a product’s suitability or a future insurance outcome.
02 / Put it in context
A practical example.
Hypothetical example: a business receives documents naming a brokerage company and a separate AFS licensee. It checks that relationship and the services being offered rather than treating the representative’s registration number as the insurer’s identity.
This example illustrates the term. It does not predict a claim outcome.
03 / Read the detail
What to check.
- Distinguish the company’s representative number from the licensee’s AFSL.
- Check the authorised service and product scope against the enquiry.
- Identify the actual insurer separately in the policy documentation.
04 / Start a useful conversation
A question for your broker.
Which licensee authorises this company, and what services does that authorisation permit?
05 / Connect the terms
Keep the meaning in context.
06 / Apply it to your business
Related insurance guides.
Further reading
Read the source guidance alongside the relevant policy wording.
General information only. This does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting, consider whether the information is appropriate for you. Cover is subject to insurer acceptance and the policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions. Read the Financial Services Guide and the relevant PDS (where applicable) and/or policy wording before deciding.
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