Privacy Policy

1. About this policy

Realm Network Pty Ltd (ABN 95 642 326 574, ACN 642 326 574, AFSL 524426) (Realm Network, we, us, our) is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, disclose and protect your personal information in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

This policy applies to our website, our financial services and any dealings you have with us. It also covers the personal information of our authorised representatives, where we collect it.

2. The information we collect

Personal information is information that identifies you or could reasonably identify you. Depending on how you deal with us, we may collect:

Contact details: name, address, phone, email.
Identity details: date of birth, and identification documents where we need to verify who you are.
Financial information: income, assets, liabilities, expenses, superannuation, insurance, investments, goals and risk tolerance, where we need it to provide financial services.
Employment and personal circumstances: occupation, family situation, retirement plans.
Sensitive information: for example health information, where it is relevant to insurance advice. We collect sensitive information only with your consent, or where the law allows or requires it.
Website and technical information: IP address, browser type, pages visited, the time and date of your visit, and information from cookies and analytics tools.
Communications: records of your enquiries, emails, calls and meetings with us.

Tax file numbers: We only collect, use or disclose a tax file number (TFN) where the law permits it, and we handle it as the Tax File Number Rule requires. You are not required to give us your TFN, but there may be consequences if you don’t, for example if it is needed to complete an application.

3. How we collect information

We collect personal information:

directly from you, when you complete our contact form, call, email or meet us, or complete a fact-find or other documents;
from third parties you authorise, such as your accountant, solicitor, superannuation fund, insurer or product provider;
from public sources, such as the Financial Advisers Register or company registers where relevant; and
automatically, through our website and cookies.

If you give us information about another person (such as a partner or family member), please make sure they know and agree.

4. Why we collect and use your information

We collect and use personal information to:

respond to your enquiries and arrange introductory conversations;
provide financial services and advice, and prepare the documents that go with them;
verify your identity and meet our legal obligations, including those under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws and tax laws;
administer, monitor and review our services, including supervision of our authorised representatives and quality assurance;
manage complaints and disputes;
improve our website and services;
keep you informed about our services and relevant information, where you’ve agreed or the law allows (see section 7); and
manage our business, including insurance, audits and compliance.

If you don’t give us the information we ask for, we may not be able to provide some services, or the advice may not be appropriate for you.

5. Who we share your information with

We may disclose personal information to:

our authorised representatives and staff;
product providers, such as superannuation funds, insurers and investment platforms, where needed to implement your advice or arrangements;
service providers, such as compliance consultants, auditors, IT and software providers, paraplanners and administrative support;
professional advisers such as your accountant or solicitor, where you ask us to;
our insurers, our external dispute resolution scheme (AFCA), and regulators such as ASIC, the OAIC, AUSTRAC and the Australian Taxation Office, where required or permitted by law; and
other parties with your consent, or where the law requires or authorises disclosure.

We require our service providers to protect your information and use it only for the services they provide to us.

6. Overseas disclosure

Some of our service providers or systems, such as cloud-based software, may store or access personal information outside Australia. Before disclosing information overseas, we take reasonable steps to make sure the recipient handles it in line with the APPs, unless an exception applies.

7. Direct marketing

We may use your contact details to send you information about our services, where you’ve agreed or where the law allows. You can opt out at any time by using the unsubscribe link in our messages or by contacting us. We comply with the Spam Act 2003 (Cth) and the Do Not Call Register Act 2006 (Cth). We do not sell your personal information.

8. Our website, cookies and analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to make the site work, understand how it is used and improve it. We do not currently use third-party analytics or advertising tools on our website. If we add them, we will update this policy to say which tools we use and what they collect. You can change your browser settings to refuse cookies, but parts of the site may not work properly.

Our website may link to other websites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices, and we encourage you to read their policies.

9. Automated tools and artificial intelligence

We may use software, including AI-assisted tools, to help with administration, monitoring and document preparation. These tools do not make decisions about you on their own. Our people review the outputs that affect your advice or services. We take care to protect your information when using these tools.

10. Keeping your information secure

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. These include secure systems, access controls, staff and representative training, and confidentiality obligations on service providers.

If we become aware of an eligible data breach likely to result in serious harm, we will assess it and notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) as the law requires.

11. How long we keep information

We keep personal information for as long as we need it to provide our services and meet our legal obligations. The law requires us to keep records, such as records of advice, for set periods (generally at least 7 years). When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it.

12. Accessing and correcting your information

You can ask to access or correct the personal information we hold about you by contacting our Privacy Officer (details below). We will respond within a reasonable time, usually within 30 days. We may refuse access in some circumstances allowed by law, and if we do we will explain why. We do not usually charge for access requests, but may charge a reasonable fee for the cost of providing access in some cases.

13. Complaints

If you’re concerned about how we have handled your personal information, contact our Privacy Officer. We will acknowledge your complaint promptly, investigate it and respond within 30 days.

If you’re not satisfied with our response, you can contact:

the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA): www.afca.org.au, 1800 931 678; or
the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC): www.oaic.gov.au, 1300 363 992.

14. Contact us

Privacy Officer
Realm Network Pty Ltd
Shop 4, 650 Pittwater Road, Brookvale NSW 2100 (Sydney office)
Phone: +61 420 575 422
Or use the enquiry form on our website.

15. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will be on our website, with the date it was last updated.