How to register for Adviser Online

About Adviser Online

The first step to registering for Adviser Online is to enter your personal details and some information about your licensee.

Here you’ll find the option to toggle between registering under a licensee or under a practice structure. Please note contact details on page 2 relate to your business, not you personally.

Submitted applications will be reviewed and processed. If approved, you’ll receive an email from UniSuper with your username and a link to activate your Adviser Online account.

Click the link to set your password and security preferences. This is also where you can review the terms and conditions of the portal.

To get the most out of Adviser Online you’ll need to verify your identity. It’s important to enter your details exactly as they appear on your ID documents, for example, does your id show a full middle name or just your initials?

It’s also important that the first and last name used during this process match your records with ASIC. If these details don’t match you can click the link at the top of the page to contact us for assistance.

When your identity has been verified, you’ll be prompted to log in to Adviser Online once more.

You’ll now see more functions available to you in the portal including the option to add Financial Adviser Authorities or FAAs. Please note the authority levels available here will depend on arrangements with your licensee.

When an FAA request is submitted, we’ll contact your client to ask their approval via their UniSuper Member Online inbox. This section of the guide shows the client’s view of Member Online. Be aware, if your client hasn’t verified their identify within the past 12 months, they will need to do so before they can proceed. Once verified, they can view your request for authority and approve or decline at their discretion.

Adviser Online marks an important step forward in the way advisers and UniSuper can work together for better client outcomes. If you have any questions or require assistance using the portal please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The information contained in this video is of a general nature and doesn't consider your personal circumstances. Before making decisions, consider the relevant PDS and TMD on our website and your circumstances before making decisions, because we haven't.

This video has been produced by UniSuper Management Pty Ltd ABN, 91 006 961 799 (USM), which is licensed to provide financial product advice. UniSuper Limited (ABN 54 006 027 121) is the trustee of UniSuper (ABN 91 385 943 850).

What is the difference between a licensee structure and a practice structure and how do I know which one to use for my Adviser Online registration?

You would use a licensee structure if you use the name of your licensee to operate (i.e. your branding uses your licensee name). Only your licensee name will display in member correspondence.

You would use a practice structure if you operate under a corporate authorised representative (CAR) or you use your own branding and/or practice name. Both your licensee and practice name will display in member correspondence.

How will my phone number and email address entered on the first page of the registration form be used?

These are your personal details. Your mobile number will be used for multi-factor authentication when you activate your account and when you log in to Adviser Online.

Meanwhile, emails relating to your registration and activation will be sent to the email address you've used.

How will the address, phone number and email address entered on the second page of the registration form be used?

The details entered on this page are your business contact details. The details will be visible to your clients in documents and correspondence.

Can I use the same phone number as another adviser in my practice who has registered for Adviser Online?

No. Phone numbers used in Adviser Online must be unique for multi-factor authentication.

When I register for Adviser Online, it says an email will be sent to me with next steps. How long should I expect to wait for this email and what should I do if I don't receive it in this time?

If you've successfully registered (i.e. the ASIC details you entered in Adviser Online are correct), you should receive an email to the address you entered within five minutes. If you don't receive an email, this could be because the registration requires an additional review process. The review process can take up to 3 days to complete. For an update on your registration, please contact our team on this temporary private number 1800 714 151 between 8:30am and 6:00pm, Monday to Friday (Melbourne time).

Can I copy the activation URL and paste it in my preferred web browser?

No—please use the default browser to activate your Adviser Online registration. Using a different browser will remove the activation credentials and you won't be able to complete the registration process.

What is a passkey and why would I want to set it up?

Your passkey is a secret, complex code stored on your smart device. Access to your passkey is based on your fingerprint, face scan, or your device PIN – which makes it a phish-resistant multi-factor authentication method. Head to the Passkeys page for more information, or read our passkeys Q&A with UniSuper Financial Crime manager, Kristina Ellis.

How will my client consent to the FAA or fee request?

Your client can view the request online via their UniSuper online account. They can follow the below steps to view and accept the request:

1. Log in to your UniSuper online account at unisuper.com.au using your preferred web browser. This feature isn’t available in the UniSuper app yet.
2. Once logged in, scroll down to the options on the bottom left-hand corner of the menu and click ‘Inbox’ and ‘Notifications’.
3. In the ‘Notifications’ screen, there will be a Financial Adviser Authority request, click ‘Review request’ on the right-hand side.
4. Click ‘Get started’. Please note that, if you haven’t logged into your online account in the last 12 months, you’ll be prompted to complete a 100-point identity check for security purposes. You’ll need documents like your driver’s licence, passport or Medicare card for this.
5. Click ‘Approve’ and then ‘Submit’. The ‘Approve request?’ action box will then appear. Click ‘Confirm’. Once approved, the request will be processed immediately.

Can my client use a paper-based form to consent?

No, consents are limited to digital only. If your client is unable to consent via their UniSuper online account, you may need to continue to use third-party authorities (TPAs) for these clients. You won't be able to request payment of advice fees for these clients.

How do I track client consents, and do these expire?

The Adviser dashboard on Adviser Online allows you to track your FAA and fee requests. If your client doesn't respond in two days, a reminder email will be sent to them. At seven days, you will receive a reminder email. At 14 days, the request will expire and you will need to re-submit the request.

I'm a UniSuper member. Can I set up a FAA for myself?

No, you can't set up an FAA for yourself. You should log in to your UniSuper online account to access your details.

Can advice fees be paid from my client's UniSuper account, and if so, what type?

Once your licensee is onboarded with UniSuper, you may be eligible to request one-off advice fee deductions. This requires consent from your client (the UniSuper member).

When will I get paid the approved advice fees?

We generally pay advice fees, as consented to by your client, to your licensee on the fifth business day of the following month.

Is there a maximum fee cap?

Yes, there’s an annual cap on the advice fees you can deduct from a member’s account. The annual cap is the lesser of:

• $8,800 (including GST) or
• 2.50% of the member’s super balance (which includes the total balance of the member’s account(s)).

We calculate the fees counting towards the cap on a rolling 12-month period, up to the current date.

Does our client need a certain balance to pay advice fees from their UniSuper account?

Yes, we will only allow advice fee deductions if:

• For Defined Benefit Division (DBD), Accumulation 1, Accumulation 2 and Personal Account members:
  The member’s account balance will be greater than $6,000 after the advice fee deduction.
• For Flexi Pension and Term Allocated Pension (TAP) members:
  The member has an account balance of $25,000 or more at the time the advice fee deduction is processed.

Which UniSuper accounts and products do you allow advice fees to be deducted from?

We only allow personal advice fees to be deducted from the account held in the following products:

• Defined Benefit Division (DBD) (from the accumulation component only)
• Accumulation 1
• Accumulation 2
• Personal Account
• Flexi Pension
• Term Allocated Pension (TAP).

What does “Sole Purpose Test / UniSuper‑related” mean for my fee?

Any fee deducted from a client's UniSuper account must relate to advice that has a direct connection to the member’s UniSuper interest and meet at least one of our permitted advice service types. If your advice also covers other topics, only the UniSuper‑related portion can be deducted.

Am I required to upload documentation with my fee request? If so, what? And, is it necessary every time?

All advisers must complete a mandatory pre-vet for at least one of their initial fee requests with UniSuper. This involves uploading the Statement of Advice (SoA), fee calculation breakdown, and apportionment methodology (when relevant). Additional pre-vet requirements will be communicated after the initial submission.

For further fee requests, UniSuper may request supporting documents as part of its ongoing monitoring.

How current does the advice need to be?

The advice document (SoA/Record of Advice) associated with the fee must be dated within 90 days of the fee request submission.

For requests which fall outside of this time frame, please email adviserassurance@unisuper.com.au and seek further guidance.

How does my client approve my fee request?

It is similar to the FAA consent process—your client will receive a notification to log in to their online account, where they will be able to provide their approval.

I'm getting an error when I try and submit my fee request. What can I do to address this?

Please clear your cache and try again in the first instance. You'll typically be able to do this by clicking the three dots in your browser of choice and following the navigation prompts. If you continue to receive an error message, please contact our team on this temporary private number 1800 714 151 between 8:30am and 6:00pm, Monday to Friday (Melbourne time).

I already have third-party authorities (TPAs) in place. Why would I change them to an FAA?

TPAs expire after two years whereas FAAs are enduring. An FAA will generally remain in place until either you or your client revoke it.

Additionally, if your licensee has been onboarded with UniSuper, you will be able to request payment of advice fees if you have an FAA in place.

If I submit a TPA after registration, will I be able to see the client information in Adviser Online?

No. If a TPA isn't current at registration, it will not be visible on Adviser Online. We recommend you complete an FAA instead of TPAs once you've registered.

I noticed that not all my current TPAs have loaded into Adviser Online. Why is this?

TPAs will not be visible if:

• your client has exited the fund
• you've transferred to a new licensee since the original TPA was signed
• your TPA was recently submitted and hasn't been processed.

How can I get a list of my UniSuper clients?

You can extract a full UniSuper client list at an account level using the Adviser reports option.

I am a provisional financial adviser. Can I register for Adviser Online?

No. Adviser Online registration is limited to financial advisers who are registered and authorised on the ASIC Financial Advisers Register (FAR). If your details don't match the FAR, your registration may be declined.

I work for multiple licensees. Can I register for Adviser Online under a second licensee?

No. Your Adviser Online registration is currently limited to one licensee only.

I work for multiple practices. Can I set up more than one practice on Adviser Online?

Yes. You can set up a maximum of three practices at registration for Adviser Online. You'll be unable to add more practices once you've registered.

What happens if I make a mistake when entering my personal or business details into Adviser Online?

You can send an email to adviseroperations@unisuper.com.au to update your details. In your instructions to us, please clarify if you need to update your personal, business or both details in Adviser Online. Updating details may take up to 3-5 business days to complete.

What happens if I make a mistake when entering my ASIC number into Adviser Online?

You will receive a decline email if you enter an incorrect ASIC number. Don't worry—you can re-attempt Adviser Online registration.

¹A licensee agreement needs to be in place between UniSuper and your licensee to allow this.