Privacy Policy
AGS Financial Group Pty Ltd and AGS Accounting Pty Ltd operate as one integrated financial services organisation, trading as AGS Financial Group, and as such both entities will have access to personal information you share with us. We are bound by the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act.
Being licensed for financial planning by Akumin Financial Planning, part of the Entireti Limited group, we also adhere to Akumin's Privacy Policy, which can be viewed by contacting us.
Any information that you provide to us through this website will be collected by us and our subsidiaries and related businesses. Please see the Contact Us page for details about how to contact us. We may not be able to assist you with your request if you do not provide your information. We may also use your information to offer or provide you with products or services or ask for your feedback.
Some of our work is outsourced to third parties, including Debit & Credit Bookkeeping Solutions (Sydney, Australia), The Outsourced Accountant (Philippines) and Virtual Business Partners (Philippines). These firms assist us with accounting file preparation, data entry, client services & administration and paraplanning. Our agreements with these outsourced providers require compliance with Australian Privacy Principles and robust Cyber Security practices. We have a close working relationship, with daily contact, and they are an extension of our own team, respecting your privacy as you and we would expect. This arrangement allows us to provide a high standard of service in these process-driven areas at a competitive cost, and we believe without any increased risk to your privacy.
If at any stage you have any questions about privacy, or wish to access your personal information, request corrections, or complain if you are dissatisfied with how we have dealt with your personal information, please contact us.
Cookies and third-party services
This website uses cookies and similar technologies to help it function, to understand how visitors use the site, and to provide certain features. Some of these are set by trusted third-party services we embed on our pages, including Google Analytics (website usage measurement), Calendly (online appointment booking) and Shapo (display of customer reviews). These third parties may set their own cookies when their features load. For example, the reviews widget loads content from its provider, which may set a cookie of its own. We do not control the cookies set by these third parties, and they are governed by each provider's own privacy policy.
You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings at any time. Blocking some cookies may affect how parts of the website work, such as the booking tool or the display of reviews. We do not use this website's cookies to collect sensitive personal or financial information.
Cyber Security
AGS Financial Group takes Cyber Security very seriously. We undertake regular security reviews, and have implemented rigorous staff training, firewalls, Multi-Factor Authentication and strong password practices to minimise cyber risks.
Database and email security
Our key systems (email and client database) are protected by strong password policies and Multi-Factor Authentication, minimising the possibility of inappropriate access. Multi-Factor Authentication means that in order to log in, a user not only needs the username and password, but also a registered physical device such as a mobile phone, to receive an access code.
Proof of identity documents
AGS Financial Group periodically requires proof of identity under Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML & CTF) legislation. Similarly, the various financial institutions that we deal with on behalf of clients also require proof of identity. Our policy aims to balance serving our clients efficiently with the need for security.
All client documents are securely stored on AGS servers, with access by staff only via strong, regularly updated passwords. Retention of sensitive personal identity documents is limited to 2 years, and for active clients only. Should you wish to have your personal identification documents deleted sooner than the 2-year retention date, please indicate this to your key AGS relationship manager whenever providing documents.
For Financial Planning clients, we are also required to screen client ID for AML & CTF, as well as Politically Exposed Persons (PEP). This is conducted with our Licensee (Akumin Financial Planning) and once screened, data and documents are no longer accessible to us.
Financial account security
Multiple levels of security are in place to ensure that your accounts cannot be accessed by malicious parties. All of the various institutions that we deal with protect your system logins with Multi-Factor Authentication, to ensure it really is you logging in. Any withdrawal or account closure requests require a signed form with current certified ID provided to verify the signatures. Additionally, for larger amounts many institutions will contact you by phone to verify the transaction before proceeding.
Should you have any further questions or concerns regarding privacy or security, please contact your key AGS relationship manager or get in touch.