Third-Party Adviser Referral Disclosure

Equivest AI Pty Ltd (ABN 66 693 610 310) · Last updated: July 2026

The Equivest platform can connect you with third-party professional advisers, including solicitors, accountants and financial advisers (“Advisers”). This document explains how that referral service works, the relationship between Equivest and the Advisers, and what you should consider before using it. It forms part of our Platform Terms of Service.

1. You are always free to choose your own adviser

The referral service is offered for convenience only. You are never required to use an Adviser referred by Equivest. You may engage any qualified solicitor, accountant or financial adviser of your own choosing, and doing so will not affect your eligibility for any arrangement or how your application is treated.

We encourage you to consider engaging an adviser with no connection to Equivest, particularly for the independent legal advice required before entering any arrangement.

2. Advisers are independent of Equivest

Advisers referred through the platform:

  • are independent professionals or firms, not employees, agents, partners or representatives of Equivest;
  • owe their professional duties to you, not to Equivest;
  • are engaged directly by you, under their own engagement terms and fee arrangements; and
  • are responsible for their own advice, conduct, professional standards and insurance.

Equivest does not supervise, direct or control any Adviser’s advice, and no Adviser is authorised to speak or act on Equivest’s behalf.

3. What a referral is — and is not

A referral means only that the Adviser has joined Equivest’s referral panel and that Equivest has verified the Adviser’s current professional registration and professional indemnity insurance at onboarding, with re-verification when those certificates expire.

A referral is not:

  • a recommendation or endorsement of the Adviser or the quality of their advice;
  • a representation that the Adviser is the best or most suitable adviser for you; or
  • advice from Equivest of any kind.

You should make your own enquiries about any Adviser before engaging them, including their experience with arrangements of this kind, their fees, and any relationships they may have.

4. Fees and referral arrangements

Referrals are provided free of charge. Equivest does not pay Advisers for referrals, does not receive any payment or commission from Advisers for referring you, and receives no share of any fees you pay an Adviser.

The fees you pay an Adviser are set by the Adviser, agreed directly between you and them, and are your responsibility.

5. Independence of required legal advice

Where an arrangement requires you to obtain independent legal advice, that advice must be genuinely independent. To protect this:

  • the referred solicitor acts solely for you in relation to the advice;
  • Equivest does not receive copies of your legal advice, and your communications with your solicitor are confidential and may be privileged — Equivest receives only confirmation through the platform that the advice was given; and
  • if you prefer, you may obtain the required advice from any solicitor with no connection to Equivest.

6. Your information

If you ask us to connect you with an Adviser, we will share with them the information reasonably necessary to make the referral (such as your name, contact details and the nature of the proposed arrangement), as described in our Privacy Policy. Anything you subsequently share with the Adviser is governed by the Adviser’s own privacy practices and professional obligations.

7. Liability

Nothing in this document excludes rights you have under the Australian Consumer Law or other laws that cannot be excluded. Subject to that, to the maximum extent permitted by law:

  • Equivest is not responsible for, and makes no warranty regarding, the advice, services, acts or omissions of any Adviser;
  • any claim relating to an Adviser’s advice or services must be pursued against the Adviser; and
  • Equivest’s responsibility is limited to the referral service itself.

Advisers are required to hold professional indemnity insurance as a condition of their professional registration.

8. Complaints about an Adviser

Complaints about an Adviser’s professional conduct or advice should be directed to the Adviser in the first instance, and may be escalated to their professional body or regulator, including:

  • Solicitors: the Law Society or the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner in the relevant state or territory;
  • Accountants: CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants ANZ, or the Institute of Public Accountants (and the Tax Practitioners Board for registered tax agents); and
  • Financial advisers: the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), where the adviser is a member.

You can also tell us about your experience at complaints@equivest.ai — we use this feedback to review panel membership — but Equivest cannot investigate or determine professional conduct matters.

9. Changes to the panel

Equivest may add or remove Advisers from the referral panel at any time. Removal of an Adviser does not affect any engagement you already have with them.

10. Contact

Equivest AI Pty Ltd — Email: legal@equivest.ai