The Securities and Futures Commission is introducing a wallet-sized card advising investors to ask the right questions when choosing a financial product. Protecting Your Interests Starts with Asking the Right Questions is essentially a cheat sheet that investors can carry around and refer to when assessing a recommendation of financial products. There are five key questions an investor needs to ask an intermediary - such as a financial planner or insurance agent - about any product being recommended: Why is the recommended product suitable to you, based on your personal circumstances (including your investment objectives, investment horizon and attitude to risk), and the product's features and risks? Is the recommendation confined to products offered by specific providers? If so, why only those providers? How much commission will the intermediary receive from the product provider? If the recommendation is to switch from one product to another, what are the costs you might incur and how much commission will the intermediary receive if you switch? What are the alternatives available and why are they not being recommended? Have you been given all the relevant information about the recommendation? (If you are not sure, ask for a detailed written record of such information). As the financial markets regulator, the SFC believes investor education is one of its key responsibilities. It has released publications aimed at promoting responsible and informed investing which are available free at the SFC office and the Consumer Advice Centres of the Consumer Council. An electronic version of the cue card can be found under 'Publications - Dealing with Intermediaries' at www.eirc.hk .
