What signature methods, including digital, are accepted for documents?

Netwealth accepts wet signatures, hand-drawn e-signatures, and electronically generated e-signatures for various documents. The guide details the acceptance criteria for different signature types and forms, as well as information regarding which actions are available to complete online.

Acceptance Criteria

Opening an account & making deposits

Investments in your account

Updating your account

Withdrawing from your account

Fee forms

ATO forms

Group insurance specific

Adviser specific

When does Netwealth require original documents to be sent?

Power of Attorney signing requirements?

Acceptance Criteria

Netwealth accepts wet (pen to paper) signatures for all documents. For most documents, we also accept hand-drawn electronic signatures and other generated e-signature facilities.    

To check how many signatories are required on an account, search for the client online and select the Expand button. A panel will open on the right‑hand side displaying the required number of signatories.

*Criteria for hand-drawn e-signatures: 

• To use the drawn e-signature process, the document with the hand-drawn e-signature must be uploaded through our Document Upload Tool.
• The hand-drawn e-signature on the document must be likened to the current signature Netwealth hold on file for the member(s) (client or adviser).
• If the hand-drawn e-signature is not likened to the current signature Netwealth have on file then we may request (if not provided initially) the electronic signature summary certificate generated as part of the signing process and the email that is listed on the summary certificate must match the registered email we hold on file.  

**Criteria for electronically generated e-signatures:

• To use the electronic e-signature process, the electronic signature summary certificate must be uploaded with the electronically signed document through our Document Upload Tool.
• The signing member(s) (client or adviser) email or mobile number that is listed on the summary certificate must match the registered email or mobile number we hold on file.
• If there are multiple signatories on an account and transactions are set to 'All Signatories', e-signatures cannot be accepted and the transaction will require a wet signature or an online transaction via the web (if there is functionality). The exception to this rule is if the document is an application and ID for all signatories is provided. There is no way for an adviser to check what the account signatory requirements are beyond the initial application, please contact Netwealth if you would like confirmation.
• 'Generated by e-facility' and 'Choose type' signatures are automatically generated by the signature facility, i.e. not hand drawn by the client. 

Opening an account & making deposits

Document type	Wet signature	Drawn e-signature*	Signature generated via e-signature facility ** (e.g. DocuSign, Adobe)	Ability to action through Netwealth account
Wealth Application - Individual and Joint Investors Wealth Application - Company, Trust and SMSF Investors Super Application - Core Super Application - Plus	Yes	Yes	Yes - a copy of identification for all signatories must be included.	No
Direct Debit Request - Wrap Direct Debit Request - Super	Yes	Yes	No	No
Direct Debit processing	Yes	Yes	No	Yes - if using direct debit account
In specie Transfers Wealth In specie Transfers Super + LPOA	Yes	No	No	No
Rollover/transfer request	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Rollover benefit statement	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Certified documents (incl trust deeds)	Yes	No	No	No
Power of attorney documents	Yes	No	No	No
Electronic Identification Consent	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Wholesale investor documents	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Additional contribution form Additional deposit form	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Regular contribution Regular savings plan	Yes	Yes	Yes - if the bank account is existing	Yes – if using direct debit account

*Only clients with transact access can action the above through their Netwealth account. Read more about transact access here.

Investments in your account

Document type	Wet signature	Drawn e-signature*	Signature generated via e-signature facility **(e.g. DocuSign, Adobe)	Ability to action through Netwealth account
Investment instruction Wrap Investment instruction Super	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dollar cost averaging Wrap Dollar cost averaging Super	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Income payment/reinvestment plan Wrap Reinvestment options Super	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Managed Account Service transfer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto sell down profile selection Wrap Auto sell down profile selection Super	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Corporate action notification	Yes	Yes**	Yes**	Yes, some can - Contact your BDM to find out more
W8 benefit form	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Trustee Investment Limits Diversification Acknowledgement Form	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Off Market Trade Wrap Off Market Trade Super	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

**Only adviser representatives (AR) can use drawn e-signature or generated e-signature. Clients must use wet signature for corporate action notifications.

Updating your account

Document type	Wet signature	Drawn e-signature*	Signature generated via e-signature facility ** (e.g. DocuSign, Adobe)	Ability to action through Netwealth account
Binding death benefit direction	Yes	Yes	No	No
Change of details	Yes	Yes	Yes - if no changes to reversionary pensioner	Yes
Change of name	Yes	Yes	No	No
Change of nominated bank account Wrap Change of nominated bank account Super	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
TFN Notification ATO TFN Declaration	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Request to Link Accounts to a User	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Change of account fees (admin fees)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Change of advice fees	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes – proposal for client if raising
Change of adviser	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
New signatory instruction	Yes	No	No	No
Family grouping	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Transfer between accounts (from accumulation) Transfer between accounts (from income stream)	Yes	Yes	Yes**	No
Core/Plus account transfer Wrap Core/Plus account transfer Super	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Transfer from Investment Wrap or Super Wrap to Super Accelerator	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Work test declaration	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Third party authority*	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Inactive Low-Balance Account Deceleration	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Foreign tax residency information	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

*Criteria for drawn or typed e-signature signed forms still apply. Click here for criteria requirements.

**If you are using this form to nominate a new reversionary beneficiary or bank account, a wet signature or drawn e-signature is required.

Withdrawing from your account

Document type	Wet signature	Drawn e-signature*	Signature generated via e-signature facility ** (e.g. DocuSign, Adobe)	Ability to action through Netwealth account
Benefit payment to a nominated bank account Withdrawal to nominated bank account	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Benefit payment to a new/one-off bank account Withdrawal to new/ad hoc bank account	Yes	Yes	No	No
Payment authority form	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Full or Partial in-specie Withdrawal/Rollover	Yes	No	No	No
Transfer between Netwealth Super and Wrap	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Recontribution Strategy	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Foreign currency withdrawal	Yes	Yes	No	No
Regular monthly withdrawal	Yes	Yes	Yes - if using nominated account	Yes – if using nominated account
Severe financial hardship claim	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Cash rollover to external Superannuation fund	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Death claim documentation	Yes	No	No	No

Fee forms

Document Type	Wet Signature	Drawn e-signature	Signature generated via e-signature facility *(e.g. DocuSign, Adobe)	Ability to action through Netwealth account	Adviser Upload**
Super Ongoing fee consent	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Super Fixed term fee instruction	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Super Once-only	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Wrap Ongoing fee consent	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes*	Yes
Wrap Ongoing fee instruction (attach consent)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes*	Yes
Wrap Fixed term fee instruction	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes*	No
Wrap Once-only	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Wrap Wholesale accounts fee	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

*Wrap joint accounts and all signatory accounts will not be able to action online.

**Adviser document upload via pending transactions.

ATO forms

Document type	Wet signature	Drawn e-signature*	Signature generated via e-signature facility ** (e.g. DocuSign, Adobe)	Ability to action through Netwealth account
ATO CGT cap election	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
ATO Contributions splitting application	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
ATO Downsizer contribution	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
ATO Notice of intent to claim a tax deduction	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
ATO Standard choice form	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

Group insurance specific

Document type	Wet signature	Drawn e-signature*	Signature generated via e-signature facility ** (e.g. DocuSign, Adobe)	Ability to action through Netwealth account
Insurance Adviser Fees	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Insurance Application Insurance Transfer	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Insurance Cancel/Reduce cover	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Insurance Election Notice	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Insurance Life Stage Cover Smoke Declaration Occupational Questionnaire	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

Adviser specific

Document type	Wet signature	Drawn e-signature*	Signature generated via e-signature facility ** (e.g. DocuSign, Adobe)	Ability to action through Netwealth account
Adviser Registration Agreement	Yes	Yes	Yes- can also accept via email	No
Adviser Representative appointment	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Adviser User nomination	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Amend Dealer/Adviser AMFM	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Licensee Registration Agreement	Yes	Yes	Yes - can also accept via email	No
Licensee User nomination	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

 

When does Netwealth require original documents to be sent?

The only form which a physical original document is required to be posted to Netwealth is the Non-Custodial Investments Limited Power of Attorney. All other documents can either be actioned online, emailed to [e-mail] or uploaded on the document upload facility following the signature requirements above. Find our postal details here.

What are the requirements when signing documents as a Power of Attorney/Enduring Power of Attorney?

Once a Power of Attorney (POA) or Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) is set up on a Netwealth account, they have the same signature requirements as set above. While this is the case, the email kept on file of the account will not change from the client to the POA or EPOA without a request. Without the email on file being changed, we cannot accept signatures generated from an e-signature facility (eg. Docusign, Adobe) as we cannot verify the email address. In this scenario, please email Netwealth with a request to change the email on file at [e-mail], or revert to wet and drawn e-signatures (where applicable) only. If the POA or EPOA has a separate username to the client and has then linked to the clients account, we will be able to verify the email without any issues.