The Panorama login process is changing soon. After entering your username and password, you’ll also have to enter a one-time code sent to your mobile phone. This is known as two factor authentication and is designed to further strengthen account security.
We’re putting this in place for all Panorama users – intermediaries and their clients.
We are rolling it out progressively. It will apply to users anytime from June to the end of September 2024.
In preparation for the new process, it’s important that each Panorama user has their own login, and that we hold their mobile number.
If you do not have a unique Panorama login, or a colleague does not, please arrange for one.
If we don’t have your mobile number, please provide it to us by calling 1300 784 207. Our hours are 8:30am to 6:30pm (Sydney time), Monday to Friday.
Please keep your login details secure – your password and the code sent to your mobile phone. We will never ask you for these details, nor should they be shared with others.
We’re making a change to the accepted ways deposits and contributions may be made into BT Panorama accounts — that may impact your clients.
From 1 July 2024, we’ll no longer accept cheques as a method of making deposits and contributions. We’ve made this change based on the very low levels of cheque usage across our products, as well as the benefits clients have in using quicker deposit methods.
Clients currently have the option to use BPAY, direct debit, or direct credit. And super contributions may also be made through SuperStream.
These deposit methods are quicker to process and more secure for your clients. Cheques can take up to 10 working days to process, from the date it is sent, to when the money is in your client’s account.
For any deposits or contributions your client makes in the future, you or your client will need to make them using one of the electronic methods of deposit outlined below.
Payment method |
What do you need to do |
Direct debit
|
Investment accounts Log into BT Panorama, go to ‘Payments & Deposits’, then navigate to ‘Accounts & billers’ menu and select the account when making a deposit via the ‘Make a deposit’ menu. Superannuation accounts Log into BT Panorama, add the linked account via the ‘Contributions’ > ‘Linked bank accounts’ menu and then select this account when making a deposit via the ‘Cash contributions’ menu or if your client is making the deposit, via the ‘Make a contribution’ menu. |
BPAY In Superannuation accounts, BPAY is only available for Personal and Spouse contributions. |
Use the Biller Code and Reference number for the relevant BT Panorama account, to make a BPay payment into your account. You can find these details under ‘Account details’ within your client’s account when logged into BT Panorama. You can find these details under ‘Account details’ within your client’s account when logged into BT Panorama. |
Direct credit |
Use the BSB and Account number for the BT Panorama account to make a direct credit into the account. You can find these details under ‘Account details’ within your client’s account when logged into Panorama. |
Employer contributions via SuperStream |
Download the ‘Choice of super fund’ form from Service Requests when logged into BT Panorama, complete it and provide it to the employer. |
If the cheque is from a third party, such as an employer or an insurer, your client will need to contact the third party and request the deposit or contribution be made electronically in the future, using the methods outlined above.
For contributions into superannuation, ensure the contributions are classified correctly and the correct reference is included in the payment description. If a description isn’t included, the contribution will be treated as a personal contribution. More information is available on Help and support under ‘Manage contributions’ > About biller codes & bank accounts.
Also, for personal injury, downsizer or small business/CGT exemption contributions, a form must be completed and sent to us before the contribution is made.
We’ll be contacting Dealer Groups and Advisers who have clients that have used cheques over the last 12 months, so you can help your clients update their deposit method as soon as possible, to avoid any delays in receiving their funds.
If you have any questions, please email us at professional@panorama.com.au or phone us on 1300 784 207 from 8:30am — 6:30pm (Sydney time) Monday to Friday. We’d be happy to help.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has recently issued new guidance to superannuation funds and Investor-Directed Portfolio Service (IDPS) platforms, which prevents passing on the benefit of reduced Input Tax Credits (RITC) for Adviser Service Fees (ASF), to their clients.
This change is due to come into effect from 1 July 2024. As a result, ASFs deducted from 1 June 2024, with a RITC at 75% of the GST applied, can no longer be passed on to clients.
BT are in discussions with the ATO through industry channels, to collectively raise concerns about what this means for clients and the increasing cost to receive advice.
We’ll keep clients, and their advisers, updated on any further developments. In addition, we’ll provide support to assist in making this change.
For further information, please visit the ATO website.
From late February 2024 we’re introducing new measures on BT Panorama to ensure the client information we hold is current.
We will periodically ask you to confirm that the full name, date of birth and residential address we hold on file for a client is correct. In most instances, the entire process will be done online via Panorama.
Whenever we need you to confirm your client’s information, we’ll prompt you on the Panorama home page. This will appear in the ‘Pending tasks’ box under the category of ‘KYC reviews due (next 90 days)’.
By clicking the prompt, you’ll be taken to a screen displaying the client’s information. If the information is correct, you can confirm at the press of a button. Otherwise, if the information needs updating, there will be clear instructions to follow.
There may be some instances where additional information is required. If this applies to you, we’ll contact you at the time to explain.
This will ensure we have your client’s current account details on file and help us meet our obligations under Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing legislation.
For more detail about this new process, please login to Panorama and navigate to Help & support > Managing your clients > Opening & updating accounts > KYC review.
With 75% of scams involving impersonation, as reported by Scamwatch*, safeguarding your information is vital. We prioritise your security by taking steps to prevent adviser impersonation in our Customer Care Centre. For seamless access to customer assistance, it's essential for both support staff and practice managers to be registered users of BT Panorama.
Registration is simple, and means practice managers can control the permissions of all users, in their practice. If you haven't registered, speak to your practice manager or dealer group manager.
Full instructions can be found in the Help & Support section.
We’re excited to announce that the following forms can now be submitted online, with digital consent also available:
You can access the forms online via Service requests > Submit new request. Follow the instructions on the screen to upload and submit the form online.
Once we receive the request you can check progress on the ‘Request Status’ page.
If you’re using a previous version of these forms, follow the instructions on the form to submit by email or mail. We will accept the previous version if we receive it before 7 March 2024.
The following new forms have been created, for rollover to SMSF requests:
For account closures where funds are being rolled over to a super fund that is not an SMSF, you can continue to use the Super account closure - full withdrawal or rollover to a super fund form.
You can access the new forms from Service requests > Submit new request. These forms can’t be submitted online. Follow the instructions on the form to submit the forms by email or mail.
For more information on how to manage service requests, go to Help & support > Manage service requests or call our Customer Relations team on 1300 784 207 Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 6:30pm (Sydney time).
With 2024 being a leap year, BT Panorama will calculate dollar-based ongoing advice fees differently.
For clients on a per annum dollar-based ongoing advice fees arrangement (‘Agreed Fee’), they’re charged on a monthly basis. We calculate the monthly deduction using the following method:
Monthly deduction = Agreed Fee ÷ number of days in the calendar year (366 for a leap year and 365 days for other years) x number of days in the month
The monthly deduction uses the actual days in the month, relative to the calendar year. If it’s a leap year, it will take into account 29 days for February.
The total monthly deductions over the calendar year will always equal the Agreed Fee. However, the total monthly deductions for a 12-month fee disclosure statement period that crosses two calendar years and includes the month of February during a leap year — may be slightly greater than the Agreed Fee.
If this is the case, the total monthly deductions in the following fee disclosure statement period will be lower than the Agreed Fee, by the same amount.
Here's an example:
For an Agreed Fee of $1,000 entered on 1 July 2023:
In comparison, for an Agreed Fee of $1,000 entered on 1 January 2024, the monthly deductions from the client’s account through to 31 December 2024 will equal $1,000.
You should consider whether any changes may be required to the wording of your service agreements and fee disclosure statements, so it reflects how these fees are calculated.
From February 2024, we’re making changes to the ‘Document library’ on Panorama to enhance the security of clients’ information.
The changes involve the automatic deletion of documents based on their type and how long they’ve been in the library.
Documents are retained for a minimum of five years. For further information refer to Help & Support - Records Retention.
You can do this by looking at the 'Uploaded on' field within the Document library.
No. If you wish to retain a copy past its scheduled deletion date, you’ll need to download it prior to deletion.
For more information, please refer to our Help & Support menu.
We’ve introduced a new feature on BT Panorama, designed to make it easier for you and your support staff to view accounts that are closing.
You can now filter by accounts pending closure on the ‘clients & accounts” page. This is along with the existing active & closed account filters when inputting details in the main search bar.
Soon we’ll be launching even more features, that will improve the visibility of the account closure process.
From 15 November, we’ll stop sending you confirmation emails when a Panorama pension has been reset (excluding pensions that have been migrated from BT Wrap).
The email had no action for advisers and was a courtesy email advising this had been completed.
Instead, this information is available to advisers and support staff on the BT Service Request Tracker.
We made this change based on feedback that the volume of communication was a pain point.
In the coming months, the ‘BT Margin Loan’ product will be rebranded to ‘Westpac Margin Loan’.
This change won’t impact their current or future investments, or the operation of their existing Margin Loan facility or Panorama Investments account. The Terms and Conditions and details on their Margin Loan account will remain unchanged.
In addition, BT Margin Lending account statements, and other BT Margin Lending collateral and related material will be amended to reflect the new branding.
Following this change, all Westpac Margin Loan customers and their advisers will have access to the Westpac Margin Lending secure online portal, which will replace the BT Adviser Exchange and BT Online portals. This portal will provide you and your clients with additional functions and greater online security.
More information will be communicated directly to advisers with BT Margin Lending clients as the change date draws closer. And updates will also be added to bt.com.au, the BT Panorama desktop and within the BT Adviser Exchange and BT Online portals.
In June and November 2023, we made changes to BT Panorama applications, aimed at strengthening our regulatory compliance and enhancing the security of clients’ sensitive information including their Tax File Number. One of these changes relates to applications that remain unapproved by clients for too long.
Applications that remain unapproved by clients for longer than 90 days are now automatically withdrawn from the system. This applies to online and offline applications.
On an ongoing basis, from 20 November 2023, applications with a status of ‘Awaiting Approval’ older than 90 days will be withdrawn.
No. Instead, you’ll need to create a new application.
However, you can view withdrawn applications in read-only mode. Navigate to Tracking > Account Applications. These will remain in the system as read-only unless you delete them.
To help manage your in-progress applications we’ve made improvements to our account opening and account tracking functionality and strengthened our Help & Support menu to support the application process.
From 20 November 2023, we are making changes to BT Panorama applications.
These changes are a follow-on from changes made in June this year, aimed at strengthening our regulatory compliance and enhancing the security of clients’ sensitive information including their Tax File Number.
Applications which remain unapproved by clients for too long will be automatically withdrawn from the system. This applies to online and offline applications.
One-off bulk withdrawal
On 20 November 2023, all existing applications with a status of ‘Awaiting Approval’ older than 90 days will be withdrawn. To determine if an application will be withdrawn, go to Tracking > Account Applications and search for a date older than 22 August 2023.
Ongoing withdrawal
From 20 November 2023 and on an ongoing basis, applications with a status of ‘Awaiting Approval’ older than 90 days will be withdrawn.
No. Instead, you will need to create a new application.
However, you can view withdrawn applications in read-only mode. Navigate to Tracking > Account Applications. These will remain in the system as read-only unless you delete them.
On 20 November 2023, we’re introducing improvements to our account opening and account tracking functionality, to help you manage your in-progress applications.
We’re also strengthening our Help & Support menu to support the application process.
Sometimes, a client’s rollout request can be held up due to the availability of funds – illiquid assets, outstanding distributions and redemptions, corporate actions and the like.
To help in this scenario, we’re launching a couple of enhancements.
From late November, when we receive a rollout request via SuperStream, and where all funds aren’t fully available, we will default to splitting the payment, so that an initial payment is made with available funds, followed by an additional payment for remaining funds once they’ve arrived in the account.
You can take greater control of the payment approach via a BT form-based request. Ideal if your client is setting up a pension.
From late November, using our Account Closure form or Partial Withdrawal form, you can select either of the following options in connection to both super and pension accounts:
Option 1 - Split the payment so that an initial rollover is made, followed by an additional rollover for remaining funds, or
Option 2 - Wait for all funds to be available in the account before rollover is made.
The ability to make an election – either single or split payment – is only available with a BT form-based request. It is not available if we receive a rollout request via SuperStream.
Simplify your client reporting tasks with BT Panorama's new Bulk Reporting functionality.
The new functionality will enable you to effortlessly create comprehensive report packs for multiple clients, through a simple 4 step process.
You can add accounts to a reporting group and assign a next review date to help filter clients quickly when creating report packs. Alternatively, you can select clients one by one to create a custom list.
Report pack settings can be saved making it easy for you to regenerate reports at your desired interval.
To explore this new functionality, navigate to Business > Report packs.
We’re excited to introduce a range of new features to BT Panorama, designed to make it easier for you to deliver the quality of advice your clients expect. These include:
Faster approvals: Speed up processes with digital consent now available for selected online client forms, via desktop and mobile app.
Digital signatures: We’re making digital workflows easier by offering typed signatures using software such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign across a range of forms.
Simpler banking: No need for deposit verification to link a bank account – a big win for convenience for you and your clients.
Improved control: New admin controls for easier BT Panorama user management in your practice.
More information will be available in the coming weeks. In the meantime, visit our website for more information, if you have any questions please contact your Business Development Manager or request a callback .
Your clients’ BT Protection Plan information has now been moved to one user-friendly place: the TAL Adviser Centre (TAC). Email communication has been sent to you with instructions on how to login to TAC.
Your clients’ BT platforms accounts will still display the key insurance information.
If you need to update your client’s policy details, or if your client wishes to vary their policy, you will need to contact TAL. If there are any changes to your or your client’s personal details, please contact both BT and TAL to ensure that all information is up to date.
LifeCENTRAL and LifeCENTRAL+ are no longer available, and all links in the BT platforms have been redirected to TAC, for you to login and manage your clients’ insurance information.
If you have any questions about your clients’ BT Protection Plan policies, please contact TAL Life Insurance on 1300 553 764 and select Option 2 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm AEST).
We’ve added a new interactive tool to assist you in understanding the BT Panorama mobile app experience from your clients’ perspective. The new investor mobile app demo tool joins the existing investor desktop login demo site.
Both these demo tools are available now on BT Panorama. Navigate to Help & support > Resources > BT Panorama investor demo site or visit our website.
We’ve created a new BT Panorama user guide, designed to provide you with helpful information on how to navigate and use the full Panorama website quickly — including tips on completing processes, that will assist you in managing your clients’ accounts. Save time looking for answers with the guide — available now via the Help & support page on BT Panorama.
Use the tax statement estimator tool, to see when a tax statement was released or the estimated tax statement delivery dates. Access the tool via the Tax Statement Estimator section of the BT Panorama home page.
With the new financial year underway, this is a reminder that related groups pricing (sometimes known as ‘fee aggregation’) may be available to you and your clients on BT Panorama.
For more information, including instructions on how to set it up, please go to “Help & Support > Managing your clients > Fees > Administration fee - related groups pricing”.
As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering a superior experience on BT Panorama, we’re excited to share even more enhancements to the BT Panorama mobile app for advisers and investors. These enhancements aim to provide comprehensive tools, improved customisation, and seamless navigation, empowering users to manage wealth portfolios on the go.
For advisers, a new product news section means they can now be kept up to date with the latest product, news and important information from BT, on the go. Centrelink schedules can now also be requested via the mobile app.
For investors, Centrelink schedules can now also be requested via the mobile app. Investors can now also customise the way their investment portfolio holdings and “portfolio performance” and “the way money is invested” charts are displayed. In alignment with design and distribution obligations (DDO), an annual process has been added to the investor mobile app to enable direct investors to review their personal circumstances to ensure their product remains appropriate for them.
With enhancements like these it’s easy to see why the BT Panorama mobile app has been voted best mobile app five years running.1
You may have seen the recent adviser news article from TAL advising that client information, reporting, forms, and documents for your clients’ BT Life (BT Protection Plans) are being transitioned to the TAL Adviser Centre (TAC).
From 21 August 2023, BT Protection Plan information for all your clients will be held in one user-friendly place: the TAL Adviser Centre (TAC).
Access to LifeCENTRAL and LifeCENTRAL+ will cease from 19 August 2023. Links in BT Platforms to LifeCENTRAL will be redirected to TAC from 21 August 2023.
TAL will be sending you further updates in the coming month to support you through this transition and ensure you have login access to TAC and to establish all necessary settings before the transition date.
Based on the feedback received, we’ve refreshed the following five pages on BT Panorama to enhance accessibility on BT Panorama. By implementing high contrast mode, improved screen readability, and enhanced keyboard navigation, we can now support a more inclusive experience for everyone who uses the full BT Panorama website.
We’ve been busy working on a wide range of enhancements to deliver even better experiences for you and your clients. We’re pleased to announce that as of today, we’ve improved back-end processing to speed up the time to complete a fee consent request.
The fastest way to complete a fee consent request is by using BT Panorama’s in-built digital consent process. Simply login, select a client’s account, and go to Reporting > Account fees > Advice fees to setup a new fee and associated fee consent request. Step by step instructions for the fee consent process are available from Help & Support, on your BT Panorama desktop.
We look forward to sharing further upcoming enhancements to the BT Panorama platform soon.
Changes to BT Panorama applications take effect from 3 June 2023. These are to strengthen our regulatory compliance and to enhance the security of clients’ sensitive information including their Tax File Number (TFN).
Draft applications that remain unsubmitted for a lengthy period will be permanently deleted.
On 3 June 2023 we’re performing a one-off bulk deletion of all unsubmitted draft applications older than 90 days.
From 3 June 2023 and on a rolling basis, we will permanently delete unsubmitted draft applications 30 days after the last modified date.
No. Instead, you will need to create a new application.
On 3 June 2023, to help you finalise any unsubmitted draft applications, we will automatically reset the last modified date to allow an additional 30 days. This only applies to unsubmitted draft applications less than 90 days old – those over 90 days will be bulk-deleted on 3 June 2023.
If at any stage you modify a draft application, this will reset the last modified date and provide another 30 days before the draft application is deleted.
You can view your unsubmitted draft applications in Tracking > Account Applications.
We’ve launched the 'Asset Class' view for both Portfolio Performance and Periodic Performance reports, following on from the initial launch to the Portfolio Valuation report in October 2022.
We use existing asset class categories reported by investment issuers, in line with industry standards. The existing 'Asset Type' view will remain, offering two ways to report to your clients.
Technology upgrades have also resulted in a significant improvement in page load and both CSV & PDF download times for the Portfolio Performance and Periodic performance reports for both Asset Class and Asset Type views.
In addition to this and based on the feedback received, we’ve redesigned the page controls for the Portfolio Performance for an improved user experience.
We’ve also refreshed the PDF design of our Portfolio performance report, providing a uniform look and feel for when we launch our bulk client reporting capabilities at the end of 2023.
To explore the new 'Asset Class' view in BT Panorama, follow these steps:
The BT Panorama Online Service Request Tracker is now available on the adviser mobile app, which means you can now check the status of service requests on the go.
Simply log in to the BT Panorama app to view status updates for requests you have in progress with us. Go to Business overview > Service requests.
We’ve created a dedicated information hub, which you can check at any time to stay up to date with the transfer and what this change means for your practice. This information hub also includes a sample of the client communications we have sent to your clients.
BT Portfolio Services Ltd ABN 73 095 055 208 AFSL 233715 (BTPS) operates Panorama Investments and administers Panorama Super. BT Funds Management Limited ABN 63 002 916 458 AFSL 233724 (BTFM) is the trustee and issuer of Panorama Super, which is part of Asgard Independence Plan Division Two ABN 90 194 410 365. Westpac Financial Services Ltd ABN 20 000 241 127 AFSL 233716 (WFSL) is the responsible entity and issuer of interests in BT Managed Portfolios. Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 AFSL and Australian credit licence 233714 (Westpac) is the issuer of the BT Cash Management Account (BT CMA) and the BT Cash Management Account Saver (BT CMA Saver). Together, these products are referred to as the Panorama products.
A Product Disclosure Statement or other disclosure document (PDS) for the Panorama products can be obtained by contacting BT on 1300 784 207 or logging into bt.com.au/panorama. You should obtain and consider the relevant PDS before deciding whether to acquire, continue to hold or dispose of interests in the Panorama products. Conditions, fees and charges apply for the Panorama products and may change. The Panorama products are only available in Australia.
BTPS, BTFM and WFSL are subsidiaries of Westpac. Apart from any interest investors may have in Westpac term deposits, Westpac securities, the BT CMA, the BT CMA Saver or underlying bank accounts held at Westpac through their Panorama Super acquired through the Panorama operating system, an investment acquired using the Panorama operating system is not an investment in, deposit with or any other liability of Westpac or any other company in the Westpac Group. These investments are subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment of withdrawal proceeds and loss of income and principal invested. Westpac and its related entities do not stand behind or otherwise guarantee the capital value or investment performance of any investments acquired through the Panorama operating system.
1 Investment Trends Platform Competitive Analysis and Benchmarking Report, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018