How does Tony Insurance work?

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By Tony Smilevski · Updated 11 October 2026

Key points

• Our FSG lists the practice, "The Trustee for Tony Insurance Life Trust", as Corporate Authorised Representative No. 1293655 of Sustainable Life Solutions Pty Ltd (AFSL 536966).[1]
• Our FSG says the service is general in nature and "does not take your specific needs or circumstances into consideration", and asks readers, before they act or buy a product, to consider whether it is appropriate for their own objectives, financial situation and needs and to get the PDS.[1]
• Our FSG says commission is payable by the insurance company as a percentage of the insurer's base premium: up to 66% on new policies in the first year and up to 33% from year 2. Sustainable Life Solutions receives it first and pays the practice 95%.[1]
• Sustainable Life Solutions' FSG Part One says it is "ultimately responsible for the service provided" by its authorised representatives and monitors that service.[2]
• To complain, start by emailing us at think@tonyinsurance.com.au; we notify our licensee, Sustainable Life Solutions, and you can also complain to it directly. If you are not satisfied with the response, you can go to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), an external disputes resolution scheme.[2]

Before choosing who to talk to about life insurance, people usually want to know who they would be dealing with, what that person can do and how that person is paid. Tony Insurance is a Corporate Authorised Representative of a licensee. The information on this page is general in nature and doesn't take your personal circumstances into account.

Is Tony Insurance a life insurance broker?

Our documents describe Tony Insurance as a Corporate Authorised Representative of Sustainable Life Solutions Pty Ltd, which holds AFSL 536966.

Our Financial Services Guide (FSG) says the licensee has authorised Tony "to provide general advice only" in "Life Products – Life Insurance Products", "Life Products – Investment Life Insurance Products" and "Life Products – Superannuation".[1] A business's FSG is where to check what it is authorised to do, whatever title it uses. Ours is on our Important Documents page.

Who is Tony Insurance?

Tony Insurance Life Pty Ltd atf Tony Insurance Life Trust (ABN 12 202 794 800) trades as Tony Insurance. It is Corporate Authorised Representative 1293655 of Sustainable Life Solutions Pty Ltd (ABN 66 655 297 886, AFSL 536966). Our FSG lists the practice, under the name "The Trustee for Tony Insurance Life Trust", as Corporate Authorised Representative No. 1293655.[1]

Tony (Toni) Smilevski is Authorised Representative 343156, a sub-authorised representative of the practice. He holds an Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning.[1]

Sustainable Life Solutions is, in the words of its FSG Part One, "ultimately responsible for the service provided" by its authorised representatives and monitors that service.[2]

What can Tony Insurance do, and what can't it?

The service is general in nature. Our FSG says it "does not take your specific needs or circumstances into consideration".[1]

In plain words, we can explain how a type of cover works, how policy wording differs between insurers, and where to read the insurer's own documents. We can also explain how claims work.

That means we can't:

• tell you what to buy, or whether you need a particular cover
• tell you how much cover suits you
• tell you which insurer suits you
• predict whether an insurer will accept your application or pay a claim

The FSG also asks readers, before they act or buy a product, to consider whether it is appropriate for their own objectives, financial situation and needs, and to get the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).[1] If you would like a service that does take your circumstances into account, our FSG says to let us know and we will refer you to someone who provides it.[1]

Health and general insurance aren't Tony's area of expertise, but our team can help: we can put you in touch with a trusted partner who specialises in them. The footer of every page on this site says: "Tony Insurance is authorised to deal in Life insurance products only. Any mention regarding other products and/or services is provided by external third parties and is done under a referral relationship only." This page doesn't cover other products.

Which insurers do you work with?

We deal with 11 Australian life insurers: AIA, Acenda, ClearView, Encompass, Futura, MetLife, NEOS, OnePath, PPS Mutual, TAL and Zurich (listed alphabetically, not ranked). Each insurer has its own products, definitions and terms. The information we give is about products from those insurers.

The insurer's PDS and target market determination (TMD) are the documents that set out a product's terms. Our PDS and TMD library holds insurer documents you can read for yourself.

How are you paid?

We are paid by commission from the insurer. In the words we use with clients:

"We will receive a commission payable by the insurance company at no additional cost to you. It is a percentage of the insurer's base premium as outlined in our FSG, up to 66% on new policies in the first year followed by an ongoing commission of up to 33% from year 2."[1]

The FSG defines base premium as the premium excluding stamp duty, fire services levy, GST, modal loadings or any other government charges, taxes, fees or levies.[1]

Sustainable Life Solutions receives all remuneration for services provided by the practice's authorised representative first. It then pays the practice 95% of all remuneration received.[1]

Because the insurer pays us commission, our licensee's FSG says:

"Sustainable Life Solutions and its representatives are not independent, impartial, or unbiased because we receive commissions for the service we provide on life risk insurance products."[2]

Our FSG also sets out other remuneration the practice may receive. Read both parts in the FSG.

What does it cost me to talk to you?

As our client wording above says, the commission is payable by the insurance company "at no additional cost to you". The Commissions and Fees section of our FSG lists the ways we may be paid or may charge, so read it in the FSG before you decide anything.

If you want help with a claim, see our guide to life insurance claims.

What happens when you book a time?

You choose a time from Tony's online calendar using a booking link. We discuss your request, provide quotes, and submit an application to the insurer for underwriting. The service is general in nature, so it doesn't take your personal objectives, financial situation or needs into account.[1]

You can book a time with Tony, call 0433 22 77 11 or email think@tonyinsurance.com.au.

How do people compare life insurance?

We don't rank insurers or products, and we can't say which one is right for anyone. The right comparison depends on what each policy says, and policy wording differs between insurers.

People commonly compare these things:

• Definitions. How the policy defines the event it pays on, such as disability or a listed illness. See our TPD insurance guide and trauma insurance guide.
• Exclusions and limits. What the policy doesn't pay for, and any conditions attached. See the income protection guide.
• How premiums are structured. Variable age-stepped or variable (once called stepped and level), and how they can change over time. See the life insurance premiums guide.
• Health questions. What the insurer asks about and how it treats existing conditions. See the pre-existing conditions guide.
• Who owns the cover. Inside or outside super, and what that changes. See the life insurance in super guide and the tax deductibility guide.
• The claims process. What the insurer asks for and how it decides. See the claims guide.
• The amount of cover. See the how much life insurance guide.

We can't tell you whether a cover is worth it. That depends on your own circumstances, and this page doesn't take them into account.

How can I make a complaint?

Start by emailing us at think@tonyinsurance.com.au. We handle it and notify our licensee, Sustainable Life Solutions. You can also complain to Sustainable Life Solutions directly. If you are not satisfied with the response, you can go to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), an external disputes resolution scheme.[2] Contact details for each step are in our Financial Services Guide.

Where are you?

• Address: Level 27, 101 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
• Phone: 0433 22 77 11
• Email: think@tonyinsurance.com.au

Questions to ask before you choose who to talk to

• Which insurers can they arrange cover from, and how many?
• What service are they authorised to provide, and where is that written down?
• How are they paid: commission, a fee, or both? Who pays it?
• Does the service take my own circumstances into account?
• What help is available if I need to claim, and does it cost anything?
• Who do I complain to, and what is the next step if I'm not satisfied?

Read the insurer's PDS and TMD before deciding. You can find them in our PDS and TMD library. We deal with 11 Australian life insurers. For general information about anything in this guide, book a time with Tony or call 0433 22 77 11.

Sources

• [1] Tony Insurance Financial Services Guide Part Two (October 2023).
• [2] Sustainable Life Solutions Financial Services Guide Part One (April 2025).

Just so you know, Tony Insurance operates under Sustainable Life Solutions (AFSL 536966) and can only give general advice about life insurance. That means we'll tell you what you need to know for you to make a good decision, but we can't give you specific advice or recommendations. It also means that everything on our website is only general information and isn't specific to you.

Toni Smilevski, Authorised Representative 343156 of Sustainable Life Solutions Pty Ltd (AFSL 536966)