S&P upgrades MLC outlook
30 October 2017
S&P Global Ratings has lifted its outlook on MLC to stable from negative, based on the life insurer’s robust capitalisation and solid operating performance…
Life Insurance
FPA names annual award finalists
30 October 2017
The Financial Planning Association (FPA) has announced this year’s award finalists…
Challenger reports annuity sales growth
23 October 2017
Challenger has reported life annuity sales of almost $1.1 billion for the quarter to September 30, up 6.2% on the corresponding period last year…
Female life expectancy continues to rise
23 October 2017
Australian females have the highest life expectancy on record, according to the latest national figures…
OnePath buyer search ‘may take time’
23 October 2017
ANZ is continuing to seek a buyer for its life insurance arm following the partial sale of its OnePath wealth business to IOOF for $975 million…
China growth lifts AIA in third quarter
23 October 2017
AIA Group has reported a 20% rise in new business to $US824 million in the third quarter to August 31, underpinned by strong growth in China and the rest of Asia…
TAL dominates Strategic Insight awards
23 October 2017
TAL Life has won Strategic Insight Actuaries & Researchers’ annual overall direct life insurer award…
AIA reward scheme adds charity option
23 October 2017
AIA Vitality members can now give their weekly $5 reward vouchers for hitting exercise targets to one of three charities: the Black Dog Institute, Cancer Council Australia or Diabetes Australia…
Lifebroker offers quotes via Facebook chatbot
23 October 2017
Comparator Lifebroker has started offering round-the-clock quotes in real time through a Facebook Messenger chatbot called Alfred…
Westpac faces class action from life policyholders
16 October 2017
A $100 million class action has been filed against Westpac Banking Corporation, alleging bank life insurance customers pay higher premiums than on similar policies sold via the independent channel…
FOS ranks life insurers on dispute likelihood
16 October 2017
The Financial Ombudsman Service has released tables comparing life insurers and other financial service providers’ likelihood of disputes for the year to June 30…
MLC commits to 12-month premium freeze
16 October 2017
MLC Life has guaranteed it will not increase premium rates for retail life insurance customers until at least October 1 next year…
Tech strategy ‘crucial to operational excellence’
16 October 2017
Artificial intelligence, robots and other forms of sophisticated technology must be part of life insurers’ strategies in a rapidly changing industry, advisory group DST says…
Waller takes permanent role at Asteron
16 October 2017
After several months acting in the role, Dan Waller has been appointed Head of Wealth and Life Intermediaries at Suncorp company Asteron Life…
MetLife names retail sales boss
16 October 2017
MetLife has appointed Matt Lippiatt as Head of Retail Sales, a new role in the retail life insurance operation that will launch to advisers and brokers next year…
MLC upgrades wellness program
16 October 2017
MLC Life Insurance has enhanced its health and wellness program to let customers use their own fitness trackers or smartwatches…
Court rejects Facebook evidence in MetLife TPD dispute
09 October 2017
A judge has ruled against MetLife in a total and permanent disability dispute, rejecting arguments that a woman’s Facebook activity showed she could return to the workforce…
Hospitality super fund reduces premiums
09 October 2017
Intrust Super will cut premiums for its life and total and permanent disability covers by 7% from January 1, with the rates locked in for three years…
NZ funds under management grow 13%
09 October 2017
Retail managed funds in New Zealand increased to $NZ83.5 billion in the June quarter, up 13.1% on the corresponding period last year and 2.4% on the preceding quarter, according to consultant Strategic Insight.
Advisers need ‘end-to-end commitment’ to clients
09 October 2017
Financial advisers should serve clients throughout their careers, rather than selling them on as “books of business”, financial services education expert Jim Taggart says…