Ministers will step in if industry dithers on reform
20 April 2015
The life insurance industry risks feeling the “heavy hand” of the Government if it refuses to take the initiative on urgently needed reforms…
Life Insurance
Trowbridge threatens direct insurer model
20 April 2015
Direct insurers may have to revisit their pricing models under recommendations made in the Trowbridge report on retail life insurance advice…
Frydenberg roundtable to speed up adviser reforms
20 April 2015
Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will lead a roundtable to further explore suggestions for lifting financial adviser standards…
PI cover ‘failing as compensation mechanism’
20 April 2015
Professional indemnity insurance is limited as a compensation mechanism for poor financial advice, the Financial Ombudsman Service says…
ANZ to refund clients, as ASIC launches crackdown
20 April 2015
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is investigating major financial planning companies after finding many cases of planners charging clients for advice that is not provided…
Frydenberg urges life industry to seize reform chance
13 April 2015
Life insurance industry leaders must act while they can to restore public confidence, Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says…
FPA rejects FSI on level commissions
13 April 2015
Ensuring the life insurance industry operates effectively for advisers and clients alike requires more than banning upfront commissions, the Financial Planning Association says…
Advisers want Trowbridge proposals put to test
13 April 2015
Financial advice groups have called for the recommendations of the Trowbridge report on life insurance to be modelled and their impact costed…
AIST says general advice could be renamed sales
13 April 2015
The term “general advice” could be changed to “sales”, but only where this is conflicted advice, such as with general insurance or banking products, according to the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees…
‘Sluggish economy’ fuels life claims in super
13 April 2015
The rising number of claims for life insurance held in super could be partly driven by a sluggish economy, according to TurksLegal partner Alph Edwards…
Trowbridge calls for slashed life adviser payments
30 March 2015
Life advisers would sell policies at a loss if recommendations from the Trowbridge report on life insurance are implemented…
Trowbridge report attracts mixed response
30 March 2015
The Association of Financial Advisers “doesn’t agree” with the recommendations of the Trowbridge report on life insurance, arguing the cost to advisers must be examined…
Industry has say on co-regulatory model
30 March 2015
The Federal Government has called for feedback on a co-regulatory model for adviser standards in life insurance and super…
NDIS ‘brings opportunities for life industry’
30 March 2015
There are areas in which the life industry could work with the National Disability Insurance Scheme, says NAB EGM Retail Wealth Products David Hackett…
FSC honours outgoing TAL chief
30 March 2015
The Financial Services Council has presented TAL CEO Jim Minto with a special award for his outstanding contribution to the life insurance industry…
MetLife rehab scheme shows early success
30 March 2015
MetLife says a pilot rehabilitation program designed to return people to work has achieved an impressive initial success rate…
Government praised as window for unclaimed payouts widens
23 March 2015
The Federal Government’s decision to restore a seven-year timeframe on seizing unclaimed life insurance and inactive bank accounts has been praised by the Financial Services Council as “sensible and practical”…
More Australians seek advice
23 March 2015
The number of active financial adviser clients grew last year after dropping in 2013, a new Investment Trends survey shows…
Less-wealthy households hold onto life cover
23 March 2015
Higher-earning households are dropping life insurance, while those with incomes below $40,000 a year are maintaining cover, according to the TAL Financial Protection Index…
Group life premium soars
23 March 2015
Total group life inforce premiums grew 20.8% to $5.2 billion last year, according to the latest data from research house Dexx&r…