FPA to monitor CBA’s adviser standards drive
07 July 2014
The Financial Planning Association will scrutinise the adviser training program proposed by Commonwealth Bank following its recent advice scandal…
Life Insurance
Ebix adds direct life insurer to platform
07 July 2014
Freedom Insurance has signed up to Ebix’s OneOffice policy administration platform…
Law firm attacks life non-disclosure changes
07 July 2014
Amendments to the Insurance Contacts Act will make it easier for life insurers to avoid and vary policies in cases of non-disclosure and misrepresentation, lawyers say…
Tower completes life divestment
07 July 2014
NZ insurer Tower has sold the remainder of its life insurance business, and will now focus solely on general insurance…
Property demand fuels life referrals
07 July 2014
A booming property market is generating referrals for life advisers as mortgage brokers look to provide cover for homeowners and investors…
Shadforth to survive IOOF takeover
07 July 2014
SFG Australia’s Shadforth brand will be maintained under a proposed takeover by IOOF Holdings…
Senators pose threat to FOFA changes
30 June 2014
The Government faces a struggle to push its Future of Financial Advice amendments through the Senate, with one high-profile independent ready to oppose the changes…
Advisers urged to engage young customers
30 June 2014
Advisers still have a role to play despite the move by life insurers to use technology to engage with younger consumers, the International Insurance Society’s annual seminar was told last week…
Industry bodies welcome CFP report
30 June 2014
The financial planning industry has welcomed the Senate Economics References Committee’s recommendations on raising adviser standards and professional behaviour…
Life insurance take-up improves
30 June 2014
More people are taking up life insurance, according to TAL’s Financial Protection Index…
FPA reveals first Gwen Fletcher award winner
30 June 2014
The Financial Planning Association has named Erin Shields of Dixon Advisory as the inaugural Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award winner…
FOFA changes draw mixed response
23 June 2014
Reactions to the Federal Government’s proposed reform of the Future of Financial Advice legislation are split along the expected lines…
Group life bounces back
23 June 2014
Group life annual inforce premiums grew 27.6% to $4.7 billion in the year to March 31, according to research house Dexx&r…
Mu replaces Crewe at AIA
23 June 2014
Damien Mu will become CEO of AIA Australia on August 1…
MetLife names its new CFO
23 June 2014
MetLife has continued its leadership shake-up with the appointment of Vince Watt as CFO…
Insurance spending ‘to drop further’
23 June 2014
The underinsurance crisis is set to deepen as household spending plummets under the pressure of a slowing economy and the federal budget, a financial services academic warns…
Bank says clients ignored FOS
16 June 2014
“Very few” Commonwealth Financial Planning clients turned to the Financial Ombudsman Service to resolve disputes with their financial advisers, according to the bank…
Life remains profitable
16 June 2014
Life insurers made a combined $2.7 billion after-tax profit last year, with $1.5 billion of that from group life, according to latest figures from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority…
Life premiums inflows gain 13%
16 June 2014
Life insurance premium inflows grew 13.1% to $13.2 billion in the year to March 31, according to Plan For Life…
Mortgage Choice adds to adviser network
16 June 2014
Mortgage Choice has continued to expand its financial planning business, adding a 30th adviser to its network…