Australian life rating maintained
09 July 2012
Australia’s life insurance industry is holding its rating level while key Asia-Pacific markets have been downgraded by Standard & Poor’s as a result of weakening economic conditions and volatile…
Life Insurance
Insurance sales move online
09 July 2012
Life insurance sales are migrating to the internet, with direct business accounting for 25% of the market in 2010/11 and expected to climb to 40% within 10 years, according to a new report by research group…
It isn’t always churn…
09 July 2012
The Financial Services Council’s proposals on preventing insurance churn could have negative consequences for clients, according to a pool of independent financial advisers…
Trans-Tasman adviser deal shouldn’t dilute standards, says AFA
09 July 2012
Recognition of qualifications that allow financial advisers to operate in both Australia and New Zealand should not be allowed to dilute standards in the Australian market, Financial Planning Association CEO…
Count appoints development executive
09 July 2012
Commonwealth Bank-owned Count Financial has its first Head of Practice Development with the appointment of Judy Clark to the role last week…
AFS appoints regional manager, still seeking CEO
09 July 2012
Dealer group Australian Financial Services Group has appointed Danielle Nugent as Regional Manager for Victoria and Tasmania…
Advisers get trans-Tasman recognition
02 July 2012
Qualified financial advisers will be able to operate on both sides of the Tasman from next Monday following the completion of a deal between the Australian Securities and Investments Commission…
FOFA could leave consumers unprotected
02 July 2012
Financial planners’ clients may be unprotected by industry-specific consumer laws for a year following the partial adoption of the Future of Financial Advice regulatory system this week, according to…
Advisers resist FSC measures on churn
02 July 2012
Most financial advisers oppose the Financial Services Council’s proposed measures to prevent insurance “churn”, a Guardian Advice survey shows…
Low awareness of TPD in super
02 July 2012
Australians risk missing out on millions of dollars of potential benefits due to a lack of awareness that total and permanent disability cover is a feature of most superannuation accounts…
MySuper legislation still before Parliament
02 July 2012
Some efficiency measures that create common standards for processing and reporting superannuation transactions are now law after passing the Senate before Parliament went into its six-week winter…
Advisers want platform choice
02 July 2012
Financial services licensees have been warned they will need to offer advisers choice of platform on approved product lists in order to attract and retain advisers…
AIA boosts rehab team
02 July 2012
AIA Australia has doubled its specialist rehabilitation team to six to boost its effort on return-to-work education for employees who have suffered illness or injury…
FOFA implementation: confusion reigns
25 June 2012
The passing of the Future of Financial Advice legislation by the Senate has not cleared up the confusion surrounding its implementation and timing…
FOFA bills pass Senate
25 June 2012
The Future of Financial Advice legislation which came into law last week implements the legislative response to a parliamentary inquiry into the collapse of investment groups Storm Financial and…
Daly moves to Yellow Brick Road
25 June 2012
Former AFS Group CEO Peter Daly has joined Yellow Brick Road to help grow its financial planning business…
Distribution boosted at CommInsure and Guardian
25 June 2012
The jobs merry-go-round continues with CommInsure and Guardian Advice boosting their distributions teams with a number of appointments…
Guardian Advice adds BT Life
25 June 2012
BT Life is now on Guardian Advice’s preferred partner list after agreement was reached between the two companies last week…
Tax problems loom over life commission rebates
18 June 2012
Advisers rebating upfront life insurance commissions may be creating tax problems for their clients, an accountant has warned…
Life insurance premium income and commissions rise
18 June 2012
Last year was a strong one for the life insurance industry, with net premium income in calendar 2011 up 12.8% to $43.34 billion from $38.42 billion in the 12 months to June 30 2011…