Kaplan opens enrolments as advisers eye education deadline
25 November 2024
Kaplan Professional has opened enrolments for next year’s postgraduate financial planning programs...
Life Insurance
NZ creates power to tackle genetic test discrimination
18 November 2024
The New Zealand government has updated legislation to give it power to stop genetic testing discrimination by life insurers...
Insurer told to rethink denied TPD claim
18 November 2024
A truck driver whose total and permanent disability claim was rejected will have his case reassessed under a complaints ombudsman ruling...
MetLife moves to ease menopause impacts on financial, mental health
18 November 2024
A MetLife survey has detailed the financial and emotional toll of menopause, prompting the insurer to launch a pilot support program for customers...
Future2 awards financial wellbeing grants
18 November 2024
The Future2 Foundation has announced 12 recipients in this year’s grant program for projects promoting financial wellbeing in women, young Australians, people in need, and regional and remote communities...
Court backs AFCA decision in TPD claim dispute
11 November 2024
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority acted within its powers when handling a total and permanent disability insurance claim dispute, a court has ruled...
ClearView takes earnings hit after ‘poor claims experience’
11 November 2024
ClearView Wealth’s first-quarter earnings were affected by a “material increase” in claims from its legacy income protection and total and permanent disability businesses...
Offset clause cuts IP benefit to zero, AFCA rules
11 November 2024
The complaints ombudsman has ruled against a policyholder whose income protection benefit was reduced to zero because of an offset clause that stopped him claiming from more than one insurer...
Adviser body teams up with Indian counterpart
11 November 2024
Financial Advice Association Australia has signed an agreement with India’s Financial Planning Standards Board to increase opportunities for certified financial planners...
Insurer acts on discount breach
04 November 2024
A life insurer failed to provide promised discounts to policyholders for more than a year and discovered the error only after an “ad hoc” review of its internal processes...
Adviser wins in dispute over commission arrangement
04 November 2024
A couple who demanded a partial refund of life commissions paid to their new financial adviser have lost a dispute after arguing they were not told about the remuneration arrangement...
Non-advised disability income tops claims chart
04 November 2024
Individual non-advised disability income insurance has a claims paid ratio of 113% and individual policies sold via personal advice have a ratio of 68%, according to the latest prudential data...
Minister, Lib frontbencher to front Q&A session with advisers
04 November 2024
Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones is expected to provide an update on planned advice reforms at an industry gathering next month in Brisbane...
HCF contract terms could mislead consumers, court says
28 October 2024
The Federal Court has found a “pre-existing condition” term in certain HCF Life policies was liable to mislead but did not breach unfair contract term laws, which were extended to insurance after the Hayne royal commission...
AFCA questions dispute ‘signposting’ as life complaints drop
28 October 2024
There were 1449 life insurance disputes lodged with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority in the year to June, down 24% from a year earlier...
Industry body calls for urgency on advice reforms
28 October 2024
Australians could face “generations of financial uncertainty” if the second tranche of advice reforms are not made law by the next federal election, life insurers have warned...
AFCA rejects mental health exclusion after bullying issue
28 October 2024
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority has told MetLife to reassess a complainant’s income protection claim after overruling its decision to apply a mental health exclusion...
CALI shuffles board roles
28 October 2024
The Council of Australian Life Insurers has announced MLC Life CEO and MD Kent Griffin will be its new co-chair, with three new directors also joining the board...
Gallagher acquires Sydney advice group
28 October 2024
Gallagher has bought life risk adviser Via Financial Group...
Zurich recruits local health services leader
28 October 2024
Antony Vriens has been appointed Zurich head of health services for Australia and New Zealand...