AMP gains ground in bid for Axa APH
27 April 2010
AMP has emerged as the likely frontrunner to acquire Axa Asia Pacific Holdings after the competition regulator’s decision to oppose a rival bid from National Australia Bank…
Life Insurance
Study shows awareness key to solving underinsurance
19 April 2010
Research by online life insurance broker Lifebroker has shown that ignorance, not indifference, is the key contributor to life and income protection underinsurance…
Second firm axes insurance commissions
19 April 2010
Wealth management firm Hewison and Associates has become the second firm in a week to announce it will no longer earn commissions on risk insurance…
Life-linked investments catching on: Mercer
19 April 2010
Mercer has outlined growing local demand for life settlements as part of the wider investment class of insurance-linked strategies…
NAB cements deal to acquire Axa’s Australian assets
12 April 2010
A tug of war between two financial powerhouses over the Australian and New Zealand assets of Axa Asia Pacific Holdings is over, with National Australia Bank’s…
Planner includes insurance in fee-for-service model
12 April 2010
National Australia Bank financial planning subsidiary Godfrey Pembroke has announced a new fee-for-service policy that includes advice given to new clients about risk insurance…
Super fund cranks up default life cover
12 April 2010
Superannuation provider Perpetual has tackled underinsurance in life insurance head-on by ramping up default levels of cover, in some cases by more than 10 times the original amount…
APRA: life insurance revived in 2009
29 March 2010
Improving financial markets have provided a much-needed shot in the arm for life insurers, helping the sector record strong growth in full-year profitability…
FPA welcomes more members
29 March 2010
The Financial Planning Association (FPA) says membership numbers are on the rise after stagnant activity last financial year…
Insurance key to Australia’s economic success
29 March 2010
Federal Assistant Treasurer Senator Nick Sherry says the local insurance industry has a role to play in promoting Australia as a regional financial hub…
MMC buys Bupa’s life and wealth portfolios
29 March 2010
Financial services company MMC Contrarian has paid $195 million to acquire the life insurance and wealth management units of health insurer Bupa Australia…
FPA drops insurance from commissions ban
22 March 2010
The Financial Planning Association has placed risk insurance outside of its new fee-for-service model to avoid disadvantaging consumers…
Regulator starts talking dollars on Storm
22 March 2010
It’s time to start talking about a commercial resolution to the Storm Financial collapse, says the Australian Securities and Investments Commission…
NAB extends its Axa APH takeover bid timing
22 March 2010
National Australia Bank has agreed to extend the terms of its proposal to acquire Axa Asia Pacific Holdings until next Monday…
Life insurers need to reassure on genetic testing
22 March 2010
A leading figure in Australian genetic medicine is urging the life insurance industry to help reduce public angst over DNA testing…
Letter ignites adviser industry debate
15 March 2010
Financial adviser dealer group Matrix Planning Solutions says it has received a very positive response to its call for the Financial Planning Association and Association of…
Zurich offers upgraded products, time savings
15 March 2010
Zurich Financial Services Australia has announced new life risk product enhancements and technological wizardry to help financial advisers cut administration time…
IFSA counts cost of life cover shortfall
08 March 2010
Underinsurance is rife in the life insurance sector and will cost the Federal Government an estimated $1.3 billion over the next decade, according to research…
APRA finalises changes to life prudential framework
08 March 2010
The prudential regulator has finalised changes that allow it to supervise groups containing life insurers in the same way as it oversees general insurers…
AIG sells life unit for $40 billion
08 March 2010
Crippled insurer AIG has sold its Asian life insurance portfolio as the repayment of US Government debt continues…