Students fall short in NZ financial survey
07 September 2009
A survey of New Zealand high school students has found most leave school with a poor understanding of basic financial concepts…
Life Insurance
Make advice tax deductible, says IFSA
31 August 2009
Full tax deductibility of financial advice and higher professional standards for advisers are on the wish-list of financial services industry groups represented at the Parliamentary joint committee…
Economic conditions provide life paradox
31 August 2009
Tough times are not only driving Australians to buy more life insurance but also triggering them to let policies lapse, in a paradoxical situation uncovered by ING research…
Tower NZ to boost takeover war chest
31 August 2009
Life insurer Tower NZ has announced it is seeking to raise $NZ81.3 million ($67 million) from shareholders through a rights issue…
IOOF life business up for sale
31 August 2009
Wealth manager IOOF Holdings is putting its life insurance unit on the market in a bid to “simplify” its business…
Ex-staff say bank lied to Storm inquiry
31 August 2009
Two former Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Storm Financial employees have accused the bank of lying about its involvement with the collapsed investment firm…
Don’t forget the lessons, says APRA chief
24 August 2009
The lessons of the global financial crisis shouldn't be allowed to fade too quickly, according to Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Chairman John Laker…
Tough markets keep lid on AMP
24 August 2009
AMP's profit for the half year to June 30 slipped 1% from the corresponding period last year to $362 million, squeezed by lower management and performance fees in tough markets…
ASIC backs fee for service
24 August 2009
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has backed a proposed overhaul of financial planner remuneration, suggesting commission payments promote…
Australian Unity confirms Lifeplan merger
17 August 2009
Australian Unity has confirmed a merger with fellow financial services mutual Lifeplan after more than 98% of Lifeplan members voted last week in favour of the proposal…
Adviser group pushes for 25% PI reduction
17 August 2009
The Association of Independently Owned Financial Planners is lobbying for a 25% reduction in professional indemnity insurance for its members as premium increases come into effect…
Top 250 planners control life insurance growth
17 August 2009
Life insurance sales are definitely on the increase, but it is the top 250 advisers that are controlling the boost, according to Axa GM Financial Protection Michael Rogers…
Buoyant life business confirmed
10 August 2009
Business is booming for life insurers, according to a new report that reveals a 25% surge in sales in the year to March…
Aviva pumps up the bottom line
10 August 2009
British insurance giant Aviva has reported a dramatic increase in its first-half net profit, with recent cost-cutting measures flowing through to the bottom line…
Axa investment earnings back in black
10 August 2009
Axa Asia Pacific has recorded a 187% increase in first-half net income of $270.4 million as it reversed last year’s heavy investment losses…
Life underinsurance campaign gains momentum
10 August 2009
A life insurance industry initiative to tackle underinsurance continues to gain traction with the Financial Planning Association signing on as an official supporter…
Storm bosses to face the music
03 August 2009
The liquidators of failed investment firm Storm Financial will call more than 40 witnesses to give evidence after being given the go-ahead to hold a public inquiry into the collapse…
Keep brokers out of inquiry: NIBA
03 August 2009
The National Insurance Brokers Association has urged the Federal Government to leave the insurance broking sector out of its proposed changes to managed investments…
Reliance on pricey PI can’t work, say planners
03 August 2009
Financial planners have described as “flawed” the compensation method for Australian financial services licensees that relies on professional indemnity insurance…
Outstanding planners to be recognised
03 August 2009
In what has been a tough year for planners, the Financial Planning Association is concentrating on the positives by calling for nominations for two awards…