Deloitte steps up life, super offerings with Rice Warner acquisition
12 April 2021
Deloitte is expanding its superannuation and wealth management advisory business with the acquisition last week of independent actuarial firm Rice Warner...
Life Insurance
MLC firms join Count Financial network
12 April 2021
Count Financial says three former MLC firms are joining its national network of advice businesses...
FSC ‘shares’ industry concerns over possible UCT impacts
29 March 2021
The Financial Services Council says it has been working with its members to “better understand the full implications including unintended ones” from unfair contract terms laws when they apply to insurance contracts next month...
ASIC releases advice fee legislative instruments after consultation
29 March 2021
The corporate regulator has made three legislative instruments setting out the requirements for provision of advice services, after Parliament passed laws that arose out of reform proposals made by the Hayne royal commission...
FSC tracks down 'lost' life policies for flood victims
29 March 2021
The Financial Services Council is helping flood-affected Australians who are trying to track down “lost” life insurance policies...
AFA searches for new CEO as Philip Kewin passes the baton
29 March 2021
Philip Kewin has stepped down from his role as CEO of the Association of Financial Advisers after four years at the helm...
MetLife introduces product changes
29 March 2021
MetLife Australia announced today it will offer a three-year rate guarantee for all lump sum retail products as part of a number of changes being made to its offerings...
Integrity Life snares MLC’s retail distribution chief
29 March 2021
Integrity Life has added another senior executive from MLC Life, appointing Russell Hannah to the role of GM Distribution and Marketing with effect from June...
Adviser body wants exiting banks to share ASIC levy burden
22 March 2021
An adviser group has called for a levy to be imposed on major banks and other financial services firms that have exited advice, as a way of alleviating the fee burden charged by the corporate regulator...
‘Room for improvement’ despite 100% medical definitions compliance
22 March 2021
The Life Code Compliance Committee has made seven recommendations for the industry to keep products up to speed with medical definitions that reflect current health trends and developments...
Adviser group wants ‘clarity’ from life insurers on UCT regime
22 March 2021
Advice group Synchron has called on life insurers to provide “clarity” over how in-force policies will be handled when unfair contract terms (UCT) laws apply to insurance contracts from April 5...
TAL wins top award for fourth straight year
22 March 2021
TAL has been named the Association of Financial Advisers’ life company of the year for the fourth time in a row, beating AIA Australia, MLC Life Insurance and NEOS...
ClearView announces digital overhaul with Oracle platform
22 March 2021
ClearView Wealth has advanced its efforts to modernise systems with the selection of Oracle Insurance Policy Administration, which it says will improve efficiency, meet new regulatory requirements, reduce costs and improve the employee and customer experience...
APRA warns of ‘concerning developments’ in group life insurance
15 March 2021
The prudential regulator has issued a warning letter to life insurers and superannuation funds, expressing alarm over a “re-emergence of some concerning developments” in group life insurance that could potentially affect the sustainability of the product and lead to other adverse outcomes...
Court rules TAL ‘breached duty of utmost good faith’ in handling IP claim
15 March 2021
The Federal Court has ruled TAL Life “breached its duty to act with utmost good faith” in the handling of an income protection claim in 2014, in civil proceedings lodged by the corporate regulator...
New NZ advice regime begins
15 March 2021
New laws governing the New Zealand financial advice sector take effect today, nearly five years after the reforms were first mooted, which started with a review of the Financial Advisers Act 2008...
AIA Group’s key markets set for business rebound: S&P
15 March 2021
Hong Kong-listed AIA Group, the parent company of AIA Australia, has the capital strengths and resilient operating performance to help the business absorb continued progressive dividends, S&P Global Ratings said today in a bulletin note...
MetLife Australia hires former NSW premier Nathan Rees
15 March 2021
MetLife Australia has appointed Nathan Rees as Head of External Affairs & Public Policy to work with government and regulators and review proposed legislative change for the life insurance industry in Australia...
Challenger promotes Angela Murphy to CEO Life
15 March 2021
Challenger has promoted Angela Murphy to the role of CEO Life as the business searches for a CIO to lead its investment teams...
Advisers slam ASIC levy hikes
08 March 2021
The financial advice industry has expressed anger over the corporate regulator’s plan to collect more levies from them to fund its supervision of the sector...