insuranceNEWS.com.au - Life InsuranceGeneral insurance and financial services news from Australia and around the worldhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/en-auBudget offers ‘little remedy’ for advisers’ cost problemshttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/budget-offers-little-remedy-for-advisers-cost-problemshttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/budget-offers-little-remedy-for-advisers-cost-problems<p>The federal budget has failed to address cost challenges facing advisers, Financial Advice Association Australia says...</p>Mon, 20 May 2024 04:09:52 GMTTAL benefit payments top $4 billion for yearhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/tal-benefit-payments-top-4-billion-for-yearhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/tal-benefit-payments-top-4-billion-for-year<p>TAL says it paid $4.2 billion in claims benefits to more than 50,000 policyholders and their families in the year to March...</p>Mon, 20 May 2024 04:09:37 GMTClaims processes, branding flagged as key issues for industry https://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/claims-processes-branding-flagged-as-key-issues-for-industryhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/claims-processes-branding-flagged-as-key-issues-for-industry<p>Brand trust, digital features and claims processes are areas requiring close attention from life insurers, according to research firm Investment Trends...</p>Mon, 20 May 2024 04:09:21 GMTNew tech collaboration eyes Australian market https://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/new-tech-collaboration-eyes-australian-markethttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/new-tech-collaboration-eyes-australian-market<p>Instanda and UnderwriteMe say their new collaboration will provide life clients in Australia and other key markets efficiencies across distribution and operational channels...</p>Mon, 20 May 2024 04:09:03 GMTAdvisers warn compensation scheme could kill off professionhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/advisers-warn-compensation-scheme-could-kill-off-professionhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/advisers-warn-compensation-scheme-could-kill-off-profession<p>Advisers say the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort in its current set-up poses an &ldquo;existential threat&rdquo; to the profession, in their strongest criticism yet of the financial redress program...</p>Mon, 13 May 2024 03:44:15 GMTDispute referee rejects TAL ‘predatory’ sales allegationhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/dispute-referee-rejects-tal-predatory-sales-allegationhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/dispute-referee-rejects-tal-predatory-sales-allegation<p>A policyholder who said his insurer misleadingly sold him trauma cover via an unsolicited call from his bank has lost his bid to have his premiums refunded...</p>Mon, 13 May 2024 03:44:04 GMTFinancial services body steps up digital advice pushhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/financial-services-body-steps-up-digital-advice-pushhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/financial-services-body-steps-up-digital-advice-push<p>The Financial Services Council has announced the formation of the Digital Advice Expert Group to support provision of online advice to consumers...</p>Mon, 13 May 2024 03:43:18 GMTClearView ‘on track to hit targets’ after Q3 https://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/clear-view-on-track-to-hit-targets-after-q3https://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/clear-view-on-track-to-hit-targets-after-q3<p>ClearView Wealth says it performed &ldquo;broadly in line&rdquo; with expectation during the quarter ending March...</p>Mon, 13 May 2024 03:42:51 GMTTAL launches 2025 graduate recruitment drivehttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/tal-launches-2025-graduate-recruitment-drivehttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/tal-launches-2025-graduate-recruitment-drive<p>Life insurer TAL is seeking 11 candidates for its next graduate program...</p>Mon, 13 May 2024 03:42:22 GMTIndustry urged to step up family violence support https://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/industry-urged-to-step-up-family-violence-supporthttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/industry-urged-to-step-up-family-violence-support<p>Life insurers need to improve their approaches to family violence, consumer advocate the Financial Rights Legal Centre says...</p>Mon, 06 May 2024 04:20:48 GMTPremium rises ‘no way to grow’ industryhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/premium-rises-no-way-to-grow-industryhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/premium-rises-no-way-to-grow-industry<p>TAL Group CEO Brett Clark has urged life insurers to be less reliant on premium increases to grow, while regulator Suzanne Smith warns the industry faces many challenges that require an &ldquo;adapt and innovate&rdquo; mindset...</p>Mon, 06 May 2024 04:20:34 GMTASIC finds weak spots in super death benefit claims handlinghttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/asic-finds-weak-spots-in-super-death-benefit-claims-handlinghttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/asic-finds-weak-spots-in-super-death-benefit-claims-handling<p>Group death benefit complaints rose steeply between 2021 and last year, exposing gaps in superannuation trustees&rsquo; claims handling practices, an Australian Securities and Investments Commission review has found...</p>Mon, 06 May 2024 04:20:16 GMTAdviser body seeks member views on advocacy goals https://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/adviser-body-seeks-member-views-on-advocacy-goalshttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/adviser-body-seeks-member-views-on-advocacy-goals<p>Financial Advice Association Australia has released its draft policy platform focusing on accessibility, professionalism and technology, and is seeking members&rsquo; feedback...</p>Mon, 06 May 2024 04:19:44 GMTLife peak body, digital solutions group collaborate https://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/life-peak-body-digital-solutions-group-collaboratehttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/life-peak-body-digital-solutions-group-collaborate<p>The Council of Australian Life Insurers says financial services digital solutions provider Equisoft has become the first group to join its Partner Program...</p>Mon, 06 May 2024 04:19:21 GMTNZ adviser body appoints professional development headhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/nz-adviser-body-appoints-professional-development-headhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/nz-adviser-body-appoints-professional-development-head<p>Financial Advice New Zealand has appointed former director Cecilia Farrow as Head of Professional Development, a newly created role aimed at supporting advisers&rsquo; needs...</p>Mon, 06 May 2024 04:19:00 GMTInsurer must restore policy after misleading ill claimant https://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/insurer-must-restore-policy-after-misleading-ill-claimanthttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/insurer-must-restore-policy-after-misleading-ill-claimant<p>The Australian Financial Complaints Authority has told TAL Life Insurance to reinstate a 34-year-old&rsquo;s policy after it found the company misled the man about his coverage before cancelling his payouts...</p>Mon, 29 Apr 2024 03:53:31 GMTFinancial services bodies flag education proposal to attract new blood https://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/financial-services-bodies-flag-education-proposal-to-attract-new-bloodhttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/financial-services-bodies-flag-education-proposal-to-attract-new-blood<p>A coalition of financial services bodies has made a pitch to the Federal Government to arrest the declining numbers of advisers...</p>Mon, 29 Apr 2024 03:53:07 GMTFSC signs up more advice licensees, appoints directorshttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/fsc-signs-up-more-advice-licensees-appoints-directorshttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/fsc-signs-up-more-advice-licensees-appoints-directors<p>The Financial Services Council has expanded its financial advice representation and appointed four new board directors...</p>Mon, 29 Apr 2024 03:52:51 GMTTAL launches ethics courses for advisers https://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/tal-launches-ethics-courses-for-advisershttps://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/tal-launches-ethics-courses-for-advisers<p>TAL is introducing four new courses for advisers on navigating conflicts, ethical dilemmas, recent client determinations and how embedding ethics can shape their advice and daily business...</p>Mon, 29 Apr 2024 03:52:32 GMTAPRA details life claims https://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/apra-details-life-claims-https://www.insurancenews.com.au/life-insurance/apra-details-life-claims-<p>The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has released life claims statistics for last year...</p>Mon, 22 Apr 2024 04:06:15 GMT