Premium flat but CommInsure returns to profit
20 February 2017
CommInsure says life insurance inforce premium for the six-months to December 31 was flat at $1.7 billion…
Life Insurance
APRA renews call for investment on legacy issues
20 February 2017
Life insurers can address the complexity of legacy products by investing in better systems and data management, according to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority…
Challenger’s annuities records tumble
20 February 2017
Challenger’s annuity sales continue to rise, gaining 34% to $2.2 billion in the six months to December 31…
Poor mental health environments drive out staff
20 February 2017
A new study shows almost half of respondents have left a job due to an employer’s poor mental health environment…
Choice calls for life policy key fact sheets
20 February 2017
Choice wants key fact sheets introduced for life insurance products to help consumers understand them better…
Zurich grows sales team
20 February 2017
Zurich Financial Services Australia has expanded its national sales team through a key promotion and 11 appointments…
Advisers’ deadline for tax registration looms
20 February 2017
The Tax Practitioners Board says financial advisers are running out of time to register as tax advisers under reform transition arrangements…
ALP flags long wait to examine life commission changes
13 February 2017
Labor says adviser concerns at the way commission payments will work can be raised at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s industry review in 2021…
Suncorp weighs Asteron sale under life revamp
13 February 2017
Asteron’s future under Suncorp is uncertain, with the parent revealing it is considering selling the business…
Retailers a ‘threat and opportunity’ for life insurers
13 February 2017
Retailers may provide life insurers with a new distribution channel, according to Bravura’s latest Life Insurance Megatrends report…
Life woes drag AMP to $344 million loss
13 February 2017
Poor performance from AMP’s life insurance business has forced the parent to report a $344 million loss for last year…
Expanded product lists ‘won’t stop bad advice’
13 February 2017
Broader life insurance approved product lists are unlikely to improve the quality of financial advice, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission says…
Cancer rates continue to fall
13 February 2017
More than 134,000 cancer cases will be diagnosed in Australia this year, but death rates are continuing to fall…
Professional standards bill passes Parliament
13 February 2017
A bill raising required education standards for advisers has passed both houses of Parliament, but Labor is still pushing for a royal commission on banks…
Keep ASIC out of claims, says FSC
13 February 2017
The Financial Services Council has rejected calls for legislation allowing the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to get involved in claims disputes…
Life insurers urged to ‘carry their share’ on further reforms
13 February 2017
The Association of Financial Advisers wants further life insurance industry reforms despite passage of the Life Insurance Framework bill last week…
Graduates not solely driven by pay, research shows
13 February 2017
Pay is not a major factor in career choices among graduates in the financial services industry, according to a new report from recruitment company Grad Mentor, supported by Zurich…
CBA completes advice review assessments
13 February 2017
Commonwealth Bank has completed all assessments in its Open Advice Review program, examining advice provided by Commonwealth Financial Planning and Financial Wisdom…
Adviser calls for clearer picture on churn
06 February 2017
A life insurance adviser has called for more accurate data on churning before any legislation is enforced…
Automation aims to enhance adviser role: MLC
06 February 2017
Automating aspects of the life insurance advice process must add value to the adviser’s role, according to MLC Life Chief Customer Officer, Retail Advised Insurance Melissa Heyhoe…