Life advice still in demand: Asteron
14 December 2015
Consumers may research life insurance online but they still want to speak to an adviser before buying a policy, according to research by Asteron Life…
Life Insurance
Robo-advice needs humans to thrive: Cerulli
14 December 2015
Robo-advice requires an element of human interaction to increase client satisfaction, according to a Cerulli Associates report on the US advice market…
Kiwis reveal barriers to seeking advice
14 December 2015
Only 15% of older New Zealanders consider insurance a prompt to seek financial advice, a new survey has found…
Major life institutions record strong profits
14 December 2015
The big five institutional life insurers have reported strong profits for the year to June 30, according to latest industry data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority…
Moody’s upbeat on life sector, down on reinsurers
14 December 2015
Moody’s has given the Australian life insurance industry a positive outlook for next year, but the ratings agency is less confident about life reinsurers…
FSC calls on COAG to address stamp duty
14 December 2015
The Financial Services Council wants stamp duty on life insurance considered during talks on proposed tax reforms…
Canberra to host AFA conference
14 December 2015
The Association of Financial Advisers will hold next year’s conference in Canberra from October 5-7…
Advisers to receive education requirements
07 December 2015
Current licensed financial advisers will be provided with a transition process to ensure their education levels meet new requirements proposed by the Federal Government…
Insurance low on priority list for advice clients
07 December 2015
Only 4% of respondents to an IOOF survey consider lower insurance premiums to be the definition of a successful financial planning experience…
TAL fined over misleading ad
07 December 2015
A misleading TV advertisement has landed TAL Direct, trading as InsuranceLine, with a $10,200 fine from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission…
Super funds muscling in on advice market
07 December 2015
Many Australians will turn to their super funds for financial advice in the next two years, according to a new survey by Investment Trends…
Family and friends main port of call for financial advice
07 December 2015
Australians are twice as likely to turn to family and friends for financial advice than see a professional adviser, new research shows…
FOFA changes scrapped, but AFA wants more
30 November 2015
Proposed changes to the Future of Financial Advice legislation have been scrapped at the bill’s second reading in the Senate…
NZ advisers face commission cuts and moves on churn
30 November 2015
New Zealand life insurance advisers’ commissions should be cut to 50% upfront and a 20% trail on new business, a report commissioned by the country’s Financial Services Council says…
FPA and AFA urged to merge for increased credibility
30 November 2015
Connect Financial Service Brokers CEO Paul Tynan has called on the two bodies representing financial advisers to create one voice for lobbying…
US advisers raise succession planning concerns
30 November 2015
Succession planning is a concern for retiring US financial advisers, who worry about transferring clients to inexperienced practitioners…
Suncorp Life dumps dealer groups
30 November 2015
Suncorp Life is to shut its two financial planning businesses, including life insurance specialist Guardian Advice…
Advisers flock to AIA hybrid commissions
30 November 2015
AIA Australia has signed 1168 advisers to its hybrid commission program in almost two years since its inception…
CommInsure recruits Macquarie Life exec
30 November 2015
CommInsure has poached Macquarie Life’s Sally Phillips to be Head of Life Product and Strategy…
Sovereign boss quits to join FlexiGroup
30 November 2015
Symon Brewis-Weston has resigned as CEO of New Zealand life insurer Sovereign and will become CEO of Sydney-based consumer and commercial finance company FlexiGroup…