Health providers form joint venture
22 October 2012
Three health services support companies have joined forces to provide medical risk management for the life and general insurance industries…
Life Insurance
Hood Sweeney keeps AFSL despite Countplus stake
22 October 2012
Commonwealth Bank-owned Countplus has taken a 25% stake in SA accounting firm Hood Sweeney, which will maintain its own financial services licence and continue to operate independently…
Many New Zealanders neglect life insurance: report
22 October 2012
New Zealanders are more interested in protecting cars and homes than their lives, according to NZ Financial Services Council Chairman Jenny Shipley…
Challenger records flat annuity sales
22 October 2012
Challenger Life made $558 million of annuity sales in the three months to September 30 – the same figure recorded in the previous corresponding period…
BOQ life insurance sales hold steady
22 October 2012
The Bank of Queensland’s life insurance premiums remained flat in the 12 months to August 31, reaching $40.9 million compared with $40.3 million in the previous year…
TAL and NRMA Insurance team up on life cover
15 October 2012
NRMA Insurance is moving into the life market in a tie-up with TAL…
Mortgage Choice to launch life sales
15 October 2012
Mortgage Choice will sell life insurance as part of its move into financial planning advice…
Ads raise consumer trust in FPA
15 October 2012
The Financial Planning Association says its consumer advertising campaign has increased awareness and improved the public’s perception of members…
APRA issues guide on MySuper transition plans
15 October 2012
Super funds will have to provide the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority with copies of their MySuper transition plans, under the terms of a new draft practice guide…
Life market keeps growing
15 October 2012
Life insurance premiums increased 11.9% in the 12 months to June 30, according to figures from Plan For Life…
Opposition concern over insurance in MySuper
15 October 2012
The Federal Coalition has called for the third MySuper bill to be withdrawn, claiming it needs more industry consultation…
Plan B and Clearview bids wrap up
15 October 2012
IOOF’s $49.1 million takeover of Plan B is moving into the completion phase, with the company having secured 96.05% of shares when the bid closed last Tuesday…
Former Aussie marketer joins TAL
15 October 2012
TAL Retail has appointed Greg Johnson as its head of product and marketing…
Service and technology key to competition: West
08 October 2012
Life insurers must focus more on service and technology to differentiate themselves from competitors, according to MLC Insurance EGM Duncan West…
MySuper products to offer income protection
08 October 2012
More than half of super funds aim to include income protection in their MySuper product offering, according to a survey by AIA Australia…
AFS reviews adviser relationships
08 October 2012
Australian Financial Services Group CEO Alan Logan has instigated a strategic review to define the company’s direction following the Future of Financial Advice reforms…
AFA announces rising stars
08 October 2012
The Association of Financial Advisers has named five finalists for its Rising Star of the Year Award, with Victorians dominating for the second year in a row…
New head of marketing at TAL Direct
08 October 2012
TAL Direct has appointed David Hunt as its new chief marketing officer…
Online media expert joins Synchron
08 October 2012
Social media specialist Aaron Zelman has left Priority Life to start his own life insurance practice with Synchron…
Rise in PI excess hurts financial advisers
01 October 2012
Higher excesses on professional indemnity insurance may hit advisers and dealer groups harder than premium rises, according to Seaview Consulting Director Bob Neill…