Rebranding an old warhorse

New Zealand Pension Plans, a small super-based company on Auckland's North Shore has rebranded itself and intorduced a new product to the market.

Friday, November 19th 1999, 12:00AM

New Zealand Pension Plans, a small super-based company on Auckland's North Shore has rebranded itself and intorduced a new product to the market.

"While NZ Pension Plans has been established since 1982 and is a successful operation, our brand is slightly out of date," chairman Chris Gedye says. "Our new brand Save and Invest, reflects what we do and under this banner, we will take our New Zealand owned organisation into the new millennium."

The group is headed by former Southpac Investment Management ceo Rob Walker. Walker says "The Save and Invest Group is already built on solid foundations as a financial services organisation. It is well established financially and it is wholly New Zealand-owned. We have quality and integrity across our directors, management, support staff and our strong decentralised sales force. We enjoy a large and diverse customer base. We also have dedicated external advisors, investment managers and suppliers."

Walker says Save and Invest accounts for more than 3 per cent of all contributing members to registered superannuation funds in New Zealand.

"We actually process about 30,000 contributions each month and this evidence reveals Save and Ianvest is an important player in the New Zealand retirement savings industry, especially now that corporate employer sponsored schemes are declining in popularity."

Save and Invest is a growth proposition. The launch this week of its new corporate brand also includes introduction of a 'first’ in life insurance, LifeBond, and a new version of its successful superannuation scheme SuperBond, a product that was originally established in 1989." SuperBond 2000 provides three retirement savings plans:

Easy Saver, a flexible savings plan where New Zealanders can start saving for their retirement from as little as $15 per week.

Target Saver, a locked-in plan that offers a lower fee structure than Easy Saver.

Reward Investment, a plan that provides risk-adjusted market-linked tax paid returns designed for customers with accumulated savings.

SuperBond 2000 offers a choice of one of three risk-adjusted investment portfolios to each plan member.

Walker says LifeBond is a life insurance policy covering against accidental death. While accidental death policies are not uncommon, LifeBond delivers something that others don’t. Upon reaching the full term of this policy, assuming no claim, Save and Invest refunds 100 per cent of the premiums paid.

Tags: retirement