Hello

We have a real mixed bag of stories for risk advisers this week. Undoubtedly the most talked about is the new Commissioner of Financial Advisers. If you missed the story we have a link further on; if you did catch it then you may like to see what advisers think of the appointment. Plenty of readers have left comments already.

There is also an excellent piece summing up the PAA's submission on commission disclosure. (Sticking with our theme of telling you more we even reveal what a furphy is here!)

Newpark has a new aggregation group and we hear the Highland Group has rebranded (more on that later). To wrap the week's news up we have the most comprehensive survey of KiwiSaver numbers yet (in our view) plus a little bit on David Chote's new appointment.

Insurance News

Commission disclosure a furphy, PAA says
The Professional Advisers Association (PAA) has called for volume agreements with insurance providers to be the focus of disclosure rather than commission payments. More
(PS: If you want to know what a furphy is click here)

Newpark launches new aggregation service
A new mortgage aggregation service has been launched by insurance dealer group Newpark Financial Services, under the leadership of Glen McLeod of Edge Mortgages. More

People

New Commissioner for Financial Advisers appointed
Annabel Cotton has finished her short reign as Commissioner of Financial Advisers and been replaced by a Kiwi who has been heavily involved in financial services regulation in the UK. More
Read what advisers think of the appointment here.

Where's David Chote?
David Chote has left AMP Financial Services to take up a new distribution role. Details in the Good Returns People section here.

KiwiSaver

KiwiSaver survey: the full numbers revealed
In a year that has seen two KiwiSaver providers close up shop, the big bank brands were again dominating fund flows, the second annual Good Returns KiwiSaver survey has found. More

Practice management

Lighten up
During this global economic crisis, simplifying our work activity is the key to success. When we get rid of unprofitable burdens and organise, we can focus on more important things. More