Articles tagged with 'insurance'
Lindsay sells Strategy Reserach to Trail after cancer experience
26 March 2024 - Graeme Lindsay has decided to sell his insurance industry research business Strategy Research to Chuck Slogrove and the team at Trail Ltd from April 1 with Davies Financial and Actuarial engaged to do “the complex technical stuff.”
Tax deducibility for health insurance premiums?
25 March 2024 - Financial adviser Kevin Smee has suggested it's time to rethink health insurance, including making premium tax deductible again to help take the pressure off the public system.
Insurance advisers must know their products
7 March 2024 - A Dispute Resolution Scheme has highlighted the importance of product knowledge for advisers. In a complaint against an insurance adviser, FSCL has suggested that “… a key insight for insurance advisers is to ensure you are familiar with the policies you are recommending, so you can identify exclusions that might be relevant to your client.”
Faafoi steps into insurance CEO role
12 January 2024 - Former cabinet minister Kris Faafoi has been appointed the new chief executive of the Insurance Council of New Zealand.
Lindsay learns the benefits and pitfalls of the product he sold for 52 years the hard way
8 December 2023 - Graeme Lindsay learned the benefits and pitfalls of health insurance first-hand the hard way after selling the product as an adivsor and/or broker for 52 years, and another couple of years as an advisor to the industry through his firm, Strategy Financial Services.
Other health insurers are much more generous than Southern Cross
8 September 2023 - While Southern Cross quietly withdrew its non-surgical hospitalisation benefit in 2020, other health insurers continue to offer far more generous cover than the $60,000 benefit – but they mostly aren't rushing to tell GoodReturns about it.
Bigger claims can be considered by IFSO scheme
7 August 2023 - The IFSO Scheme can now investigate complaints about insurance claims, credit and other financial services/products up to $350,000+GST, or $2,625+GST per week for regular payments.
New and cheaper PI insurance hits the market
30 April 2023 - A new entrant has joined the crowded professional indemnity (PI) insurance market for mortgage and financial advisers.
Hamilton adviser aims to get more people covered for health issues
1 February 2023 - A Hamilton-based risk adviser has established a plan to help get more people covered by medical insurance.
Property insurance rarely adequate
14 November 2022 - Almost a third (30%) of surveyed residential property investors and owners are not confident their property is adequately insured.
Quest Insurance names new director
10 November 2022 - Kiwi owned and operated insurer, Quest Insurance Group has a new director, Greg Main.
Uptick in litigation predicted if Insurance Contracts Bill passes in current form
16 June 2022 - Insurers and their lawyers are urging the government not to scrap the industry’s exemption from the unfair contract terms provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1986, warning of a higher litigation risk, higher premiums and “significant” uncertainty for both insurers and policyholders if the exemption is removed.
What are the chances of meeting someone who needs help with their insurance?
3 May 2022 - Quite high. This is another way of asking, in effect, how big is the market for life insurance? We’ve done some work on this and here are the numbers:
Experts criticise govt for haste and lack of input into proposed income insurance scheme
3 May 2022 - The insurance sector was shut out of the planning and design process for the government’s proposed $3.5 billion-a-year income insurance scheme (NZIIS).
Advisers give their views on unemployment insurance
19 April 2022 - Financial advisers share their thoughts on government's proposed Income Insurance scheme.
Compulsory onsite inspections: scope of Reserve Bank’s power remains unclear
8 April 2022 - Insurers are being warned that big areas of uncertainty remain around the Reserve Bank’s plans to introduce compulsory onsite inspections as part of its prudential supervision of the sector.
RBNZ seeks feedback on compulsory inspections and insurance enforcement
14 March 2022 - The Reserve Bank plans to introduce compulsory on-site inspections, penalties and enforcement tools as part of it’s prudential regulation of insurance companies.
Strong year for health insurance sector in 2021
25 February 2022 - Data released by the Financial Services Council (FSC), shows another strong year in 2021 for the New Zealand health insurance sector with cover and claims paid growing to record levels.
Cigna extends adviser-only campaign
22 December 2021 - Cigna is extending its 'Good things come in twos' offer to advisers and is backdating the campaign to December 17.
Mass media praise the value of advice
22 December 2021 - The media is usually critical of advisers, often citing high commissions as an obstacle to providing objective and good value advice. But recently, journalist...
Foundation Advice - proving the naysayers wrong
15 December 2021 - Almost a year ago to the day, Ratebroker’s financial advice business Foundation Advice launched an innovative scheme aimed at turning Covid-hit travel brokers into financial advisers.
New board chairperson at Accuro
14 December 2021 - Accuro has appointed a new board chairperson to replace Tony Haycock who has retired from his position.
Old school cold calls still make a difference
14 December 2021 - If it hadn’t been for a cold call, this claimant would have received a tiny fraction of their claim.
Cold call changes insured's life
13 December 2021 - It takes a strong person to talk about their health issues on a live webcast but for Neville Greedus a series of life-changing medical events helped him realise the importance of having a top-quality adviser in his corner.
Cigna employs five senior staffers
8 December 2021 - Cigna New Zealand, which is soon to be rebranded as Chubb, has appointed five new faces to bolster its senior underwriting and business support teams.
nib recognised as an inclusive workplace
25 November 2021 - nib New Zealand has received Rainbow Tick accreditation which recognises the steps nib has taken to create a more inclusive and supportive workplace for LGBTTQIA+ employees and allies.
Business mix is critical to good coverage
23 November 2021 - Recently I wrote about the protection gap – for advisers, the issue isn’t that consumers are generally choosing no cover, although undoubtedly a few fish slip the net.
Advisers key to closing the protection gap
11 November 2021 - The protection gap is the preferred name for the difference between what a client should have and what they actually own.
Cigna campaign benefits customers and advisers
9 November 2021 - Two months since launching its "good things come in twos campaign", Cigna New Zealand says the business has been overwhelmed with positive feedback.
Self-reporting viewed as best practice by the FMA
5 November 2021 - Self-reporting problems to the Financial Markets Authority does not provide immunity from prosecution but will be relevant to the FMA’s enforcement response.
nib offers two months free cover online
2 November 2021 - nib New Zealand has launched a new campaign through its online application tool, nibAPPLY, offering eligible Kiwis who apply through their adviser two months’ free health cover.
Covid puts pressure on premiums
2 November 2021 - Where is this Covid thing going to take us with health and life insurance?
New accounting standards = more costs for insurers
1 November 2021 - Kiwi insurers are set to face more compliance costs when the latest international-level accounting standards come into effect at the end of this year.
Non-disclosure case highlights need for better records
29 October 2021 - A life and health insurance adviser has agreed to pay $1000 in compensation to a client who complained to Financial Services Complaints Ltd that she had not been adequately advised about the risks of non-disclosure.
Business as usual after Cigna sell-off
21 October 2021 - The surprise sale of Cigna Corporation's life insurance business to global giant Chubb should not make much difference to its New Zealand operation say those in the industry.
AIA and Iress intergrate Xplan quoting system
30 September 2021 - AIA New Zealand, in partnership with the global financial technology provider, Iress, are integrating Xplan's and AIA’s quoting system offering greater efficiencies for advisers.
'Hole in one' cover and the design of insurance products
30 September 2021 - Apparently 'hole in one' insurance is a thing. I didn’t realise until I helped sponsor an event a little while back where the organisers were offering $1 million if you hit a hole in one.
Life cover - the hard sell for Kiwi insurers
23 September 2021 - It's no secret that New Zealanders are often underinsured when it comes to life insurance but a recent Swiss Re report into the nation's mortality protection gap shows the gap is widening.
Life insurers up for awards
21 September 2021 - Fidelity Life will be defending its title as the top life insurer in the country in this year's edition of the New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards.
Southern Cross boosts surplus profits; Claims paid tops $1 bill
16 September 2021 - Southern Cross Health Society Group has posted a surplus of more than $50 million while also growing its membership numbers by more than 8500 and paying out more than $1 billion dollars in claims.
People are punting on insurance – we have to stop them
19 August 2021 - Insurance is meant to indemnify – which means it is meant to make good a gap, but not create an advantage to the insured if they are paid out.
Check your cover and win a prize - ICNZ
9 August 2021 - This week is Money Week and the Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) is encouraging New Zealanders to make one day their ‘Insurance Day’ to ensure their insurance meets their needs.
$10k scholarship for insurance professionals opens
3 August 2021 - Submissions are now open for a scholarship designed to support the professional growth and development of insurance industry practitioners in New Zealand.
Flood claims cost almost $45 million
21 July 2021 - Insurance customers in the Canterbury region lodged 3,538 claims costing over $43.8 million in losses following the May 29 - June 1 floods according to provisional figures released by the Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ).
Cigna scholarship boost for aspiring actuary
14 July 2021 - Declan Barrett, a Victoria University of Wellington student, has been awarded the 2021 Cigna Victoria University Actuarial Scholarship.
Advisers should talk to advisers about professional indemnity
7 July 2021 - An experienced insurance adviser is urging financial advisers to heed their own advice and speak to an expert when it comes to Professional Indemnity (PI) cover.
EQC offloads disaster claim management to Kiwi insurers
29 June 2021 - From the end of June, New Zealanders will have a single point of contact for natural disaster claims with the EQC handing over management of claims to eight local insurers.
Multi-unit insurance cover: The lowdown
28 June 2021 - Landlords are being warned about insurance pitfalls when they buy in multi-unit buildings without body corporates.
New Partners Life products - hoping to find the middle ground
15 June 2021 - Partner's Life is looking to lead the way in the reinvention of income and trauma cover with the launch of two new products in areas deemed to be problematic for the industry.
Sentro delivers for mid-range group insurers
4 June 2021 - In a little more than two years after setting up in New Zealand, insurance technology specialist Sentro has already made its mark providing custom cloud-based systems for the industry.
Lockton to open Auckland office
4 June 2021 - One of the world's largest independent insurance brokerage firms is setting up shop in New Zealand.
[GRTV] Ballantyne on how new regs are changing advice and the fall in replacement business
3 May 2021 - In this edition of GRTV Good Returns' Philip Macalister speaks to the Partners Life managing director Naomi Ballantyne on how the new regulations are impacting advisers, replacement business and PI.
QuoteMonster appoints new general manager
9 April 2021 - Popular insurance quoting and product comparison website QuoteMonster has appointed a new general manager who will take over from former director and general manager Alan Rafe on Monday.
Have you been thinking enough about qualifications?
6 April 2021 - Welcome to the New World, the most significant piece of financial legislation enacted in New Zealand, and it's an amendment Act.
Client servicing is a big issue under the new rules
22 March 2021 - Jon-Paul Hale reckons the way advisers "service" clients under the obligations of the new financial advice regime is going to be challenging.
Getting cross over Cancer cover
22 March 2021 - Jon-Paul Hale's recent column on Southern Cross Cancer Cover Plus got the company, well, cross. Here's the latest.
Disclosure warning as new regulations come into effect
18 March 2021 - Insurance advisers are being warned to clearly disclose all fees and charges after one broker was caught adding $34,000 of additional charges to a client’s policies over a period of three years.
Industry feedback refines Insurance Solvency Standards
5 March 2021 - RBNZ has released changes to the Insurance Solvency Standards based on industry submissions received during a consultation launched late last year.
Guaranteed medical cover policy wordings
23 February 2021 - Jon-Paul Hale on the future security of insurance cover, unacceptable levels of risk for clients and sneaky exclusions to be wary of.
Six-month results show nib NZ earnings holding up
22 February 2021 - Premium revenue increase of 7.9% reflects “pleasing” post-Covid trend.
AIA new cancer health product introduced
15 February 2021 - Cancer Care is targeted at Kiwis looking for reassurance around cancer coverage.
Licensing insurance for financial advisers
13 October 2020 - Russell Hutchinson takes a whimsical look at what this kind of cover might offer.
The power of social media
6 October 2020 - Russell Hutchinson shows you practical, yet simple, ways you can make social media work for you without being a tech genius.
Big damage pay-out awarded to landlord
5 October 2020 - Tenant liability for damage has long been a fraught issue but a new Tenancy Tribunal case shows that damage rulings can sometimes favour a landlord.
Reserve Bank relaunches Insurance Act review
1 October 2020 - After being postponed by Covid, the Reserve Bank today relaunched their review into the 2010 IPSA.
AIA policy encourages Kiwis to ‘share the love’
28 September 2020 - New eligible AIA policies come with the option to gift life insurance to a loved one.
Insurance Act Review forges on
21 September 2020 - Work resumes on the review, which was delayed while the Reserve Bank dealt with the challenges of covid.
Adviser complaints increase, IFSO says
15 September 2020 - A family who complained that a financial adviser was wrong to reduce his client’s life insurance cover on his instructions has had their complaint rejected by the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman.
Asteron Life goes live with new mental health support service
8 September 2020 - Asteron Life adds new mental health support service for disability insurance customers.
Deloitte: Tricky to compare NZ insurance to other markets
3 September 2020 - A new report by Deloitte has raised questions about suggestions New Zealand insurers are offering high commissions and paying few claims by global standards.
Nib braces for rush of treatments next year
24 August 2020 - Nib New Zealand has reported an increase in membership numbers, revenue and earnings in the year to June 30.
Asteron Life profit drops
21 August 2020 - Asteron Life experienced a $4 million profit drop in the year to June, its parent company has reported.
Court of Appeal backs Asteron Life in battle with former broker
19 August 2020 - Asteron Life has claimed a win in a long-running legal battle with Dunedin insurance broker Peter Taylor.
FSCL says client complaint a non-disclosure warning
17 August 2020 - A client who complained her adviser had not told her she would need to provide financial statements if she wanted to claim against her trauma policies took her complaint to FSCL.
Tied Agency 2.0 – spelt out
5 August 2020 - Jon-Paul Hale on why you need to get your transitional licence sorted asap.
Kiwi insurers unscathed by Covid-19, S&P says
4 August 2020 - New Zealand insurers’ risks have remained stable through 2020 and the sector has mostly been unscathed by the Covid-19 pandemic, S&P Global Ratings says.
Non-disclosure case divides advice industry
22 July 2020 - A news story about a declined claim has sparked a divide in the insurance advice sector.
Partners Life market changes
16 July 2020 - Jon-Paul Hale with his critique of the Partners Life commentary and what to watch when considering replacement business.
Health insurers would struggle to cover transgender issues: Styles
8 July 2020 - Health insurers would struggle to provide cover for transgender-specific care, the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee has been told.
Greens want ACC extended to cover sickness
7 July 2020 - A Green Party policy could mean less demand for income protection insurance from insurers.
Replacement case puts spotlight on 'churn'
6 July 2020 - New regulations coming into force in the insurance industry and financial advice sector may help avoid situations where people are left exposed by insurance replacement.
Insurance company loses CEO
3 July 2020 - Suncorp New Zealand's chief executive, who also runs Asteron Life, is leaving the business to return to Australia.
Cigna tweaks non-medical limits
2 July 2020 - Cigna New Zealand (Cigna) has announced the release of new non-medical limits for its Assurance Extra and Business Assurance product suites.
Less stressed during lockdown
1 July 2020 - New Zealander’s health and wellbeing had surprising benefits from the Covid-19 lockdown.
AMP Life deal is done
1 July 2020 - AMP Limited says it has completed the sale of its life insurance business, AMP Life, to Resolution Life for A$3 billion (NZ$3.19 billion).
AMP Life rating affirmed after sale
30 June 2020 - S&P Global Ratings has affirmed its A- rating on AMP Life after completion of its sale to Resolution Life Group Holdings Ltd.
Regulatory change needed, or halt to AMP Life sale, policyholder says
29 June 2020 - An AMP Life policyholder says the sale to Resolution Life should be stopped if regulation cannot be changed to provide more protection for its customers.
Partners Life expects advisers to opt for FAPO
29 June 2020 - Partners Life managing director Naomi Ballantyne says she expects every adviser who deals with Partners Life and has their own transitional FAP licence will sign up to the new FAPO scheme.
How housing affects the market for insurance
29 June 2020 - Why would the housing market be a factor in underinsurance? Russell Hutchinson explains.
Ways to sell more insurance
19 June 2020 - Russell Hutchinson offers some ideas about how to sell more insurance.
RBNZ 'doing its job'
5 June 2020 - There is industry acceptance of Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr raising concerns about life insurer insolvency.
AIA, ASB join forces to offer cover
2 June 2020 - AIA says a new home loan benefit launched for ASB customers will enable it to solidify its relationship with the bank.
The Covid edition
29 May 2020 - The future is bright for those focused on the right outcomes for clients says Jon-Paul Hale.
Life insurers under threat – or are they?
28 May 2020 - The Reserve Bank came out swinging at life insurers in its latest Financial Stability Report, warning that they faced insolvency challenges as low interest rates, minimal growth in premiums and higher rates of cancellation combined.
Fitch runs Covid-19 ruler over industry
25 May 2020 - AIA has had its Fitch rating affirmed with a stable outlook, while Suncorp is affirmed with outlook revised to negative.
FMA: Insurance, advisers have stepped up
20 May 2020 - New Zealand’s insurance industry has responded well to the outbreak of Covid-19 and the impact of that on its clients, the Financial Markets Authority’s director of banking and insurance, Clare Bolingford, says.
Cigna boosts commission
14 May 2020 - Cigna will double service commission payments to financial advisers through June and July.
$1.5 billion in claims paid, FSC says
12 May 2020 - New Zealand life insurers paid out a total of $1.49 billion in claims in the year to March, the Financial Services Council says.
Insurers hoping for loyalty out of Covid-19 offers
12 May 2020 - Insurers say helping advisers through the Covid-19 economic disruption was part of their motivation for offering client relief packages.
Reconciling wants to needs
12 May 2020 - The three most common goals clients have for their potential life insurance package and your role in helping them reconcile their wants from needs.
Let’s have the grown-up in charge
8 May 2020 - Life insurance is complex, you are the "grown-up" and clients need your expertise when they invite you to give them advice, says Russell Hutchinson.
Sharecare tackles lockdown strife
4 May 2020 - Fidelity Life's Sharecare wellbeing app is offering help to New Zealanders coping with the Covid-19 lockdown.
Insurance FAQs for uncertain times
1 May 2020 - COVID-19 is set to be with us for many months ahead, so the Insurance Council of New Zealand has answered some commonly asked questions for landlords…
Insurers weigh up pandemic impact
30 April 2020 - A global pandemic should not prove to be a major hurdle for life insurers in this country, says the former chief executive of one of them.
Pricing strategy – choices and their meanings
28 April 2020 - Russell Hutchinson looks at insurance cover norms and offers some alternatives for consideration.
Here's when Partners Life will check in on you
27 April 2020 - Advisers distributing Partners Life policies can expect to have their processes checked on when a policy is issued, increased in value or cancelled.
Ballantyne: No more normal
21 April 2020 - Some advisers are writing more new insurance business during the lockdown period than they were in the weeks leading up to it, Partners Life managing director Naomi Ballanytne says.
The Matrix Partners style; What advisers say
15 April 2020 - Partners Life will start collecting data this week about how advisers are performing against its new Customer Outcomes Matrix.
Cigna offers new commission options
15 April 2020 - Cigna is rolling out new commission structures for level-premium products.
Cigna confirms hardship policy
8 April 2020 - Cigna has revealed its Covid-19 hardship policy, which it says is designed to take financial pressure off customers.
Adviser warned over misleading Covid-19 ads
7 April 2020 - A registered financial adviser is in the gun after posting misleading insurance information about Covid-19.
Warning for insurers
26 March 2020 - The outlook for the Asia Pacific regions’ life insurers has been revised to negative by S&P Global Ratings.
Covid-19 crisis: what landlords need to know
25 March 2020 - [UPDATED] The Covid-19 crisis means that New Zealand is now in a State of National Emergency and the nationwide lockdown begins tonight.
Partners Life responds to 'unprecedented environment'
24 March 2020 - Partners Life is making significant changes to enable it to be open for new business.
Cigna joins redundancy cover freeze
24 March 2020 - Cigna is joining Fidelity Life and Partners Life in putting a hold on new sales of redundancy cover.
nib: Significant impact coming from Covid-19
23 March 2020 - Health insurer nib has withdrawn its market guidance for the 2020 financial year because of uncertainty about Covid-19.
[The Wrap] The end of dealer groups as we know it
20 March 2020 - Well you have to hand it to Partners Life. While all the news this week has been about Covid 19, it has delivered a fatal blow to insurance dealer groups.
What coronavirus means for property investors
16 March 2020 - Welcome to Fortress New Zealand. The coronavirus crisis means that strict travel bans are now in force and a recession is expected. So what does that mean for property investors going forward?
Woman 'forgotten' during advice process
9 March 2020 - A woman who says her insurance adviser was so focused on her husband during the advice process that he failed to adequately consider her situation was unsuccessful in her complaint to Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL).
Putting the case for income protection
25 February 2020 - The concluding part of Jon-Paul Hale's IP series; reducing cover levels will increase pressure on the already strained public health system.
What will happen to insurance premiums under the new regime?
21 February 2020 - Improved industry standards could stabilise insurance premiums under the new financial advisers regulatory regime, according to one industry expert.
Insurers tweak discount offers
18 February 2020 - Insurer Fidelity Life is dropping some of its customer loyalty discount programmes – partly because it says not many people are aware they existed.
National questions limits on adviser incentives
14 February 2020 - National MPs have questioned the need for a bill that brings in new conduct requirements for insurers, banks and non-bank deposit takers.
Health system not helping income protection claims
12 February 2020 - Jon-Paul Hale's third of four articles on income protection; recent critique of the length and motivation for IP claims and how public health and IP don't collide well.
The struggle to be better at telling the story of insurance
10 February 2020 - I’m not really a writer, I’m a consultant that loves data and enjoys understanding the buying process so I can, hopefully, advise others on the marketing issues it exposes.
It's time we got out and told the good story about insurance
3 February 2020 - Russell Hutchinson takes umbrage with the media bashing insurance; and says it's up to advisers to get out and tell the story.
Immigrants have differing view of income protection
3 February 2020 - In the second part of his series on income protection sustainability, Jon-Paul Hale says there is a cultural side to claims which is overlooked in research.
Scrutiny sows 'seeds of doubt'
23 January 2020 - Scrutiny of New Zealand's life insurance sector puts "seeds of doubt" into consumers' minds, the Financial Services Council says.
Reserve Bank critical of life insurance
22 January 2020 - New Zealand’s life insurance sector appears to be relatively inefficient, the Reserve Bank says.
[OPINION] Turbulent year ahead
20 January 2020 - Insurance industry veteran David Pine says 2020 is going to be a turbulent year in the insurance arena; both life and health, and fire and general. But it's not all bad.
MBIE expects advisers to bear costs of regime change
9 December 2019 - Insurers and financial advisers can expect a “low to medium” increase in their costs as a result of changes to insurance law, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment says.
Govt reveals plans to change insurance rules
4 December 2019 - The onus of disclosure will shift to insurers under new rules revealed for the insurance sector.
Reserve Bank flags commission rates, solvency
27 November 2019 - The Reserve Bank has raised questions about the insurance sector in its latest financial stability report.
More than fair “wear and tear”
12 November 2019 - Proving tenant liability for damage has long been a major worry for landlords but a recent Tenancy Tribunal ruling shows that it can be done.
Reserve Bank points to insurer solvency review
5 November 2019 - The Reserve Bank is flagging the potential for insurers to be required to hold more capital.
Profit drop for nib
30 October 2019 - Nib says growth in the number of policyholders helped propel its revenue up 8.8% to A$215.5 million in the most recent financial year, although it’s been a tough market to operate in.
Support for advisers 'vital'
30 October 2019 - It will be important to support financial advisers into the new regulatory regime to ensure that New Zealanders’ access to independent advice is maintained, says Fidelity Life’s chief distribution officer, Adrian Riminton.
What is the advice risk?
21 October 2019 - You could be forgiven for keeping your head down, servicing clients and paying the bills. And frankly, we all need to be doing that.
Insurers won't be responsible for advisers 'at this point in time'
2 October 2019 - A new conduct regime will include "future-proofing" in case financial advice providers do not conduct themselves properly.
Govt not throwing baby out with bathwater: Ballantyne
25 September 2019 - Government moves to introduce conduct licensing for insurers are being welcomed as proof it's taking a sensible approach to reform.
What SMEs think of life insurance advisers
25 September 2019 - Asteron Life has just released its annual survey of SMEs. Find out how life advisers compare to their business counterparts.
Fidelity Life gets tick
22 September 2019 - Fidelity Life has been awarded the Accessibility Tick.
Insurer response 'not good enough'
17 September 2019 - Commerce Minister Kris Faafoi says insurers are "passing the buck" to advisers.
The growing but slowing market for insurance
16 September 2019 - This market is a good one, and I am a perennial optimist for both financial services in general and insurance financial advice in particular.
Kiwis face 'trade-off' buying insurance
11 September 2019 - New Zealanders face an unintended risk trade-off when they assess the value of insurance, new research from the Financial Services Council shows.
The willful ignorance of a miopic point of view
10 September 2019 - Sounds angry and somewhat is. It comes from constantly being told that commission-based sales people, especially life insurance advisers, are bottom-feeding scum of the earth.
More work needs to be done on policy ownership
30 August 2019 - Getting the ownership of life insurance policies right is critical; but one bank has no idea, Jon-Paul Hale says.
COMMENT: The dangers of neglecting code compliance certificates
28 August 2019 - It’s a legal requirement for commercial buildings to have a Code Compliance Certificate yet many don’t. Building compliance expert Rosie Kilip explains why this is not a good thing...
Faafoi says some commissions will be banned
25 August 2019 - Commerce Minister Kris Faafoi tells advisers there won't be a ban on commissions, but some will go.
nib aims to make advisers' lives easier with online tool
16 August 2019 - Health insurer nib aims to get the majority of policies issued in real time by the end of the year.
Tenants need to know about insurance
7 August 2019 - Take note landlords – if you are worried about liability for tenant damage, the time to talk to your tenants about insurance is now.
Dealer groups face future without overrides
7 August 2019 - Some dealer groups may have to rethink their value proposition as product providers move away from volume-based commission structures.
Fidelity Life updates pricing
1 August 2019 - Fidelity Life has announced updates to its pricing which aim to make its products more competitive.
How junk is junk insurance and why should you care?
1 August 2019 - Recent articles headed “junk insurance” could be seen as the broad brush of journalism splattering tar on all insurance. Could we instead treat it as an opportunity to talk about quality?
AIA and Sovereign products merged into one
29 July 2019 - A year after AIA and Sovereign came together the newly merged company has released a new product suite and its much-anticipated Vitality product.
New tenant damage, meth measures are only partial solutions
26 July 2019 - Changes to the legislation around tenant damage and meth contamination have been years in the making but now they are finally here are they any good for landlords?
Coon brothers insurance start-up gets big funding boost
26 July 2019 - The sons of Sovereign founder Chris Coon have completed a $2 million financing round for their insurance start-up.
Tenants liable for careless damage – to a point
25 July 2019 - Tenants will now have to take some responsibility for careless damage to rental properties after the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (No. 2) passed its final reading in Parliament on Wednesday.
Proposals would disrupt business models: Faafoi
16 July 2019 - Commerce Minister Kris Faafoi has acknowledged that the insurance sector could find recommendations for industry change, contained in recent options papers, confronting.
Urgent building law reform needed - Goff
17 June 2019 - Problems with building law have long been rife. Now Auckland’s Mayor is calling for radical reform of the Building Act and Code to deal with the housing crisis.
FADC hands down its punishment in non-disclosure case
16 May 2019 - A financial adviser who breached the Code of Conduct by skimping on client medical histories in insurance applications has learnt the fate.
IAG boosts premiums to reflect risks
30 April 2019 - New Zealand’s largest general insurer will be taking more account of risk in its premiums and that means customers in disaster-prone areas will face bigger costs.
Advisers' incentives in Govt sights
27 April 2019 - The Government wants a ban on soft commission and for advisers' remuneration structures to be designed with customer outcomes in mind.
The market for adviser businesses
9 April 2019 - Strong buyer interest in adviser business in general, and specifically life insurance client bases, has been a growing feature of our market segment for the last twenty years.
The Big Read: FMA goes after adviser for alleged non-disclosure
26 March 2019 - Questions about what the professional responsibilities of advisers in a consumer protection regime are lie at the heart of the Financial Advisory Disciplinary Council (FADC)’s first non-disclosure case.
A question of culture
11 March 2019 - The problems of breaking out of a current worldview were exemplified in a series of comments on a Good Returns article recently. Two industry stalwarts had proposed a new approach to commission.
Rough start to the year
18 February 2019 - We've had a reasonably rough start to the year with reporting and political tub-thumping. Between the Reserve Bank report, the Australian Royal Commission report, and the governments on both side of the Tasman, it's fair to say Financial Services has had a rough time.
Insurance conduct report shows lack of understanding: Adviser
4 February 2019 - We have a report from the Reserve Bank about the insurance industry, and it's pretty rough, but it's misguided. Adviser Jon-Paul Hale explains why.
Industry ready for regulators' insurance report
17 January 2019 - A Financial Markets Authority and Reserve Bank report into life insurers’ conduct is due at the end of this month – and insurers are bracing for a tougher line than was taken with banks.
Clients complain: Adviser should have told us to obtain notes
20 December 2018 - A client's complaint that their insurance adviser or insurance company should have told them to request their medical notes when they took out a policy has been dismissed by the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman.
Monitoring rental home quality
19 December 2018 - Landlords concerned about whether or not their rental properties qualify as “healthy homes” can now look to new high-tech monitoring tool for help.
Climate change insurance threat
30 November 2018 - Sceptical about climate change? If you own coastal property it would pay not to be, both the Reserve Bank and the Insurance Council are warning.
Insurance essentials
19 November 2018 - Too often investors do a quick once-over on the insurance front. But when it comes to commercial property that’s a mistake – instead it’s worth getting to grips with the fundamentals.