RiskinfoNZ Weekly News Summary

Financial advisers from across the country are expected to descend on Christchurch in September to attend Financial Advice NZ's two-day Ignite conference.Ignite is being held at the Christchurch Convention Centre and among those confirmed to take part include optimist Chris Riddell and financial adviser, best-selling author and podcaster Victoria Devine. - Dee-Vine – among many others....Cigna has updated the occupation classes it uses in its online quote tool. A new field has been created so advisers can indicate whether the customer's occupation is E (eligible), U (uninsurable), or IC (requires individual consideration for disability benefits).The firm's Chief Operating Officer Debbie Eyre says the update is part of a raft of changes to be announced by the firm. She will provide more details during a Cigna Live event to be held on 28 April.And staying with Cigna...The firm's offering new clients who purchase an insurance policy with the Cigna two months' free cover. The offer runs until 30 June and applies to Cigna's assurance extra, business assurance, business extra, and agribusiness extra policies issued before 31 August 2022.Compliance refineryA FAP director support programme has been launched by Compliance Refinery in conjunction with governance specialists Faraday & Company.Melanie Purdey, Compliance Refinery's course facilitator, says directors of FAPs or authorised bodies are facing more scrutiny as part of the FMA's FAP licensing guidelines, and that many directors may not fully understand their licence obligations.Purdey says Compliance Refinery's director support programme is designed to ensure directors have the knowledge and skills to meet the requirements of the full licencing regime.StrategiIndustry training firm Strategi and the FMA are holding a free webinar on Thursday 7 April for financial advice providers who have not yet submitted their application for a full FAP licence.Strategi says that by attending the webinar, FAPs and their owners and managers will better understand what is required and be provided with practical next steps to obtain their full FAP licence.Southern Cross Healthcare's has appointed Chris White as its new CEO, White has been sitting in the top chair for a few months as interim CEO.White began with Southern Cross on the insurance side of the business in 2017. From there, he moved across to its healthcare division as Chief Operating Officer, and then to interim CEO in October last year.For the full story on everything covered in this podcast see riskinfo nz . Co . Nz where you can also sign-up to receive our free weekly newsletter. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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Speaking during an FSC webinar that attracted more than 600 viewers, the FMA's recently appointed CEO Samantha Barrass announced the publication of an updated draft Conduct Guide for industry consultation.She also said there will be substantial change at the organisation over the next few years, building new capabilities, and employing new staff with different areas of expertise.Actuality - BarrassHow insurers take Covid-19 vaccination status into account when setting life and health premiums is fraught with issues, write lawyers Andrew Horne and Olivia de Pont of law firm Minter Ellison Rudd Watts.They say rating risk based on vaccination status is not a straightforward exercise as lapsed vaccination status and natural herd immunity may need to be considered.Partners Life has released a 'how to' video (below) explaining how financial advisers should use the latest additions to its My Underwriting Manager system – namely the Client Access to Personal Statement (CAPS) feature.The updated version of My Underwriting Manager allows advisers working with the firm to send their clients a secure link to complete their personal statement, in their own time, and on their own device.The company also says ANZ's chief financial officer Stewart Taylor is to join the firm as its CFO – but no start date has been announced. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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Growing your advisory business by book acquisition could mean biting off more than you can chew.Strategi's Dave Greenslade cautions business owners not to buy a book that is so large it would be hard to contact all the new clients within 12 months.He says the FMA expects the purchaser to undertake due diligence to ascertain the quality of the client advice records within one year of purchase.A new advertising code came in on 1 March that means all financial advertising needs to demonstrates a high standard of social responsibility.The code means financial advertisements should disclose all relevant information, including social media, emails, TV, radio and other platformsLawyers at Dentons, Kensington, Swan say the principle of social responsibility is in the spirit of the Advertising Standards Authority code and you don't have to break the rules to breach it.Financial advisers working with Cigna are being asked to complete online courses and meet declaration requirements via its Adviser Training Hub.Requirements include annual product recertification and declarations to help advisers stay ahead of their compliance obligations.Cigna has a new online My Score Card tool that's connected to MBIE's Financial Service Provider Register.A client review call centre is being launched by The Adviser Platform to help reduce the load on busy advisers.The company's Ryan Edwards says the service, to be launched 1 April, will demonstrate to the regulators that an adequate level of servicing is being provided to clients and improve client retention.Fidelity Life has launched a podcast covering the key elements of its Building Better Business modules.Each of the company's podcasts is around four minutes long and covers topics such as complaint handling, communication, and business plans.A new report from PWC highlights recruitment, regulations, and crime as being among the key challenges faced by New Zealand insurers.The 15-page report – Exploring the Insurance Industry's Top Risks – identifies a rising level of anxiety about cybercrime and the new financial conduct regime. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fidelity Life has completed its purchase of Westpac's life insurance business having got the nod from the regulators. The insurer now has a 17% share of the life market in New Zealand.Details of the purchase were first released by Fidelity Life in July 2021 when it said it would acquire Westpac Life from Westpac Group for NZ$400m, and will also into a 15-year life insurance distribution arrangement with Westpac NZ.Fidelity Life's largest shareholder the NZ Super Fund and new investor Nigh – Tahoo - Ngāi Tahu Holdings will fund the majority of the acquisition.The latest industry snapshot from the FSC shows life insurance covers increased by 92,000 to 4.2 million during 2021.The data snapshot also shows the sector paid out $308 million in claims in the last quarter of 2021 and that 96% of claims made over the same period were paid.We have a new poll running this week asking about your work-related stress levels – cast your vote...Kiwis who act on professional financial advice are better prepared for retirement and more comfortable making big financial decisions than unadvised Kiwis, according to a new report from Financial Advice NZ.Its Better Behaviours report shows that across every age band, advised Kiwis feel they have a better understanding of how much money they will need in retirement.Across the board, quality financial advice has given Kiwis the tools to think about their finances in a pro-active way, says Katrina Shanks.Asteron Life is extending the Best Doctors telehealth service to its customers with trauma recovery and cancer cover.The service, which provides access to an international network of medical specialists and local GPs, is already available to the company's clients with disability insurance as well as eligible insurance advisers.And staying with best Doctors, AIA NZ is extending the Best Doctors service to financial advisers who have a relationship with the firm.A draft version of the Insurance Contract Bill has been released for consultation by MBIE.If made into law, the bill would introduce a range of changes that MBIE says will make insurance contracts easier to understand and fairer to consumers. However, industry feedback is being sought prior to the draft Bill has its first reading in parliament.The value of locum advisers to help maintain business continuity when a member of the financial adviser team is away will be debated during a financial services council webinar on March 11.Discussing the issues, risks, and solutions will be a panel made up of representatives from insurer Partners Life, law firm Dentons Kensington Swann, and Rose-will Consulting.Financial Advice NZ launched its own financial adviser locum scheme in November last 2021.According to Stats NZ data 1.45 million New Zealanders are paying almost $2 billion a year for private heath insurance. The country's population sits at 5.2 million. In the last quarter of 2021 more than $386 million was paid out by health insurers, with women aged under 64 having higher value claims than men. From age 65 men claimed more than women during the same period. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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Since September 2020 Grant Willis has been overseeing the sales, products, claims and client servicing at Asteron Life. Against a backdrop of modernising the company's operations it is helping advisers get across the line when it comes to full licensing.However, speaking to RiskinfoNZ he says the whole licensing process is still distracting advisers from doing the things they enjoy most...Read our full interview with Grant Willis at RiskinfoNZ.co.nzWelcome back.Writing for Riskinfo Katrina Shanks says lockdowns have given many of us the mental and physical space to reassess almost every facet of our life – and that Covid seems to have prompted what some experts call ‘a mass redirection of priorities'.The CEO of FANZ points to an international survey that concludes that whatever ‘material well-being' looks like, financial considerations were top of mind for most respondents – including those in New Zealand.Poll: New Poll – Is the FMA Right to be Worried About Rising Commission Payments?AIA NZ is running a promotion where clients can win a share of $10,000 in Apple Store gifts cards.The draw is open to clients who take out eligible AIA insurance and join its AIA Vitality scheme before 1 April 2022. TCigna has teamed up with food delivery service HelloFresh in a promotion that will see winners receive prizes worth hundreds of dollars.Entry to the free draw is for customers who obtain a quote for a new Assurance Extra policy through Cigna's online quote tool.And this Thursday 17 February the FSC is holding its online Future Ready Summit. Find out more and get tickets via the FSC website at fsc.org.nz/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

PodcastThe FMA has re-stated its ongoing concerns around what it refers to as ‘commission creep' within the financial advice sector.Its concern was raised in the authority's 2021 annual report – released at the end of January.“Sales-based incentives for staff have generally been replaced with incentives that focus more on good outcomes for customers,” says the FMA.However, it still has concerns about commissions paid to intermediaries.When Minister of Finance Grant Robertson announced details of a proposed State-backed income insurance scheme, RiskinfoNZ sought the reactions of industry groups and of the insurers themselves.It's early days as all concerned take a close look at the government briefing document, but we have the initial thoughts and opinions in our special report.With the country having moved to the Traffic Light settings of the Covid-19 Protection Framework, and with Level 4 Lockdowns (hopefully) behind us, Partners Life has reverted to its original criteria for premium holiday and policy suspension claims. The company relaxed its policy on premium holidays in August 2021.Raising the status of financial advisers to a professional standing is taking longer than expected, but Mitre Wealth Management‘s Stephen O'Connor knew it wouldn't be as easy “as flicking a switch”.Speaking to David Kneebone in a Financial Advice NZ This is Your Story programme O'Connor says he expects the Level 5 qualification financial advisers need will eventually be raised to a university degree requirement.However, he says upping the professionalism of the financial advice sector has been a slow grind.The team at nib is taking its Highway to Health seminar on the road starting February 10.The events will feature CEO Rob Hennin who will talk about the firm's acquisition of Kiwi Insurance. Attendees will also hear about nib's health management programmes.Our latest poll asks you to consider your preferences when it comes to paper-based versus electronic policy applications.In 2022, which life insurance policy application process do you prefer:Electronic/online applications (52%)Paper-based applications (27%)Depends on the client's circumstances (21%)Not sure (0%) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Just over two years on from its 2019 launch, Partners Life has given advisers one more reason to use its MUM underwriting system – it now includes an option for clients to enter their information directly into the company's system.The firm says it will save advisers time, benefit clients living in different locations to the adviser, and streamline the application process.Poll - Our latest poll asks you to consider your preferences when it comes to paper-based versus electronic policy applications.When AIA NZ's CEO Nick Stanhope went on extended leave in November last year, the firm's Sharron Botica (pictured) stepped in to run the show. However, she's been doing more than just holding the fort.She says Covid and lockdowns made all of us focus on the digitisation of the business. And that delivering a frictionless system for advisers is key.Botica also says growing AIA NZ's share of market by taking business away from competitors doesn't help the sector grow. She says the firm is developing new products to help make the pie bigger.Read the full interview at riskinfo NZ .co .nzAnd sticking with AIA NZ, Dame Paula Rebstock has joined the board of the insurer as an Independent Non-Executive Director.Rebstock holds a Master's degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and has extensive professional experience in corporate and public services governance,.Dave Greenslade, Executive Director at Strategi, says FAPs and others working across the sector should consider forming a plan of ongoing training to keep ahead of the FMA's requirements.He suggests a professional development plan (PDP) be put in place, saying the new advice regime effectively drags all providers of financial advice up to and slightly beyond the standard expected of AFAs.Greenslade recommends all financial advisers and nominated representatives develop and maintain a PDP.In a column for risk info nz Financial Advice NZ's CEO Katrina Shanks provides a quick overview of where the advice community should focus their efforts this year.The organisation has launched a tool kit for members to help them stay on track when it comes to meeting regulatory requirements ahead of the March 2023 cut-off date for fill licencing. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Strateg EYE's Dave Greenslade is predicting industry regulators will increase their oversight of the finance sector this year.The FMA established a dedicated financial advice team in 2020. It had nine staff in a year ago, currently has a team of 17 and there's plans to increase this to 20.Greenslade also expects to see more business consolidation this year and warns of a national shortage of skilled financial services staff.Welcome backTwo regional events organised by Financial Advice NZ will be going ahead as planned under the government's Red traffic light setting.The organisation's CEO Katrina Shanks says its regional meetings in Auckland and Christchurch will continue under the new rules.Its first regional meeting of the year is planned for February 15 in Christchurch and the Auckland event is on February 24.Last week we asked what levels of life insurance business you expect to write this year.While the poll still has a week to go the current picture shows that 60% of you anticipate writing more business, 20% indicate they will write less business than last year and a further 20% reckon it will be about the same as 2021.The poll closes on Monday 31 January.The Adviser Platform is to hold four adviser roadshows across the country during February to talk about FAP licensing and mental wellbeing with support from insurer AIA NZ.Ryan Edwards, Managing Director at The Adviser Platform says the roadshows will focus on a combination of wellness, compliance readiness, and address the mental anxiety of licensing.In Australia, Research firm Wealth Data is expecting the number of advisers operating there to drop by around 1200 to 16,000 by the end of the year.Writing in his first weekly report for the year, Wealth Data's Colin Williams says that 2021 was difficult year for advice firms with very few bright spots. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A report by Swiss Re expects life insurance premiums across the Asia Pacific region to rise in real terms with Australia leading the way. The report's authors expect life premiums in Australia to increase by 10.5% this year.The report's author say trends in major Asia-Pacific markets find consistent evidence of consumers' rising awareness of health and mortality risks and a perception of being under-insured. The change in risk perception is reflected in observed growth in life and health insurance premiums.Partners Life is holding a three-day online training course for advisers who have worked in the industry for less than 24 months. The company's new adviser course is free, run by industry leaders and is being held in late February.For the first poll question of the year we're asking what levels of life insurance business do you expect to write in 2022? Southern Cross Health Insurance has launched the next chapter in its ‘With You' marketing campaign with a new TV commercial featuring some of the staff of its 3,500 business clients at work.And in related news, Southern Cross Healthcare will start fitting out its newest hospital in the north Auckland suburb of Silverdale this year. It will have three operating theatres, a 10-bed ward, and is expected to open in mid-2023.Consumers have increasingly embraced digital communication as a direct result of government lockdowns getting in the way of face-to-face consultations with their financial adviser claims a new report.The State of Customer Conversations survey of financial services, insurance, and healthcare companies found 80% of customers prefer email50% are comfortable with text messagesThe best way for companies to succeed in this next era of customer conversations is to prioritise digital-first says James Brown, CEO, Smart Communications.AIA NZ has released details of how $500,000 of grant money was used by community groups across the country last year.Grants have been used to help children learn to swim, mental wellbeing programs and courses promoting mindfulness and resilience. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cigna is extending its two-month free cover offer for new and existing policy holders, while paying advisers double service commissions during the campaign.Originally slated to end on December 17 2021, the offer has been extended to January 31 2022, where the new or updated contract is issued before 18 March.In keeping with its ‘Good things come in two‘ campaign, advisers will receive twice the normal service commission for two months for all new business or existing policy increases sold during the campaign period.Former Act MP Heather Roy s the new Chair of Financial Advice New Zealand. She has been contributing to the board as an independent director for one year, and was made interim chair at the organisation's 15 November 2021 AGM when Sue Brown stepped down having completing her four-year term. Roy's appointment is for three years.In a column for RiskInfoNZ Financial Advice NZ's Katrina Shanks looks back on 2021, lockdowns, social distancing and how technology has helps advisers navigate a difficult year. Read more at risk infoA report based on an insurance industry survey by the Deloitte Center for Financial Services is bullish when it comes to the sector's growth prospects for 2022 and recommends companies develop in-house talent rather than acquiring it.Most respondents to its survey cited plans to increase investment in technology and evolving talent models to build on the digital and virtual platforms that sustained their operations and maintained their engagement with customers during 2021.Southern Cross Healthcare will start fitting out its newest hospital in the north Auckland suburb of Silverdale within the next six months. The facility will be used to cater for the growing demand for care in the Hibiscus Coast and Bays areas.The hospital – on the second floor of the Silverdale Medical & Surgical building – will have three operating theatres, a 10-bed ward, and is expected to open in mid-2023. The facility will also have nine recovery chairs for day surgeries. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Early results of AIA NZ's financial adviser wellbeing survey show government regulations have hit those working in the sector hard with more than half the respondents finding it stressful complying with the new regulatory framework.Work overload was also cited by almost 50% of respondents as another major cause of stress.AIA fears 25% of Kiwi advisers are considering leaving the industry and another alarm bell is that around half the advisers surveyed use alcohol to cope with stress, aren't sleeping enough, and a good portion are seeking medical care due to work pressure and stress, says the report's draft findings.Riskinfo nz has been promoting the survey since its launch in September and full results will be released in February 2022.The FMA has cancelled the transitional financial advice provider (FAP) licence assigned to Yuen Pok (Paul) Loo, sole proprietor of Wisdom House Investment Partners, after Loo engaged in serious misconduct at his previous employer.James Greig, FMA Director of Supervision, says: “Trust in the financial advice sector is imperative and any misconduct that undermines that must be held to account.“A licence cancellation is a strong regulatory response and we decided it was necessary in this case to send a strong message of deterrence.”Katrina Shanks, writing for Riskinfo NZ says life and health insurers have started looking at what their global counterparts are doing about Covid-19 and people's vaccination status.She says insurers in South Africa and other countries already require people to disclose their vaccination status when taking out life or health cover.The CEO of Financial advice nz says New Zealand-based insurers might follow suit and include this information in their underwriting considerations for new applicants, with a focus on pre-existing conditions that are more likely to result in a claimable event if an unvaccinated client contracts Covid-19.It's a year since the introduction of the mandatory privacy breach reporting regime and Allan Yeoman of law firm Buddle Findlay says 2021 has seen many businesses over reporting to The Office of the Privacy Commissioner as organisations came to grips with the new requirements and adopted a conservative approach.He says “Almost four times as many breaches were reported this year when compared with 2020.Human error accounted for 62% of serious privacy breaches reported, with the most common issue being emails sent to the wrong person.The board of not-for-profit Kiwi health insurer Accuro, which celebrated its 50th year in 2021, has a new Chair.Marion Guy has moved up from Deputy Chair having been elected by the board to replace Tony Haycock, who is retiring.And that's our last podcast for 2021, I'll be back in the new year. But do sign up to our weekly newsletter – out every Wednesday and keep up to date at riskinfonz.co.nzhave a fantastic 2022. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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igna is reminding advisers this week about its pendulum commission model – also known as the swing system - and how it can be used to improve cash flow and possibly reduce this year's tax bill.The remuneration model, first launched by the firm in March, allows advisers to swap a large upfront payment for a smaller monthly income – something that could help avoid troublesome clawbacks.The firm's David Haak, General manager – Distribution, says: its Pendulum model is one of the most reliable ways to build a long-term resilient business.Cigna has made its multi-benefit discount, first announced in September 2020, a permanent fixture.The discount on its Assurance Extra policy will now provide a 5% discount to customers taking Life Cover with one other qualifying cover and a 7% discount to those taking Life Cover with two other qualifying covers.The change came in on Monday 18 October.Partners Life has made its first in-house recruitment for appointed actuarial services, bringing in Appointed Actuary (AA) Kate Dron (pictured). She will join the firm's executive team on 9 November.Dron's most recent role was as AA for the Suncorp Group and she previously served as Consulting Actuary in a financial and actuarial services business.Strategi is offering a warrant of fitness service to advice business owners that includes a review of FAP policies, processes, controls, and advice documents.The company says it's a way of identifying what business owners are doing well and what could be improved.Prices start from $2,800 plus GST.Signing up new clients is the top priority for advisers who are focused on the future of their business according to the results of our latest poll.And right behind that is higher client retention followed by reducing the cost of doing business.Our poll closes on Tuesday 26 October, so there's still time to cast your vote at riskinfoNZ co nzHealth insurer nib is offering complementary Mental Health cover valued at $2,500 for eligible members.The option is available to members who are covered under a new nib Ultimate Health or Ultimate Health Max policy purchased from 1 October 2021 and provides up to $2,500 of consultations annually with a registered psychologist or psychiatrist on referral from a GP.A report from AIA NZ has uncovered the five risk factors that lead to the five most common preventable diseases which account for more than 90% of deaths in New Zealand.It says the five risk factors of physical inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking, excess alcohol and environment interaction, contribute to five common non-communicable diseases:CancerDiabetesRespiratory diseaseHeart diseasePoor mental healthNick Stanhope, AIA NZ Chief Executive, says the case for focusing on health promotion and preventing non-communicable diseases is stronger than ever.Asteron Life is giving new customers $50 cash for every $500 they pay in annual premiums in a promotion that will run until 17 December 2021 in conjunction with gift company PrezzyCard. The top cash limit is $5,000.Graham Hill of Asteron Life says the firm wants to give advisers support as they put offers together for their clients. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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The Adviser Platform has launched a new resource called OAT – the Online Advice Tool – to help advisers work within the regulatory regime when advising clients.Scott Duncan – TAP's Head of Compliance and Advice – says the app has been created with a focus on client engagement, making advice accessible and providing a framework to demonstrate a robust and repeatable process.With effect from 1 November 2021, level life premium rates at Partners Life will increase by up to 20% for new business.In a statement the company says the change will bring pricing for guaranteed level life premiums into line with the rest of the market.The firm has also released a list of electronic signature firms it recognises saying says electronic signature services provide a safe, auditable means for clients to sign documents digitally.Cigna NZ has appointed Gabe Smith and David Marquis to its digital technology team.Smith started his role on September 29 having previously worked for Xero, and Marquis begins on October 11 – he was Z Energy's Head of Data Solutions.Also....Fidelity Life has made a number of key appointments to its strategic alliances team. Melanie Beattie joins the firm in the newly-created role of Head of Strategic Alliances, and joining her are Sean Craigen, who's currently with BNZ, and Mike Whitehead, a business manager at Fidelity Life.AIA NZ has made obtaining quotes easier and quicker for financial advisers by integrating its system with Xplan – a financial planning and wealth management app. Within the system, advisers access Quote Builder with the client data pre-populated and the recommended insurance details are automatically transferred via Risk Researcher.Continuous professional development (CPD) isn't just a compliance obligation under the new regime, it is an important part of upskilling in your career, says Financial Advice NZ CEO Katrina Shanks. In a special column for RiskinfoNZ she says it's essential to establish a roadmap to check yourself against, keeping in mind that CPD is not a box-ticking exercise.Surgery for bad backs has topped the list of most expensive surgical claims funded by Southern Cross Health Insurance in the year to 30 June 2021, with the highest individual claim coming to $222,000.Eight of the top 10 most expensive claims paid by the health insurer were for spinal fusions – surgery which permanently connects two or more vertebrae in the spine – with four claims topping a whopping $200,000.Hundreds of financial advisers have responded to AIA NZ's wellbeing survey as the firm works to gauge how those working in the sector are coping with regulatory changes and working under gloomy atmosphere of Covid-19.Listen to our special podcast edition with the firm Sam Tremethick at www.riskinfonz.co.nz See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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The regulatory regime in New Zealand is far easier to work with than in Australia, and financial advisers have a world of opportunity, says Bronwyn Kirwan, Fidelity Life's recently appointed Chief Sales and Service Officer.Having just returned from Sydney, where she was Head of digital insurance firm, Kirwan says the advice regime across the Ditch is too restrictive for advisers.Despite this year's changes and tightening of the regulatory landscape, Kirwan says the advice industry here is “…laden with opportunity”.CLIPThat's Bronwyn Kirwan speaking in a Fidelity Life video.Up to 60 financial advisers face being deregistered from the FSPR unless they update Companies Office with details of their dispute resolution scheme provider.A total of 189 financial advisers were asked by Companies Office to update details by 17 August, and so far only 129 advisers have responded.Financial Advisers are not deemed to be an essential service under the current alert level 4 lockdown, which is set to remain in place until 31 August in Auckland. But the FMA is pushing to change this.The regulator says it is working towards having financial advice included in the next round of amendments or receiving a class exemption from the order.New poll: With financial advice not deemed an essential service by the Government during the current level 4 lockdown, RiskinfoNZ wonders if this has affected your advice business. Cast your vote in our poll at riskinfonz.co.nzHealth insurer nib New Zealand's annual premium revenue to June rose by almost 10% when compared with its 2020 figure. It recorded a total revenue of just over $277 million and a profit of almost $26 million.The New Zealand firm's full year result includes the release of a $9 million provision to cover-off an expected claims catch-up of postponed or delayed medical treatments due to government Covid-19 lockdowns.Keep up to date with the latest news for financial advisers at riskinfonz.co.nz See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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For week ending July 23, 2021.The government has taken the first steps to establish a Consumer Data Right (CDR), a legal framework for companies to share their client's personal information with competitors – so consumers can easily switch their business from one business to another.However, based on submissions to MBIE, the idea does not have the universal support of insurance firms.For example, Partners Life says a potential problem in developing a CDR system is the collection of legacy information from older systems – which could be expensive.And Fidelity Life highlighted the difficulty of comparing the life insurance industry with banking and utility sectors saying life insurance should be excluded from any consumer data right system.Australia deveoped a CDR system in 2019 which excludes life insurance.The FMA has released its annual corporate plan outlining the organisation's priorities for the next 12 months.Its CEO Rob Everett says a review of insurance contract law is underway and that industry consultation on a draft bill is expected to take place later in 2021.The proposed reform will give the FMA powers to monitor and enforce compliance with the new requirements.Financial Advice NZ's CEO Katrina Shanks says in a year of changing regulations and the impact of Covid it's important to talk about the mental wellbeing of financial advisers.A survey of financial advisers in Australia paints a grim picture of depression and low levels of wellbeing, and Shanks says the situation could be similar in New Zealand.Her organisation has a peer support programme with 30 senior advisers volunteering their time. Shanks says mentoring and coaching can make a big difference in mitigating stress, coping with the workload, and approaching challenges with a different perspective.Contact FANZ for more information.PollWith plenty of evidence appearing to show that many kiwis lack the skills to manage their money or have an appreciation for the value of insurance, some organisations are connecting directly with school students.According to the results of our latest poll, it seems many of you agree it's something you'd like to do too.In our latest poll, 50% of you say your advice business should develop relationships with local schools to help address financial literacy and underinsurance.The poll closes on July 26.A report by IBM says until recently insurers didn't need to be overly concerned about how they were perceived by their customers – claiming the industry focused more on selling than providing good customer service.Its report says social media platforms have helped insurance move away from being a product that is sold to one that is bought, and the right customer experience drives purchasing decisions.Among IBM's recommendations is that insurers evolve from being a traditional coverage provider to trusted adviser. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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With industry speculation rife that Westpac is close to sealing a deal to offload its New Zealand life business – the big question is – who's in the running.JP Morgan is handling the sale for Westpac and Riskinfo NZ has contacted New Zealand's top insurers to see what their interest is in obtaining the bank's Life book – said to be valued at around $500 million.A new publication from Strateg - eye Compliance aims to show financial advisers that working under the new regulatory regime is more flexible than many may believe – while also revealing the firm's checklist for reviewing compliance standards.Its publication – What does compliant financial advice really look like? – is aimed at financial advisers, managers and owners of financial advice providers.The Adviser Platform (TAP) is offering professional indemnity (PI) cover underwritten by international insurance firm QBE.Single adviser pricing starts at $2,600 a year and includes a $10 million limit on any one claim.The number of privacy breach notifications seen by the Privacy Commissioner nearly doubled in the six months to May.The commissioner saw a 97% increase in privacy breach notifications since the new Privacy Act came into force on December 1, when compared to the six months prior to its introduction.The most common category of privacy breaches were email errors, with emails containing sensitive information going to the wrong person.Partners Life is helping school students understand the value of money and insurance by lending its technical expertise to help create a life and health insurance education module for financial education firm Banqer.In addition to technical help, the insurance firm's sponsorship pays for an additional 1,250 students to access the platform at no cost.Partners Life Chief Marketing Officer Kris Ballantyne says Research shows that normalising lessons through education is an important step towards developing financial capability from a young age.Look out for our monthly wrap of the month's biggest stories, it will be in your inbox before the weekend. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

News for New Zealand financial advisers See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Industry training and support firm mySolutions has formed alliances with Kiwi Adviser Network (Trail) and Prosper Group to broaden the aggregation and services options for independent advice business owners.Kiwi Adviser Network and Prosper Group are fee-based services that provide a range of business support offerings to advisers – primarily in the lending area – in addition to compliance, software, and mortgage broking.AIA NZ has announced a string of key appointments this week as it bolsters its support to advisers and clients across the country.It's appointed business development managers in Wanaka, Christchurch, Wellington and the lower north island.Massey University has launched a Financial Capability Practitioner Course for those seeking to enhance their practice in the sector.The $1,200 course is intended to provide participants with a deeper understanding of the ‘strength-based approach' used by government agencies and the wider financial capability sector.With more people working from home Auckland IT firm Think Concepts says not all home WiFi networks are secure and could be easily exploited, especially when linked to personal phones and other devices.The company says that with more sophisticated scams, increased remote working, and more data than ever at risk, cyber security must be an ongoing and proactive process.A survey by Swiss-Re reveals how the covid virus has changed consumer behaviour, its effect on the insurance industry, and how insurers can better respond to the changing needs of consumers.It says the stress of the virus has made insurance customers more price sensitive. Swiss-Re also sees a growing trend in consumers wanting to buy policies via an insurer's website or app. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When a client makes a negative comment about the advice they've been given, should it trigger the official complaints process? That was one of the key questions addressed during a Financial Advice NZ webinar with Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman Karen Stevens.Stevens says if a client appears to say they're not happy, then they are telling you they have a complaint.She says while some complaints are crystal clear, others may be couched by the client in terms of general unhappiness, and then it is up to the company to delve deeper.Katrina Shanks, CEO of Financial Advice NZ is urging financial advisers to apply for a full license sooner rather than later.“Being a more complex application, it will most likely take longer to process it,” she says.Advisers will need to have a full license by 15 March 2023.Two insurers are offering premium waivers to help support clients affected by the Canterbury floods.Fidelity Life is offering to waive premiums for 3 months, while AIA NZ is offering a one-month waiver on life and health policies.AIA is also fundraising to support World Vision's humanitarian work in India. Locally the firm is donating $30,000 but the global group is hoping to raise $250,000 for the charity.The majority of those who cast a vote in our current poll indicate they do not have access to the support they need to manage their mental health.While voting still has one week to go, the results so far show that 68% are not having their needs met. A modest 16% say they have access to the resourced they need, and a further 16% are not sure if the help they need is available.The poll follows a report out of Australia that indicates that a high proportion of financial advisers are suffering as a result of working under the strain of Covid-19, regulatory change, and other workplace stresses.Chronic health conditions account for more than 80% of all deaths in New Zealand, but more than a third of this health burden is avoidable, says Amy Tribe, CEO of nib Foundation, the charitable arm of health insurer nib New Zealand.To help address the issue, nib Foundation has launched Health Smart Grants, its first Kiwi grant programme. Three grants of $40,000 are available to selected registered charities. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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News for New Zealand financial advisers See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

News for New Zealand financial advisers See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

News for New Zealand financial advisers See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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News for New Zealand financial advisers See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

News for financial advisers in New Zealand See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

News for financial advisers in New Zealand See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.