Life Insurance
Advisers urge senators to ‘carefully consider’ genetic test ban
02 February 2026
Financial advisers say they still have doubts about proposed laws banning the use of genetic test results in life underwriting...
Insurer wrong to reject stroke survivor, ombudsman says
02 February 2026
An insurer’s interpretation of its policy did not align with medical evidence when it refused to pay a crisis recovery benefit, the financial services ombudsman has ruled...
Acenda ‘consulting with our people’ on restructure
02 February 2026
Acenda says it is “aligning” its business and expects to have a new structure in place by April...
‘New chapter’ for AIA group business
02 February 2026
AIA has made key appointments and structural changes to its group insurance team...
Code of practice ‘adds to consumer woes’
02 February 2026
Consumer advocates say the life industry code is “actively contributing” to problems facing policyholders and fails to meet community expectations...
Pacific Life Re appoints underwriting chief
02 February 2026
Pacific Life Re says Jia Yi Tan has joined as global chief underwriting and claims officer, based in Singapore...
NZ advisers open annual awards
02 February 2026
Nominations have opened for this year’s Financial Advice New Zealand Awards...
Advisers warn of ‘existential’ threat from CSLR charges
15 December 2025
Financial Advice Association Australia fears members may pay more to cover the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort’s projected funding shortfall in 2026-27...
AMP reaches commissions lawsuit settlement
15 December 2025
AMP has an in-principle agreement to settle an insurance commissions class action for $29 million, following proceedings launched in 2020 by Shine Lawyers and Piper Alderman...
Illness covered despite diagnosis after policy cancellation
15 December 2025
A man who had symptoms of illness before he cancelled his policy was entitled to a payout, the financial services ombudsman has ruled...
TAL tweaks key retail product
15 December 2025
TAL has updated its flagship Accelerated Protection retail offering with the launch of a total and permanent disability support option and new income protection arrangements...
Industry urged to improve support for Indigenous customers
08 December 2025
The Life Code Compliance Committee has found gaps in support for Indigenous customers after a review of three insurers that represent two-thirds of the market...
No refund for ‘understandably upset’ funeral policyholder
08 December 2025
A customer who paid more in funeral insurance premiums than she could receive in benefits has lost her bid for a refund...
Regulator reveals financial adviser exam results
08 December 2025
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission says 308 people sat last month’s financial adviser exams and 67.5% of them passed...
NZ adviser ‘misled clients’ for commission benefit
08 December 2025
Christchurch-based Hope Group Limited’s licence has been cancelled after regulators found “serious conduct issues” involving its sole director and financial adviser Junpu Wang...
TAL rolls out client dashboard
08 December 2025
TAL has launched a digital tool to help advisers manage their clients’ policies...
Investment, risk product results drag on sector profit
01 December 2025
The life industry reported lower earnings in the September quarter as investment returns slumped and key risk products performed weakly...
Senators weigh genetic test ban
01 December 2025
Legislation outlawing the use of genetic test results in life underwriting will be examined by senators after being introduced in federal parliament last week...
Cbus trustee penalised $23.5 million for claims delays
01 December 2025
Superannuation fund trustee United Super has copped a $23.5 million penalty over delays processing death and disability insurance claims...
Licence frozen over ‘key person’ breach
01 December 2025
Focused Financial Advice’s licence has been temporarily suspended after it failed to notify the corporate regulator of changes to its “key person and responsible manager” arrangement...