Australian website The Adviser writes "The country’s largest mortgage provider has revealed that a key focus for its growth will now be via the proprietary channels. CBA detailed its growth strategy at a question and answer session following the release of the bank’s half-yearly results this week."

Click here to read more.

It is a little morbid, but that is unfortunately a fact of life when you work in life insurance. Click here to read a list of 13 unusual ways to die, as you won't necessarily die of old age or disease life insurance will protect you from the unexpected.

Which is the most complicated policy wording currently on sale? Answer by email with your nomination and supporting reasons please and we will share with you our review of policy wordings. 

Is it too late for New Year's resolution - certainly - but it is never too late to turn over a new leaf. Here are four resolutions which particularly caught our attention: 

1. I will lead an industrial revolution (in my office).
2. I will embrace my inner risk professional (and say farewell to the 'insurance salesman').
3. I will stop working (at least for long enough to take a good, hard look at my business).
4. I will be a student once again (classroom optional).

Here is an infographic Tony Vidler recently posted, and we're working on equivalent NZ data right now.

Barack Obama has recorded a video for news website BuzzFeed in an attempt to reach the younger voting audience. Apparently it's been successful - in the video Obama uses a selfie-stick, posing in front of the mirror, scribbling pictures of his wife, and playing imaginary basketball: all things the President supposedly does when alone.

In the video Obama rehearses a speech in the mirror reminding Americans about the fast-approaching annual deadline to secure health insurance, which falls this Sunday in the US. The video went viral with almost three million views on Facebook within two hours of its launch.

Click here to view the video and read more.

Quality Product Research New Database Version 7.7a is now live on Quotemonster. Between 7.6 and 7.7 the following major changes were made: 

SBS - Life & Trauma rated.
AA Life - Income Cover (AV) rated.
AIA Life Cover rated.
AIA Trauma Cover (SA & Acc.) rated.
AIA Income (AV & Ind.) rated.
AIA Mortgage Repayment rated.
OnePath Redundancy Cover rated under all Income Products & Mortgage Repayment. Existing redundancy cover for all othe providers reviewed.
Sovereign review (Life & TPD & Mortgage Protection).
AMP RPP Income (total disability to age 70)
AMP RPP - 'future insurability' and 'special events' increase added to Life, Trauma & TPD.
Medical Review changes for Sov ans Accuro.
Product changes to Asteron Trauma Acc and Standalone

Version 7.7a has a minor fix incorporated and went live overnight. Subscribers to the database will receive in the database in the usual way. Users of the Quotemonster site are already using the new database. 

Brittany Mann, writing on stuff.co.nz tells the story of Fleur Truscott, a young woman is having a double mastectomy because she has lost every female relative on her side of the family to breast cancer.

When there are so many relatively painless choices that I can make improve my health and well-being - such as eating less and exercising more - I am humbled by the choice that this woman has made. My choices are so much easier today. 

Do read the article: link. 

Four Australian insurers TAL, AIA Australia, CommInsure and MetLife have increased their collective market share from 67 per cent in June 2013 to 73 per cent in June 2014.

The report from Rice Warner also confirms declining profit margins despite the increasing market share. 

Read more here.

A useful post on the sticky subject of what to do when clients aren't telling you the whole truth - link.