Financial Advice New Zealand have voiced their approval of the new disclosure regulations that were announced by MBIE on 25 June 2020. Katrina Shanks has said that new regulations mirror what Financial Advice outlined in their CoFI submission.

“Financial Advice NZ chief executive Katrina Shanks said the new rules had picked up many of the points made in the association's submission.

“The focus of the sector during this process was to ensure the right balance between good consumer outcomes and a financial advice sector which isn’t encumbered by unreasonable red tape and adverse outcomes.

“We support regulations around disclosure made to clients – including on conflicts of interest, commissions and other incentives and disciplinary issues.”

The need for disclosure being limited to adviser fees, the products they offer advice on, their conflicts of interest, commission they receive, and how clients can contact dispute resolution services is something Financial Advice is please about.

““However, we are pleased to see a change from the draft disclosure requirements that now only requires disclosure of these matters when they would likely materially influence a client’s decision. This is something we strongly recommended in our submission to ensure disclosures were meaningful and not overwhelming for consumers.

“We were concerned the draft regulations required disclosure of product fees charged by unrelated third parties (e.g. insurance premiums) so the removal of the requirement to disclose fees for ‘acting on the advice’ was a sensible move."” Click here to read more

In other news:

FSC: FSC 2020 Awards - Nominations Open

FMA: FMA takes CLSAP NZ to court over alleged anti-laundering breaches

Westpac: Westpac to launch carbon footprint tracker

BNZ: BNZ launches banking support for domestic, economic abuse survivors

Bernie McCrea has said that Newpark is looking into introducing shareholders as well as private capital investors to help Newpark achieve long-term goals. Bernie has said that gaining funding from investors is a better alternative than accumulating debt.

“Chairman Bernie McCrea said it was interested in institutional shareholders who might invest in the business to help it achieve its goals. It was also open to investments from private capital investors who might have money in the bank earning little interest.

“People who have an interest in financial services but are earning zero at the moment and want to diversify … we are an option for them.

In other news:

Newpark has given members a choice of four options for their ongoing relationship with the group.

Australia: Former celebrity financial adviser charged with dishonest conduct

Here are five ways to avoid looming 'retirement time-bomb'

Advisers urged to “get their cyber-security sorted”

IFSO: IFSO Scheme names two new commissioners

BNZ to put all staff through courses

We have uploaded the latest product research database (version 12_7) onto Quotemonster and distributed it to subscribers. This version includes the following changes:

• Asteron Life policy wording added and rating changes applied effective 30.09.2019
• BNZ LifeCare 01.04.2019 policy wording added and applied rating changes
• Unimed Hospital Select 01.09.2019 policy wording added and applied rating changes
• Fidelity Trauma Multi 08.09.2019 wording added and applied rating changes
• AA Life and Funeral cover 01.08.2019 wording added and applied rating changes
• Kiwibank Home Loan and Life & Living 01.08.2019 wording added and applied rating changes

BNZ has rejected an Australia media post that they are in discussion with Partners Life about buying their Life Insurance business. 

A BNZ spokesperson told interest.co.nz: “We are not considering selling our insurance business and we’re not in a process with Partners Life.” While a Partners Life spokesperson said: “We don’t have anything to add to this story. You are best to check in with BNZ for comment.”

Click here to read more. 

Recent product changes include:

• New Product release Asteron for Trauma, Life and TPD
• New Policy document for Cigna for Life and Trauma
• Southern Cross product changes effective 1 December

Recent pricing changes include:

• Pinnacle Trauma rates effective 20/9/18
• BNZ Trauma rates went up August
• Fidelity Life rates effective 1/7/18
• Southern Cross announced pricing changes from 1 Novmber

Chatswood's Bank and direct price comparison survey has been updated and is available for purchase. Please contact me directly for more details of the changes since the last update was done in April 2017.

Below is an outline of the banks and other direct providers with a map as to which benefits and options they offer.

If you would like a PDF version of this table you can download it here:  Download Product Mapping - December 2017

BNZ Life has issued a policy addendum to its trauma policy, adding Benign Brain Tumour, Major Head Trauma, and Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest, as well as updating a number of conditions and removing some exclusions

We have recently distributed the QPR database to subscribers and have also updated Quotemonster with the following changes:

• BNZ - Policy Amendment 1 Sept 2017 Life, TPD, Trauma and Income Protection
• Fidelity Life Policy Wording updates. No rating change
• Exclusion Definition review of all products

BNZ made a number of changes to their LifeCare products on the 1st of September. Critical conditions such as benign brain tumour, major head trauma and out of hospital cardiac arrest have been added to their Critical Condition benefit. However, the severe heart attack definition remains tough by industry standards with a requirement to meet at least three of four defining factors or alternatively have a substantially ventricular ejection fraction. A couple of exclusions have also been removed from some benefits including an exclusion for war and one for HIV. Click here to read more.