AIA adds superannuation payment option
Financial advisers will be able to offer clients a range of AIA’s priority protection products with payment through their superannuation following a range of upgrades announced by AIA.

Tower lifts first half profit 83pc
The insurer’s profit rose to $23.6 million in the six months ended March 31, from $12.9m a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said in a statement. Tower’s policy liabilities dropped to $671,000 in the period from $8.4m a year earlier, while revenue climbed 14 per cent to $295.7m.

Insurer warns life won’t get easier
THE boss of TAL Limited, one of Australia’s biggest life insurers, has issued a dour outlook for the economy, warning that consumer spending and business confidence across Australia will continue to deteriorate across the next 12 months.
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Optimistic outlook for industry growth: Research
New research from AIA Australia, has revealed that advisers are overwhelmingly optimistic on the 12 month outlook for the industry, seeing the most growth coming from families and the self employed.

Online life-insurance policies are uninformed
Alternative channels to accessing life insurance not involving a financial adviser present a key risk to Australians taking up policies as there is little to no advice being given. “Anyone can go online and take out an insurance policy – but is it exactly what they need, are there any pitfalls?” AMP head of product on-sale John Ashton told InvestorDaily.

Zurich expands Life and Investment team
Zurich Financial Services Australia has appointed Greg Della to the role of chief life actuary. Della will be reporting to Raf Uy, chief financial officer.
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Dig deep before buying funeral insurance plan
Have you noticed how many ads there are out there for funeral insurance? It can take as few as six years for the premiums to be more costly than the funeral itself. Funeral insurance is just another form of life insurance. You are paying premiums over a period of time to deliver a lump sum at the end of your life.

Pitch life insurance as “peace of mind”
Advisers can improve their approach to selling life insurance by addressing a simple client need, Macquarie Adviser Services head of research says.

Increased superannuation life insurance jeopardises coverage
A significant increase in the number of Australians holding life insurance coverage through their superannuation has corresponded with a drop in the number of people holding a stand-alone policy, potentially exacerbating the insurance gap, according to Macquarie Life.
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