Closing the Gaps
Strategi Institute has a new training course called Closing the Gaps. It is aimed at advisers who hold one of the level 5 qualifications but need to prove they have the competence, knowledge, and skill to operate in the new regime which starts on 15 March. The half day course starts at $250 plus GST.
PI Insurance
Compliance Refinery has published its four top tips for advisers when it comes to professional indemnity insurance. The firm’s latest briefing document says some PI providers have yet to fully adapt to the incoming regulatory regime, and that while FAP covers are starting to be discussed, they won’t all be in place until March.
Money and You
According to a report by the Financial Services Council 40 per cent of those it surveyed don’t see any benefit in seeking independent financial advice. Richard Klipin, CEO of the FSC, says Kiwis are taking on increased levels of debt, so to have 75 per cent of respondents say that buying a property wouldn’t trigger taking any external advice is a real area of concern.
Get in Shape
The Financial Services Council is preparing to run its Get in Shape advice summits in February at four locations across the country, the Auckland event will also be live streamed. Tickets are $65 for the morning session or $95 plus GST with the afternoon masterclass covering licencing and disclosure.
Latest Poll
Our latest poll is still open so there’s time to cast your vote. Our question is: are dealer group mergers good for the adviser community? Of those who have voted so far, 50 per cent say ‘no’, 42 per cent say ‘yes’ and 8 per cent aren’t sure.
Cigna
Cigna NZ has appointed two new independent directors to its board… Rob Ellis, the CEO of group insurance platform Sentro, replaced Mary-Jane Daly, in August. And former KiwiBank CEO Paul Brock joined the board this month.
Southern Cross
Southern Cross Health paid out more than $564 million in claims in the six months to September, according the the trust’s latest Pulse report. The top three highest claims by dollar value were for three spinal fusion procedures with a combined cost of $559,000, and the age of the oldest person to receive treatment via the trust was 104.