Chatswood serves the life and health insurance sector in New Zealand with market intelligence, data, and bespoke consulting services. Some of these are provided in conjunction with Quality Product Research Limited - a subsidiary that brings you Quotemonster.

We believe that good decisions are more likely to occur when we have good information about the market environment in which we operate. Intuitive leaps and creative decisions are always required, of course, but the more they are based on a firm foundation of observation, the better they tend to be.

Kelly O Kelly O

Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector

FMA publish speech by CEO Samantha Barrass; RBNZ publish speech by Assistant Governor Karen Silk; Hon Andrew Bayly’s September diary released; RBNZ publish bulletin on banking funding developments; The Budapest Convention and Related Matters Legislation Amendment Bill had its first reading; FMA publishes guidance; APRA publish Annual Report; The committee stage of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill was completed; new Privacy complaints guide; RBNZ release voluntary Climate-related Disclosure; ASIC announces new appointments; The Contracts of Insurance Bill was read a second time; Commerce Commission Commissioner reappointed; RBNZ delay November FSR.

15 oct 2024 - The FMA has published the speech by FMA Chief Executive Samantha Barrass at the Institute of Financial Professionals New Zealand Conference 2024. https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/speeches-and-presentations/speech-by-samantha-barrass-at-infinz-20242024/

16 Oct 2024 - RBNZ publish Assistant Governor Karen Silk's speech 'Transmission of monetary policy to financial conditions' from the Citi Australia and New Zealand Investment Conference. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2024/10/transmission-of-monetary-policy-to-financial-conditions

16 Oct 2024 - Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hon Andrew Bayly August 2024 diary released  with the following potential financial services sector related meetings noted:

  • 4 Sep 2024 – ATTEND: Financial Education Roundtable (invitees)

  • 4 Sep 2024 – SPEAK: Financial Services Council Annual Conference Gala Dinner (conference delegates)

  • 11 Sep 2024 – MEET: NZBA (Roger Beaumont)

  • 13 Sep 2024 – MEET: BNZ CEO (Dan Huggins)

  • 16 Sep 2024 – ATTEND: NZ Banking Association Council Meeting (Council Members)

  • 23 Sep 2024 – ATTEND: Westpac Einvoicing customer event (Invited guests)

  • 23 Sep 2024 – CALL: FMA CEO (Samantha Barrass)

  • 23 Sep 2024 – ATTEND: Financial Service Federation Dinner (Invited guests)

  • 24 Sep 2024 – MEET: Privacy Commissioner (Michael Webster)

  • 24 Sep 2024 – ZOOM: XRB (Michelle Embling, and April Mackenzie)

  • 25 Sep 2024 – MEET: Banking Ombudsman (Nicola Sladden)

  • 26 Sep 2024 – MEET: Commerce Commission (Commerce Commission Officials)

  • 26 Sep 2024 – MEET: NZBA (Roger Beaumont and Miles Erwin)

  • 27 Sep 2024 – CALL: Westpac CEO (Catherine McGrath)

  • 30 Sep 2024 – ZOOM: Commerce Commission (Commerce Commission Officials)

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2024-10/Proactive%20Diary%20Release%20Sept%2024%27%20Hon%20Andrew%20Bayly.pdf

16 Oct 2024 - RBNZ publish a Bulletin which provides an overview of bank funding and mortgage rate pricing developments in recent years. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2024/10/monetary-policy-pass-through-to-bank-funding-costs-and-mortgage-rates

16 Oct 2024 - The Budapest Convention and Related Matters Legislation Amendment Bill had its first reading and was referred to Select Committee. https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/f2d3b46e-56c2-41cd-0edd-08dcdb5e62cc?Tab=history

16 Oct 2024 - The FMA has published guidance which explains their interpretation of the law, to promote consistent market practices and ensure the requirements of section 212 (Initial steps in winding up of registered scheme) and section 213 (Winding-up report) of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 (FMC Act) are met.  https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/guidance-library/winding-up-requirements-for-registered-schemes/

16 Oct 2024 - The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has published its Annual Report for the 2023-24 financial year. https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-publishes-2023-24-annual-report

16 Oct 2024 - The committee stage of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill was completed.  https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/daily-progress-in-the-house/daily-progress-for-wednesday-16-october-2024/

16 Oct 2024 - The office of the Privacy Commissioner has published 'Handling privacy complaints: a step-by-step guide'. https://privacy.org.nz/publications/guidance-resources/handling-privacy-complaints-a-step-by-step-guide/

17 Oct 2024 - The RBNZ has released its first voluntary Climate-related Disclosure - Ngā Whakapuaki e Pā ana ki te Āhuarangi for FY2023/24, outlining their progress in understanding, monitoring, and managing climate-related risks. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/publications/reports/2024/climate-related-disclosure/data/climate-related-disclosure-2023-24

17 Oct 2024 - ASIC announce appointments to the ASIC Executive Leadership team: Peter Soros as Executive Director Regulation and Supervision; Chris Savundra to the role of Executive Director Enforcement and Compliance. https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2024-releases/24-226mr-appointments-to-the-asic-executive-leadership-team/?altTemplate=betanewsroom

17 Oct 2024 - The Contracts of Insurance Bill was read a second time. https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/019dad64-3f9e-46b8-5cd9-08dc67f794e8?Tab=history

18 Oct 2024 - The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has confirmed that Dr Derek Johnston has been reappointed for a second term as a Commissioner at the Commerce Commission. https://www.mbie.govt.nz/about/news/dr-derek-johnston-reappointed-to-the-commerce-commission

18 Oct 2024 - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s November Financial Stability Report (FSR) for 2024 has been moved to 5 November. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2024/10/financial-stability-report-moved-to-5-november

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Kelly O Kelly O

This week is Cyber Smart Week

Running from 21 – 27 October, Cyber Smart Week is here! With the theme of ‘The Scamathon’, it highlights the importance of being more secure online.

Running from 21 – 27 October, Cyber Smart Week is here! With the theme of ‘The Scamathon’, it highlights the importance of being more secure online. Some key precautions you should be taking include:

  • Using long, strong and unique passwords

  • Using two-factor authentication (2FA)

  • Reporting any suspected scams to your management or IT teams

  • Turning on automatic updates

  • Stopping to think before you click – could it be a scam?

Own your online has produced a 5-part video series about business online security – you can watch them all here.

  • Episode 1 - How to protect your business: Learn why it’s important for your business to prioritise online security and how to start getting your business in better shape.

  • Episode 2 - How to protect your online accounts: Learn about the most important protections you can put in place for your online accounts.

  • Episode 3 - Protecting data and systems: Learn why it’s important to protect your data and your customers’ data and how to put these protections in place. Also learn how your business can best recover from an online attack.

  • Episode 4 - Protect your website and social media: Learn how to put the right protections in place for your website and social media accounts.

  • Episode 5 - How to spot phishing: Learn about the most common online attack – phishing – and how your business can avoid getting caught by it.

They are also running a series of online events around online security you can register to join.

·         Online security for individuals, 1pm, Monday 21 October 2024

·         Working together to improve cyber resilience across the health sector, 10:30am, Tuesday 22 October 2024

·         Online security for small businesses – simple steps for a big improvement, 3pm, Tuesday 22 October 2024

·         Supporting clients with cyber security - for mentors and advisors, 11am, Wednesday 23 October 2024

·         Financial sector cyber security threats and protections, 2pm, Wednesday 23 October 2024 

·         Online security for seniors, 1pm, Thursday 24 October 2024

·         Cyber security insights for tech professionals, 10:30am, Thursday 24 October 2024

 

More news:

David Whyte calls for financial advisers to be exempt from CoFi

Julian Fayad believes AI could handle up to 80% of advisor loan deals within seven years

New Zealand’s headline inflation rate fell to 2.2% in the September quarter

Clive Fernandes launches a new AI venture aiming to automate 80% of KiwiSaver client-servicing tasks

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Kelly O Kelly O

Deepfake scams on the rise

Research commissioned by MasterCard has found that 29% of New Zealanders and 18% of NZ businesses have been targeted by deepfake scams in the past year.

Research commissioned by MasterCard has found that 29% of New Zealanders and 18% of NZ businesses have been targeted by deepfake scams in the past year. Deepfake scams use generative artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate individuals, with the aim of stealing their targets’ money or personal information.

Deepfakes scams can utilise video, images and audio and can look increasingly convincing. Confidence levels in the ability to correctly identify deepfakes are low, with only 12% of respondents confident they would be able to detect a deepfake scam. Deepfakes are eroding trust in public figures and digital platforms, with 41% of individuals being more sceptical towards celebrities and influencers; 61% of kiwis being less trusting of social media platforms; 40% of New Zealanders being less trusting of emails and 37% of respondents being less trusting of phone calls compared to the previous year.

Some steps businesses are taking to address these risks include employing identification verification for accessing sensitive information, offering cybersecurity training and conducting training on financial transactions.

 

More news:

mySolutions webinar 'How non-PHARMAC drugs are covered in our Private Medical offering' 23 October

Chubb’s Underwriting Click to Chat function is live on Adviser Hub

AIA health premiums increasing from 1 November

AIA release latest version of Underwriting Guide

Link Financial Group appoints Luke Roberts and Quentin Holmes as national growth managers

Tony Vidler talks about the importance of focusing on existing client base

Read More
Kelly O Kelly O

Looking at Existing Cover on Advicemonster

Our video shows you how to incorporate existing cover into your recommendations using Advicemonster.

This video shows you how to incorporate existing cover into your recommendations using Advicemonster.

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Kelly O Kelly O

What does a business version of the healthy futures report mean?

Southern Cross’s business edition of the 2024 Healthy Futures Report focuses on employee health and wellbeing.

We took a look at Southern Cross’s business edition of the 2024 Healthy Futures Report, which focuses on employee health and wellbeing. There are clear links between wealth and health, as the old saying has it. Whether one causes the other and in which direction the arrow of causality points is unexplored. We think it’s probably more complicated than this simple pairing of factors, although if someone becomes wealthy, they often become healthier. Likewise, if someone has the misfortune to become chronically ill, they usually get poorer. But these two are probably joined by other factors which may also have some power to affect outcomes – like education while young, health while a child, and current environment.

What employers can do to help is limited – but is appreciated by staff. At Quality Product Research Limited we offer seven of the eleven key suggestions made (soon to be expanded to eight) – we like that we can do that – but people use or do not use them pretty much as they please.

Key takeaways for us from the survey results:

  • 89% of respondents said it was important to them to work for a company that supports the health and wellbeing of their staff.

  • 55% of respondents’ employers were doing well in supporting their employees.

  • The top ten initiatives employers could invest in were wellbeing leave (36%), lunch or break room (29%), flu vaccinations (26%), healthy food options (25%), activities promoting good mental health (23%), workplace massage (23%), Employee Assistance Programme (22%), health assessments (21%), subsidised membership to off-site facilities (21%) and stress management programmes (20%).

  • 88% of employees think having a good work-life balance is important, with a third considering taking steps to improve their work-life balance.

  • Making use of flexible working hours (43%) and switching off from work when finished for the day (43%) were the most common means of managing work-life balance. Conversely, having a high work load (60%), financial pressures (40%) and not having flexible working hours (40%) were cited as most commonly as reasons for poor work-life balance.

  • 51% of workplaces offer flexible working arrangements, down from 54% in 2022; 60% of employees make use of flexible working hours most weeks and an additional 26% utilise it sometimes.

  • Only 45% of kiwis rate themselves as happy with their financial situation; 91% cite cost of living as one of their top concerns and 58% worry about not having enough money to support themselves or their families.

  • 84% of New Zealanders are concerned about not having good, affordable access to healthcare, up 8% from 2022.

  • Kiwis don’t feel they are getting enough sleep (60%) or exercise (62%).

  • New Zealanders without health insurance were more likely to be less happy with their health, financial situation, mental wellbeing, fitness levels, weight of themselves and their children, exercised less on average and were more likely to be stressed.

Southern Cross highlight a series of initiatives workplaces could take to improve employee wellbeing, including:

  • offering education on stress management and financial management;

  • offering free fruit or healthy food in breakrooms;

  • encouraging employees to make use of flexible working if it’s offered;

  • offering health assessments;

  • educating employees on the importance of flu vaccinations;

  • offer opportunities for physical exercise, through work place team sports, sports day or subsidies for gyms or exercise equipment;

  • encouraging employees to take their annual leave;

  • training leaders to identify those at risk of burn-out;

  • offering wellbeing leave;

  • providing employee assistance programmes and educating employees on what it is and hot to use it;

  • offering subsidised health insurance.

1,463 employees were surveyed for this report in March 2024.

 

More news:

Changes to Partners Life’s My Underwriting Manager platform

Jon-Paul Hale talks about CPI & income protection claims

Resonate 2024: Navigating Innovation event 7 November

Amanda Bridge has joined Apex Advice as Adviser Manager

NZ banks begin rollout of the confirmation of payments service from November 2024

Centrix’s latest ‘Credit Indicator Report' finds 461,000 people are behind on their payments

The Monetary Policy Committee cut the Official Cash Rate to 4.75%

BNZ has launched a new security feature aimed at combating online scams

October is International Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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Kelly O Kelly O

KiwiSaver determined to be competitive

The latest Melville Jessup Weaver analysis has determined that KiwiSaver is statistically competitive.

The latest Melville Jessup Weaver analysis has determined that KiwiSaver is statistically competitive. Competitiveness, as measured by the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), improved slightly year on year. There are 38 schemes and 34 providers available for kiwis to choose from, with the three largest owners (ANZ, ASB and Fisher) accounting for around half of scheme members and assets. There was a slight shift in favour of providers outside the 10 largest, who expanded their market share by 0.5% during the 12 months to March 31.

 

More news:

FSC to hold member meeting on XRB Consultation

Financial Advice NZ webinar 'Setting the foundations: Pre-work strategies for seamless submissions' 30 October

Financial Advice NZ masterclass 'Influential Adviser: Mastering the Art of Communication' 22 -29 October

Banking Ombudsman Scheme received 6,054 cases

ANZ announce official partnership with Auckland Football Club

Government announce a pilot to increase childhood immunisations by training the Plunket workforce as vaccinators

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Kelly O Kelly O

Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector

ASIC issue update on licensing; AML/CFT reforms to come; FMA research on KiwiSaver providers; RBNZ publish Governor's speech on improving Māori access to capital; APRA release June 2024 quarter insurance statistical publications; Updated AML/CFT Programme Guideline released.

11 Oct 2024 - ASIC issues 2023-24 update on licensing and professional registration activities. https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/news-items/asic-issues-2023-24-update-on-licensing-and-professional-registration-activities/?altTemplate=betanewsroom

13 Oct 2024 - The Government will reform New Zealand’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) system. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-provide-significant-regulatory-relief-business

14 Oct 2024 - Research from the FMA has found most KiwiSaver providers are well placed to manage their exposure to the commercial real estate market but more work can be done to mitigate and communicate the risks.  https://www.fma.govt.nz/news/all-releases/media-releases/research-on-cre-and-the-kiwisaver-industry/

14 Oct 2024 - RBNZ publish Governor Adrian Orr's keynote speech: Improving Māori Access to Capital. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2024/10/improving-maori-access-to-capital

14 Oct 2024 - APRA has released its suite of quarterly industry aggregate insurance statistical publications for the June 2024 quarter.  https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-releases-quarterly-insurance-statistics-for-june-2024

14 Oct 204 - The Department of Internal Affairs, the Financial Markets Authority and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand have released the updated Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Programme Guideline.  https://www.dia.govt.nz/Updated-AML-CFT-programme-guideline---October-2024

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Doreen Dutt Doreen Dutt

Upcoming training sessions

We are hosting online training sessions on Researchmonster, Advicemonster and Business Risk/Research on a regular basis, we invite you and your team to join us if you’re interested in learning more about these new features.

We are hosting online training sessions on Researchmonster, Advicemonster and Business Risk/Research on a regular basis, we invite you and your team to join us if you’re interested in learning more about these new features.

Our next sessions will be: 

  • Introduction to Quotemonster – Wednesday, 30 October 2024 9:30 am-10:30 am

In this session, we will demonstrate the basic functions of our website, along with some handy tips and tricks along the way.

  • Demystifying Advicemonster - Tuesday, 29 October 2024 9:30 am-10:30 am

In this session Aneel Ravji, our AdviceTech Lead, will demonstrate how to use our needs analysis and statement of advice (SOA) tools.

  • Business Risk Research and SOAs with Quotemonster – Tuesday, 29 October 2024 11:30 am-12:15 pm

In this session, Aneel will demonstrate how to use our business risk pricing, research, and SOA functionality.

If you would like to join either of these sessions, please email your request to info@quotemonster.co.nz

Happy Crunching!

 
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Kelly O Kelly O

KiwiSaver financial hardship withdrawals continue to rise

KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals are up significantly from this time last year. We take a look at the limited set of circumstances under which members can make hardship withdrawals.

In August 2024, more than 4,200 KiwiSaver members withdrew money from the scheme for significant financial hardship reasons, up from 2,760 withdrawals in August 2023.

There is a limited set of circumstances under which members can make hardship withdrawals: if you cannot pay your minimum living expenses; if you can’t keep up with your mortgage or rent; if you need to modify your home to meet special needs; if you need to pay for medical treatment or funeral expenses; or if you’re suffering from a serious illness. The withdrawal function is intended to be a last resort when you have no other options available.

The Financial Services Council has a set of guidelines illustrating how applications will be covered. The intent is to limit withdrawals to meet the basic necessities of everyday living. For example, accommodation expenses can include rates, insurance and basic maintenance but if someone was living in excessively luxurious accommodation and could move to more modest accommodation their excess accommodation costs aren’t regarded as a ‘minimum living expense’. Members are generally unable to claim for things like paying off fines, hire-purchase debt for non-essential expenses or travel to see a sick relative.

So how do members file for a financial hardship withdrawal? Members need to fill out the application, which can include a lot of paperwork – you may need to provide bank statements, proof of identity, pay slips, proof of address, quotes, information about your partners income, assets and expenses and so on. If a member is applying as they cannot meet their minimum living expenses, KiwiSaver Managers and Supervisors will use a weekly budget spreadsheet to analyse the members income, expenses, assets and liabilities to determine if there is a deficit. The budget will take into account basic food and grocery items, accommodation and associated costs such as rates, basic clothing, utilities, transport (up to two vehicles per household and public transport as applicable), general and medical insurances, medical and dental costs (excluding non-essential medical costs such as cosmetic dental treatment), school attendance costs, purchase and maintenance of normal and basic household items, reasonable costs for dependants with special needs.

The member may also need to show they had tried to find other ways of getting by, like accessing government assistance schemes or arranging different repayment arrangements from the bank. Reasonable alternative sources of funding need to have been explored and exhausted – If you have other liquid savings or investments, you will most likely need to have used those up first before withdrawing from KiwiSaver is an option.

After a holistic assessment of the member’s circumstances, if the member establishes they are unlikely to be able to meet minimum living expenses, then the withdrawal is permissible.

If you have a serious illness, you can withdraw up to the full value of your accumulation; however, if you are withdrawing due to an inability to meet minimum living expenses then you will generally be approved for living cost payments in 13 week allocations.

 

More news:

FMA chief to speak at Financial Services Federation conference

BNZ, Westpac and ASB offer assistance to customers affected by severe weather

KiwiSaver has been declared statistically competitive in the latest Melville Jessup Weaver analysis of the sector

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Kelly O Kelly O

FMA acts against misleading customers

The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has been busy, with the news this week full of stories of AA Insurance New Zealand Ltd (AAI) being ordered to pay a penalty and civil proceedings lodged against ASB Bank Limited (ASB).

The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has been busy, with the news this week full of stories of AA Insurance New Zealand Ltd (AAI) being ordered to pay a penalty and civil proceedings lodged against ASB Bank Limited (ASB).

AAI was ordered to pay a penalty of $6.175 million, for failing to apply multi-policy and membership discounts, as well as guaranteed no claims bonuses.

AAI was found to have misled customers about its multi policy discount offer in marketing material – marketing material said existing policy holders who added another policy would receive the discount immediately; however, AAI’s systems only applied the discount once the original policy came up for renewal. This issue affected 112,463 customers, who were overcharged approximately $4.89 million. In addition, AAI failed to apply discounts promised to NZAA members, affecting 90,129 customers who were overcharged approximately $2.95 million in total.

AAI were also found to have misrepresented that certain eligible customers would receive its guaranteed no claims bonus “for life”. Up until December 2011 AAI offered the bonus for each customer’s lifetime, as long as they remained insured with AAI. From 2012 the benefit only applied to the policy’s lifetime – yet AAI marketing continued to use the “for life” language without limitation. This affected 17,973 eligible customers, who were overcharged approximately $3.28 million.

Margot Gatland, FMA Head of Enforcement, said of the AAI judgement,

“AAI’s systems proved to be inadequate and its marketing was not kept in line with internal policies. This judgment sends a strong message to the industry that companies need to ensure their systems and processes are fit for purpose and customers’ interests put first.”

The FMA has filed civil proceedings against ASB for allegedly making false or misleading representations in regards to insurance products and banking services. Similar to AAI, ASB allegedly failed to apply multi policy discounts on ASB-branded insurance products, due to errors in the manual process at point of sale. Another issue arose when ASB staff misinformed customers with policies of insurance for caravans and trailers that they were eligible for the multi policy discount, despite those policies being ineligible. ASB also allegedly failed to consistently apply fee exemptions to certain customer accounts with access to ASB’s Fastnet Banking service, again due to failings in the manual processes. Between April 2014 and May 2022, a total of 23,062 customers were affected by the multi policy discount issue with the total value of overcharged premiums being approximately $2.8 million. During the same period, 2,435 customers were affected by the Fastnet Banking issue, totalling approximately $1,147,276 in overcharges. ASB has completed remediation work on both causes of action and has repaid affected customers, including use of money interest, and they self-reported the errors to the FMA.

Both of these cases demonstrate the willingness of the FMA to prosecute organisations who don’t fulfil their obligations to customers. They also highlight the importance of language in customer communications being crystal clear and that it is essential organisations have the systems-wide processes and checks in place to honour any discounts and offers made to customers. The FMA expect that if you make commitments to customers, you need to keep them, which we think is fair enough.

 

More news:

mySolutions webinar 'Building Stronger Client Connections : Enhancing Engagement and Loyalty' 16 October

Banking Ombudsman Scheme received 6,054 cases

From December, Sharesies’ KiwiSaver members can access the US markets by individual stocks or the Sharesies US500 fund

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