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.
Fidelity Life announce winners of their Adviser awards
Fidelity Life announced the winners of their Adviser Awards at their 2024 Engage Conference.
Fidelity Life announced the winners of their Adviser Awards at their 2024 Engage Conference.
Professional of the future award: Josh Cuttance – SHARE NZ (Dunedin).
Josh has leveraged social media as a powerful tool to connect, engage, and elevate his professional presence. As well as being a member of Fidelity Life’s Adviser council, he contributes to the wider industry via groups like Financial Advice New Zealand. Balancing the roles of business owner, adviser and father he demonstrates resilience and ambition, recently expanding his team with a new administrative member.
Josh Cuttance being presented with the Professional of the future award by Campbell Mitchell
Cary Veenhof award: Andrea Reid – Aliya Insurance Brokers (Waikato).
Andrea has over 25 years of industry experience and now leads her own FAP and has dedicated her career to supporting New Zealanders. With a client-first approach, she offers guidance during critical claim times, reflected in her excellent NPS results.
Andrea Reid being presented with the Cary Veenhof award by Campbell Mitchell
Team of the Year: Financial Independence (Tauranga).
With 22 professionals, Financial Independence provides outstanding life insurance and service advice, supported by specialised roles in Operations, Claims, and Customer Outcomes. Their commitment to clients is enhanced by teamwork, with everyone based in one office to foster collaboration and shared learning. Their community involvement is equally inspiring, supporting causes like Women’s Wellness, Homes of Hope, Scouts NZ, and Breast Cancer Support.
The Financial Independence team being presented with the Team of the Year award by Campbell Mitchell
Lifetime Award: Grant Maddison - Maddison Financial Services (Queenstown).
Grant has built a reputation as a trusted adviser and mentor, blending warmth and professionalism. His client base is diverse, from tradies to high-net-worth families, with whom he’s fostered long-standing relationships. Specialising in rural sectors, SMEs, and families across Queenstown, Central Otago, and Southland, he’s respected for his expertise and commitment. Beyond his professional achievements, he’s a proud member of Financial Advice New Zealand and brings a passion for travel, golf, soccer, and community.
Grant Maddison being presented with the Lifetime award by Campbell Mitchell
Gordon Watson Trophy: Brett Pearce - Pearce Financial Services (Auckland).
Brett is a 6-time winner of this award. With his extensive experience in the industry and focus on customer outcomes, Brett is consistently described by his customers as professional, prepared, and knowledgeable, keeps up with the latest industry developments and offers a variety of options to meet his customers’ needs. Always there for his customers at claim time, he is also highly regarded by our internal claims and underwriting teams.
Brett Pearce being presented with the Gordon Watson Trophy by Campbell Mitchell
Fidelity Life’s Business manager of the year award was shared by Kenny Kaushish (Auckland) and Michelle Vaughan (Christchurch), who have shown incredible growth and tenacity in delivering outstanding performances.
Kenny Kaushish being presented with the Business Manager of the year award by Campbell MItchell
Michelle Vaughan being presented with the Business Manager of the year award by Campbell Mitchell
Hays publish salary guide
Hays have published their Salary Guide for FY24/25.
Hays have published their Salary Guide for FY24/25. Of note, the extreme skills shortage is lessening yet there is a hesitancy for businesses to take on new hires, due to macro-economic conditions.
Their survey data highlights the importance of brand reputation; diversity, equity and inclusion policies; and environmental, social and governance strategies in attracting talent. Once an employee starts, team culture and job security are the biggest reasons an employee plans to stay with their employer. A huge 82% of employees said that team culture is the most important factor in their decision to stay with their current employer, and 64% said that continued remote or hybrid working was important. More than 77% of employees are currently looking or planning to look for a new job within the next 12 months, with the rising cost of living being the most cited reason (64%).
Currently, 97% of organisations offered a hybrid working model, with 74% not expecting their hybrid work offering to change in the year ahead. This tracks closely with employee wants, with 92% preferring a hybrid mode of working.
86% of organisations are planning on offering pay rises in the year ahead, though the value of the salary increases is dropping, at odds with employee expectations, with 61% of employees expecting an increase of more than 3%. 71% of employees stated that a pay rise was the most important factor to their career in the year ahead but benefits also featured highly in priorities – with learning and developing technical skills (63%) and being able to work flexibly (54%) being important to people.
The survey had 15,324 respondents across Australia and New Zealand, across both employers (6,461) and employees (8,863).
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Fidelity Life appoint new Independent Director
Scott Pickering has been appointed as an Independent Director on Fidelity Life's board.
Scott Pickering has been appointed as an Independent Director on Fidelity Life's board. Pickering has a wealth of governance and insurance experience, currently serving on the boards of IAG New Zealand, IAG Australia and Bowls New Zealand, and he was previously on the board of Chubb Life in New Zealand and Australia.
Fidelity Life Interim Chair Lindsay Smartt says,
“Scott’s passion for the insurance industry and his dedication to mentoring make him a perfect fit for Fidelity Life.
His leadership and strategic insight will be invaluable as we begin deploying our new strategic plan, and chart a course for long term success.”
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AIA launches online adviser onboarding application
AIA NZ has launched AIA Adviser Onboarding, an online application for advisers that want to distribute AIA products. AIA Adviser Onboarding provides a pathway into the AIAHub portal and is a 100% digital experience. Benefits of the new system include:
· quicker processing times;
· reduced manual interventions and handovers;
· automated workflow, identity and due diligence checks which allows advisers to get started on mandatory learning in the AIAHub while their applications are in progress;
· advisers being able to upload education and professional development certifications into AIAHub once they submit their application; and
· ease of tracking applications.
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FMA's latest KiwiSaver annual report finds KiwiSaver reaches $94 billion in March 2023
Strategi finds inadequate record keeping is one of the most common compliance issues
The Adviser Platform team has won AIA’s Licensee Award for Business Innovation to Adviser Services
Naomi Ballantyne to retire from Partners Life
Naomi Ballantyne has announced her intention to retire from Partners Life. Ballantyne will remain as Managing Director until her planned departure after the completion of the March 2024 financial year end. Ballantyne plans to undertake some consulting work for the global Dai-ichi Life business after her departure.
Ballantyne has been with Partners Life 12 years, after founding it in 2011. Dai-Ichi Life purchased Partners Group Holdings for $1 billion in August 2022.
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AIA NZ has been awarded the Accessibility Tick