Editorial

Editor - Peter Sobels

Managing Editor – Peter Sobels

A Positive Message

The recently completed Synchron conference delivered an affirmation of much that is good about the life insurance industry in Australia.

Riskinfo was a guest at the conference, which confronted and discussed the critical issues of the day that are impacting advisers and advice practices, both present and future.

Some of the ‘new age’ messages may have been confronting for many long-time risk practitioners in particular. These messages related to issues such as reduced commission structures under the yet-to-be passed Life Insurance Framework legislation and the prospect of a new narrative that would deliver a valid fee-based, but still risk-focused, advice business of the future.
What impressed me was the willingness of what appeared to be the vast majority of the adviser audience to be open to new ideas. This isn’t easy, and I’m not naive enough to think everyone agreed with some of these messages.

there seems to have emerged a resilience amongst the adviser community

While there clearly remains strong opposition by many advisers to the Life Insurance Framework remuneration model, there appeared to be a noticeable lack of cynicism displayed by most, if not all, of the adviser delegates.

Over the last few years, risk-focused advisers have had their integrity questioned by all and sundry. They will shortly be required to move away from upfront commission models and to operate under a two-year clawback system. Yet if the attitude displayed at this conference represents a wider mood across the industry, there seems to have emerged a resilience amongst the adviser community that will enable them to cope with the impending regulatory changes and to reassess and reposition their business model, if this is what it will take, to survive and thrive in what will be a new era for the industry.

sig-Peter-S

Peter Sobels

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