BDMs put through level five to understand adviser experience

Cris Knell, executive general manager of distribution at Suncorp, says while there is a lot of change going on as the industry transitions to the Financial Services Legislation Amendment Act regime, Suncorp can see the advantages and opportunities that lie ahead.

“This is the conversation we’re having with advisers at the moment. It’s generating more opportunities than threats.”

He started his career as a “high street insurance broker” in the UK before working for AIG and then Suncorp. He said when regulation was introduced in the UK one of the unintended consequences was that, because it was brought in too quickly, some “good people” left the industry. “Customers were not getting as good a service as before regulation.”

Knell said, because change was being enacted at a slower pace here, it should help to avoid that happening.