Westpac economists believe the Official Cash Rate will drop into negative territory this year amid the economic turmoil caused by Covid-19.

Advisers distributing Partners Life policies can expect to have their processes checked on when a policy is issued, increased in value or cancelled.

Advisers may have a little more freedom about the way they conduct business under alert level three.

Fund managers have been faced with market declines happening at a rate never seen before, ANZ's chief investment officer Paul Huxford says.

A M Best says Partners Life has a very strong balance sheet and has continued to award its current rating.

National Capital, the first financial advisory firm in New Zealand to launch a digital personalised KiwiSaver advice service has announced the appointment of an investment research lead.

Periods of house price decline are rare and "short-lived", says economist Tony Alexander, amid forecasts of a drop of 10%-15% this year.

AMP managing director Blair Vernon says the sale of the business's New Zealand wealth arm is not on hold - but progress has slowed.

Some KiwiSaver members could get a nasty surprise when they receive an update from their provider telling them what sort of income their savings could generate in retirement, one provider says.

New Zealand managers have outperformed the markets during the Covid-19 disruption, in contrast to the experience of their international counterparts, actuaries MJW say.

Accuro Health Insurance has announced the appointment of a new chief executive.

The property market has received a boost after Housing Minister Megan Woods confirmed that private viewings will be allowed under alert level three.

Financial advisers needed to be particularly alert to the risk of money laundering at present, the founder of an anti-money laundering software company says.

Adviser group Mortgage Link has made a series of new hires across its national network.