AIA has appointed a Vitality coach for New Zealand.

The Financial Services Council is to formally merge with Workplace Savings NZ.

Some days I think the regulators and officialdom have lost the plot. This week has had a few of those. Let me explain.

A Dunedin insurance broker who claimed he was too sick to work - while splashing out on luxury cars, a new home and overseas trips - has been ordered to repay more than $370,000 in income insurance payouts.

First Mortgage Trust has launched a $50 million special offer for commercial property borrowers.

Bluestone has appointed a new business development manager to replace Melissa Scott who left earlier this year.

Financial Advice New Zealand's quality service mark could be used to fill in some of the gaps in the new Code of Conduct for the advice sector.

The government must ensure its proposed financial safeguards do not affect competition and consumer choice, according to Luke Jackson, head of Resimac's NZ business. 

Needs intro

Independent financial services specialist, Consilium has a new Auckland-based BDM, replacing Helen Robertson.

It should be seen as a positive thing that advisers are reluctant to recommend equities without third-party support, a former investment researcher in New Zealand says.

Nikko Asset Management has appointed a new Auckland business development manager.

The regulator responsible for financial advisers under the AML regime says it has given formal warnings to 10 reporting entities - and most of them were small businesses or individuals.