More needs to be done to ensure that insurance products and advice are transparent and easy to understand, industry commentators say.

The number of financial adviser inquiries made to the Financial Markets Authority is steady year-on-year, the regulator's latest annual report shows.

Fidelity Life has appointed a new chief technology officer.

Kiwibank is running a second round of its fintech accelerator, which was responsible for helping to launch investment app Sharesies.

Saturn Portfolio has appointed another adviser to its team.

Although Commonwealth Bank has sold Sovereign to AIA, the insurer’s $7 billion home loan book isn’t part of the deal.

Questions are swirling around the future for the Sovereign Home Loans business. As we report here Sovereign will remain part of ASB and hasn’t been included in the sale to AIA.

Dealer group Newpark is encouraging its members to complete the Level Five insurance papers and it will pay for the training.

A key face has moved on from NZAM.

KiwiSaver provider Simplicity has signed a deal with variable annuity firm Lifetime Retirement Income, to provide a new KiwiSaver fund that offers retirees an income for life.

Financial advisers who did not explain their terms of business, in particular their fees, who did not action client requests to change or cancel policies, and issues of disclosure were some of the most common causes of complaints about advisers over the past year, IFSO says.

Commonwealth Bank is selling Sovereign, and its Australian CommInsure life insurance business, to AIA for A$3.8 billion ($4.14b).