Lawyers are backing one professional body to represent all financial advisers.

Tens of thousands of registered financial advisers will have to head to the classroom if the Financial Advisers Act brings in a compulsory level five qualification for all, New Zealand Qualifications Authority data shows.

New Zealand's adviser associations are being criticised for what is described as an attempt to use the Financial Advisers Act to promote their own position in the industry.

The Professional Advisers Association wants registered financial advisers to be able to use their CPD to transition to a new, higher standard – and more of a role for professional bodies in regulating the industry.

The size of UDC Finance in the New Zealand market could make it harder for ANZ to offload it in, one commentator says.

KiwiSaver is promoted as one of the best ways for New Zealanders to save for retirement but almost one in five members of parliament have not bothered to join the scheme.

AIA is to introduce a new pendulum commission model that will enable advisers to swap lower upfronts for more renewal commission.

[UPDATED] New Zealand insurers say standard trauma definitions could end up costing consumers.

A low interest rate environment requires a new approach to equities valuation, one fund manager says.

Concerns have been raised that savers who rely on calculators to determine whether they are on track for their retirement could be left out of pocket.

Regulation governing the insurance sector in New Zealand is to be reviewed.

The Financial Markets Authority wants advisers’ help to tackle the problem of New Zealanders getting ripped off by unregulated investment offers.

Advisers need to help stop investors becoming their own worst enemies in the current low-rate environment, an analyst says.

AMP expects bundling life insurance with KiwiSaver to become a key way to fight New Zealand’s under-insurance problem.

Many investment advisers do not properly understand the definition of a wholesale investor or what it would mean for their advice practices, one compliance expert says.

Communication between financial advisers and their clients is a recurring theme in complaints and complaint inquiries, the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme says.