moneyblog

You are more likely to be killed by...

Russell Hutchinson — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 22:27:11 +1200

http://theeconomist.tumblr.com/post/24197086558 Daily chart: disease. You are more likely to be killed by a non-communicable disease, like cancer or heart disease, than anything else. In 2008 they accounted for 63% of the 56m deaths worldwide. Courtesy of The Economist.

Friday Fun - A Useful Tool

Russell Hutchinson — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:17:00 +1200

If you aren't making the occasional mistake which could call for the services offered by this link, then you aren't trying hard enough.

The Cavalcade of Risk

Russell Hutchinson — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:50:22 +1200

Nina Kallen does a fine job with this cavalcade of risk posts - especially fine as she picked one of my posts to lead the cavalcade. Other posts that caught my eye were: The study Hank Stern identifies showing that...

David Chaplin on KiwiSaver

Russell Hutchinson — Thu, 31 May 2012 21:16:30 +1200

Some useful points are made in David's article about the KiwiSaver review. However, the terms of reference of the review are far too narrow to give any hope to anyone with more fundamental concerns about KiwiSaver.

UK: SHIP to Become Equity Release Council

Russell Hutchinson — Thu, 31 May 2012 12:22:00 +1200

Over in the UK the Safe Home Income Plans group intends to become the Equity Release Council. The new grouping is similar conceptually to the approach being adopted by our own Financial Services Council. It is a broadly based group...

Let Some More People Out of KiwiSaver Early

Russell Hutchinson — Thu, 31 May 2012 10:06:00 +1200

I would just like to make the case for two additional types of situations in which people should be allowed to withdraw some or all of their KiwiSaver funds. Before I do that, we should just review the current reasons...

How Many Insurers do Advisers Have Access to? Numbers Just In.

Russell Hutchinson — Thu, 31 May 2012 09:49:29 +1200

Results just in from the Quotemonster survey of how many companies advisers have access to: Of course, Quotemonsters would have access to many companies. Those that don't aren't likely to want to highlight all the companies that they can't deeal...

Latest Goodreturns Piece

Russell Hutchinson — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:34:15 +1200

I ask the question "are you a broker?" over at goodreturns, referring to it's old-fashioned meaning, not it's meaning as defined in the Financial Advisers Act. Check it out over there.

Insurance Book Recommendation

Russell Hutchinson — Wed, 30 May 2012 08:57:00 +1200

I've just read Rick Vassar's book "Hide! Here Comes The Insurance Guy..." and beyond the hokey title this is actually a very good little book. Mr Vassar is obviously an intensely practical risk manager. Although his experience relates primarily to...

Swiss Re Sigma Report

Russell Hutchinson — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:48:50 +1200

This is a useful report - well worth a read, especially the statistical appendix, which has premiums written, growth rates, per capita spend, and so on. Some of this will form part of my next article in Asset which I...

New Zealand Insurers and Advisers on Facebook

Russell Hutchinson — Tue, 29 May 2012 08:15:00 +1200

After my post on the use of social media I thought I'd quickly scan Facebook for Kiwi Insurers or Insurance Advisers on what is arguably the worlds most powerful social media engine. Can you guess what I found on typing...

Solicitor Struck Off for Referring to a Related Party

Russell Hutchinson — Mon, 28 May 2012 12:25:00 +1200

This is a fascinating case, reported by Natalie Holt, where a solicitor has apparently been referring people to a financial adviser that did not meet the required definition of independence. There were other factors involved as well, including a loan...

Quotemonster Statistics

Russell Hutchinson — Mon, 28 May 2012 07:21:00 +1200

Quotemonster has cool statistics for those with login accounts (grab one, its free) here is the selection for last week: Average amount of life cover quoted: $374,000 Average amount of Trauma cover quoted: $134,700 Highest annualised premium: $59,498 Average time...

Europe's Biggest Fear

Russell Hutchinson — Sun, 27 May 2012 21:21:29 +1200

A succinct run through the mechanics of a European bank run in peripheral economies and why it might be hard to prevent. Link.

Is New Zealand an Emerging Market for Insurance?

Russell Hutchinson — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:19:00 +1200

This is a fascinating paper, and not merely from a humanitarian point of view. Students of marketing will be interested in the lessons for bringing the uninsured into the product in developed markets as well. Then as I read the...

Great Insurance Pitches of the Past: Could Father Be Mother?

Russell Hutchinson — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:01:25 +1200

Check out this gorgeous insurance advertisement from yesteryear (Hat tip: Jenny Bow at AMP) Don't you love the slightly sinister "how would your children fare if everything was left to father?" This is highly segmented advertising - designed to activate...

$479 Million In Dog Bite Claims

Russell Hutchinson — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:09:30 +1200

In the USA $479 Million last year in dog bite claims. Wow. Bow wow.

NZ Insurers Should Use More Social Media

Russell Hutchinson — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:24:41 +1200

My experience is that New Zealand insurers are at the very beginning of the journey in using social media. This is a shame, because Kiwis are quite good at adopting new ways of doing things, and that applies commercially, as...

Developing Metrics in Product Research

Russell Hutchinson — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:53:44 +1200

Each of the items in our product research is built on four mandatory pieces of data: An assessment of the definition for the item - which could be termed "how easy it is to claim" A score for incidence, usually...

PAA Roadshow

Russell Hutchinson — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:42:56 +1200

The PAA has a national roadshow next week: 28th – 31st May. It’s on ‘CPD 101’ and a structured session, consumer research undertaken by AIA, friendly business guidance for members and Professional indemnity.