Risk insurers’ conduct will be focus of next decade
Regulators are set to focus on insurers' conduct risk over the course of the next decade, KPMG global insurance risk and regulation lead, Rob Curtis, believes.
Speaking at the Money Management Leaders Series Life/Risk Remuneration Inside the New Framework breakfast in Sydney, Curtis, said change is on the way.
Curtis told delegates the financial services regulators had gone through the prudential steps in the process and would focus on conduct risk going forward.
He urged insurers to develop conduct risk frameworks, with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) set to focus on the sector, saying "almost all insurers" had no framework.
"Supervisors will come knocking on your doors asking about your conduct risk framework," he said.
"A big sea change is coming through... There's going to be a very different regulatory environment, ASIC will become more APRA-like in its approach."
Recommended for you
Policy and advocacy specialist Benjamin Marshan has left the Council of Australian Life Insurers after less than a year, having joined in March from the Financial Planning Association of Australia.
The declining volume of risk advisers meant KPMG has found a rising lapse rate for insurance policies arranged by independent financial advisers, particularly in the TPD and death cover space.
The Life Insurance Code of Practice has transferred from the Financial Services Council to the Council of Australian Life Insurers.
The firm has announced it will no longer be writing new life insurance policies in the retail advised and corporate group insurance channels, citing a declining market and risk adviser numbers.