Michael Pillemer

Specialist risk insurer PPS Mutual has launched the inaugural 2026 PPS Mutual Risk Practice of the Year Award. This landmark award celebrates excellence in risk advice nationwide.

The award will spotlight advice practices that generate greater than 50% of their annual new business revenue from life insurance-related advice. Entrants will be assessed across five core pillars: customer excellence, commercial strategy, continuous improvement, cultural strength, and industry contribution.

Michael Pillemer, CEO of PPS Mutual, said the award comes at a pivotal moment for the profession: “The life insurance industry has endured an unprecedented wave of regulatory change, rising compliance obligations, and increasing operational pressures. Delivering quality risk advice is now more complex and challenging than ever. Yet advisers remain central to protecting Australians’ financial futures.

“Risk advice is the bedrock of financial security for millions of people – but it is also one of the most underappreciated parts of our industry. Through this award, we want to recognise those advice practices that are excelling under pressure, setting new standards, and helping to build a stronger, more sustainable future for life insurance in Australia. Importantly, this award isn’t just about recognition – it’s about empowerment. By elevating the winner’s profile and growth potential, we’re investing back into the advice community we serve exclusively.”

The winner will be announced ahead of the Riskinfocus 26 Risk Advice CPD Tour, Australia’s premier life insurance professional development event. As part of their prize, the winning practice will take part in Q&A sessions at each of the six Riskinfocus 26 events nationwide, sharing their philosophy and insights with peers across the country. Their travel and accommodation will be included, along with a complimentary table of eight at their hometown Riskinfocus 26 event.

To further support business growth, the winner will also receive a strategic marketing tailored prize package including:

• A technical SEO review and growth report from Jaywing, a data-driven digital agency specialising in SEO, analytics, and performance marketing, to improve online visibility and business performance.
• Eight custom social media posts and a complimentary graphic design package to promote their service offering.
• A media release developed and distributed by Madden & Assoc., a Sydney-based specialist communications firm focused exclusively on financial services.

The judging panel features some of the most respected leaders in the life insurance and advice sector, including:

• Angus Woods, Managing Director of Adviser Ratings
• Sue Laing, Technical Director at The Risk Store Consulting
• Peter Sobels, Publisher of Riskinfo
• Marc Fabris, Digital Consultant and Founder of Risk Hub
• Sue Viskovic, Head of Consulting at Vital Business Partners

Applications are now open and close on 27 October 2025.

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Tim Howell

Zurich has announced the launch of its ‘next generation’ adviser portal, incorporating a new online platform for life insurance quotes and applications.

Developed in conjunction with Omnium, UnderwriteMe and User Experience specialists Jade Software, the Zurich Adviser Portal also incorporates client management functionality and utilises the UnderwriteMe rules engine to significantly increase straight-through-processing rates.

An automated pre-assessment tool within the platform allows a simpler, faster process for obtaining indicative underwriting terms, further improving adviser and practice efficiency.

Offering the convenience of a single sign on facility, The Zurich Adviser Portal also allows advisers to request updates to policy details such as address and payment method, and offers real time tracking of their progress.

Commenting on the launch, Zurich’s Head of Propositions, Tim Howell, said that optimizing both the ease of use and processing speed had been paramount in the design and build of the portal, with significant efficiency improvements being achieved as a result.

“The quoting and application process can be one of the lengthiest and most complex aspects of implementing life insurance advice, and adviser feedback suggested that across the entire market there was much scope for improvement”, he said.

“Along with our partners Omnium, UnderwriteMe and Jade Software, we were able to tap into deep user insights about quoting software across the market to identify priority areas, such as side-by-side policy comparisons, navigation within applications and simplifying the process of adding and removing optional benefits.

Zurich Head of Digital Marc Fabris lead the Portal’s development, and oversaw an extensive program of adviser input at all stages.

“We conducted extensive beta testing with a panel of advisers and witnessed dramatic improvements in the information capture process, which saw higher overall completion rates and faster turnaround times”’ said Fabris.

“The resulting platform is, we believe, a market leader, and one that will not only aid practice efficiency, but will also enhance the client experience”, said Fabris.

The Zurich Adviser Portal replaces the existing ZLife platform, and desktop quoting software ZXpress which will be phased out over the coming months. Advisers will be able to log in using their existing ZLife login, at zurich.com.au/adviserportal

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Marc Fabris

Zurich Financial Services Australia Limited (Zurich) yesterday announced the successor to its pioneering LifeXpress mobile app, with the launch of ZLife mobile, an app designed to provide advisers with easy, quick, secure access to clients’ life insurance information.

Equipped with push notification capability, the ZLife mobile app will place detailed, up to date client information at advisers’ fingertips, allowing them to deliver higher levels of service ‘on the go’ whilst at the same time giving them more visibility of approaching events within their client portfolio.

“The ZLife Mobile app includes market leading functionality, developed after extensive beta testing with a panel of advisers,” said Marc Fabris, Head of Digital, Zurich Life and Investments.

In addition to push notifications which can be personalised to suit advisers’ individual needs, advisers can also tag VIP clients, and view upcoming renewals, pending lapses and cancellations, and changes in client details. Advice is also provided on applications going in force.

“The VIP tagging allows advisers to be more informed and more proactive in providing a higher level of service to their most valuable clients,” said Mr Fabris.

“Zurich ZLife Mobile is intuitive, user friendly and offers a useful trigger for advisers to open conversations with their clients; it’s just another way Zurich Australia offers award-winning service and support to help advisers work smarter and more productively,” he added.

Effectively harnessing the power of Zurich’s ZLife adviser portal, the ZLife app is available now via the Apple Store for iPhones and Google Play Store for Android phones.

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In this role he will lead the next phase of Zurich’s strategy to become more digitally engaged with its customers and distribution partners, overseeing a team comprising web producers, digital strategists and marketing automation specialists.

Mr. Fabris returns to Australia fresh from a three-year assignment at Zurich’s global headquarters, where he served as Global Life Head of Digital Marketing.

In welcoming Mr. Fabris back to Zurich’s local business, General Manager Life and Investments, Philip Kewin said Mr. Fabris’ passion and expertise has been a significant contributor to Zurich’s local reputation as a pioneer of innovation and technology, exemplified by the development of Zurich’s first to market mobile quotation app, as well as driving the development of the iPad app, ‘iRisk Advisor’, at a time when apps were still in their infancy in the Australian life insurance market.

“Marc was one of the first to understand the convergence of mobile technology and social media and its implications for the way insurers could engage with its customers, distributors and the wider community, a vision which resulted in Zurich launching several ‘first to market’ apps, ranging from mobile quoting to augmented reality,” said Kewin.

“He also understood the possibilities to drive both efficiency and improved client service by supporting market facing digital solutions with the right infrastructure, and he was the chief architect of Zurich’s market leading daily data feed solution.

“Marc has a well-deserved reputation amongst the IFA community as a digital pioneer and fintech advocate, and we are excited to welcome him back.” said Kewin.

One of Mr. Fabris’ first priorities will be to oversee a major revamp of Zurich’s local websites.

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In his new role Marc will be based in Zurich, Switzerland, but have a global mandate to drive the evolution of distribution strategies within Zurich’s markets around the world.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr Colin Morgan, CEO of Zurich’s Australian Life and Investments business, said “Our Australian business has forged a reputation for innovation, particularly in the evolving area of digital technology and social media, and Marc has driven our work in that space”.

“Over the last three years, Marc has spearheaded our development of a suite of market leading mobile apps for advisers,” said Mr Morgan.

“He has also been instrumental in initiatives which help advisers leverage technology to drive both efficiency and improved customer experience, and is recognised as true pioneer within the local market.

“His innovative approach has been recognised as one which Zurich can leverage globally, and we are delighted that one of our own has been appointed to such a pivotal role”, said Mr Morgan.

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