TAL’s vision for Affinia is to be the leading dealer network in the market for advice risk specialists.  Affinia will be backed by the infrastructure, expertise and financial strength of TAL.

Craig Parker, Head of Affinia, said that the group is looking to partner with advisers who are specialists in risk, and who want an alternative to a traditional dealer group.

“From talking to risk specialists around the country, we know there are many advisers out there who feel left out in the cold by the traditional dealer groups. They’re fed up of being the poor relation of their wealth management cousins, and bored by the same-sameness of most dealer groups.

“We want to shake things up. We’ve designed Affinia from scratch based on adviser feedback about what’s important to them so we can stand out in a market which offers little differentiation or specific tools and support for the true risk specialist.  Affinia will be the natural home for advisers who are as passionate about life insurance as TAL is.”

Affinia will offer a number of features which Mr Parker believes will be attractive to the risk-specialist adviser, including a flat fee structure and commissions paid weekly. Affinia will also offer underwriting pre-assessment services, business planning and legal services, and marketing support for advisers.

“As Affinia is backed by TAL, the largest life insurance specialist, we believe we can be more flexible and responsive to advisers’ wants and needs than a traditional dealer group,” he said. “Our goal is to create a community where advisers can have a say in how products and services are developed.

“Affinia’s unashamed ambition is to the number one choice for advisers specialising in life insurance.”

Brett Clark, TAL’s chief executive officer, Retail Life, explained the rationale behind TAL launching a risk-specialist dealer group.

“Affinia will play a key part in TAL fulfilling its ambition of making life insurance accessible to even more Australians.  We want to see more Australians getting access to high quality life insurance advice and product solutions.

“The Affinia brand will complement the existing TAL business and we are very excited about the opportunity for growth in the market.  We have worked hard at TAL to build a leading life insurance business, and we intend to work just as hard in building a leading risk focused advice business.

“Affinia has the full support and backing of TAL.  We will leverage the strengths of the entire organisation and our expertise in life insurance to ensure that Affinia is a success for advisers and the customers it serves,” said Mr Clark.

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