Pauline Vamos

Zurich Financial Services Australia (Zurich) today announced the appointment of Pauline Vamos as Independent Director and Chair of Zurich Assure, effective 1 July 2024.

Ms Vamos has extensive experience across financial services, insurance and the regulatory landscape, including as a former Director of Financial Services Regulation at the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), Chief Executive Officer at the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) and Head of Legal and Compliance at Tower Life.

In addition to joining the Zurich Assure board, Ms Vamos currently also serves as a Non-Executive board member of Mercer Superannuation (Australia) Limited, Chair and President of the Governance Institute of Australia, Chair of K2fly, a Non-Executive Director at Chief Executive Women, and Chair of Interaction Disability Services Limited.

Ms Vamos said, “I am delighted and honoured to join the Zurich Assure board and look forward to working alongside fellow board members and the broader team to evolve its operations and strong customer offering.”

Sandhya Maini, Head of Zurich Assure said: “Ms Vamos brings extensive experience and capability across leadership, strategy and social responsibility which will play an integral role as Zurich Assure continues its digital advancement and focus on making financial advice more accessible and affordable for Australians.”

Zurich Assure is Zurich’s life insurance advice business which has provided independent advice services to Zurich’s existing life insurance customers since 2022.

Ms Vamos joins existing board members Kieran Forde and Matthew Drennan.

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Established in 2014, PFAN is a trusted network of industry professionals who are focused on providing pro bono financial advice to those in need. Currently, PFAN works with the Multiple Sclerosis network throughout Australia, connecting individuals through referral partners to locally based advisers. Advisers registered with PFAN are given the opportunity to take on one pro bono client per year.

PFAN Chair Nicola Beswick said she is delighted that Zurich Assure, Inteprac and Sequoia have joined the PFAN network to help improve the financial wellbeing of people in need.

“Our mission is to help improve the financial wellbeing of Australian’s living with serious illness or disability, by providing pro bono financial advice, and to inspire others to do the same. Through our PFAN adviser network, we’re able to connect advisers with people who need financial advice assistance and are experiencing significant financial hardship because of a personal health crisis.

“Having the support from trusted brands like Zurich Assure, InterPrac and Sequoia enables us to service more clients and ultimately extend our services to others that need our assistance. We also hope to inspire the next generation of advisers and increase awareness of the value that we bring to others through our profession.”

As a market leader in helping advised clients to navigate the insurance claims process, Zurich Assure has offered its support and assistance to the PFAN community.

Head of Zurich Assure Sandhya Maini said: “Recent research conducted by Zurich shows that in the event of an illness or injury impacting their primary income, almost 40 per cent of individuals would only have sufficient financial resources for up to two weeks. In addition, one in three people indicated they had no financial backup plan in these circumstances.

“Seeking and obtaining the right advice at the right time can make a significant and positive difference. For this reason, and consistent with our values as an organisation, Zurich remains committed to helping those most in need.”

Through PFAN, InterPrac and Sequoia’s network of advisers can now register their interest in providing pro bono financial advice.

InterPrac CEO Garry Crole said: “InterPrac and Sequoia are pleased to support those who need advice the most, by participating in this program. In our opinion, the best investment any one can make, is to appoint a financial planner or wealth coach.”

Feedback from advisers who have signed up to the PFAN network have expressed the importance of giving back by offering their professional services in kind to those who need it the most.

Sovereign Advisors Managing Director Zaheer Lalani said: “As trusted professionals in the business of providing financial advice, it is not only suggested but incumbent on us all to share our time and knowledge with those who need us most.”

Border Financial Advice Managing Director Tom Border said: “I understand that financial literacy isn’t necessarily accessible to everyone – it can be costly and involve complicated concepts and legislation. I would like to use the knowledge I’ve gained over 25 years in the industry to help others.”

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Nicola Beswick

Zurich Financial Services Australia (Zurich) has announced a partnership with the Pro Bono Financial Advice Network (PFAN), extending professional insurance assistance to those in particularly adverse or vulnerable situations.

Through the partnership, Zurich Assure – Zurich’s life insurance advice business – will work through PFAN, a trusted not-for-profit network of professionals, to help Australians living with, or responding to, a personal health crisis improve their financial wellbeing.

Those suffering from serious illness or disability will be able to access pro bono personal insurance advice and insurance claims assistance, support and guidance, including for example:

• evaluating claims eligibility
• preparing, reviewing and lodging claims applications, and
• ongoing claims management.

Sandhya Maini, Head of Zurich Assure, said: “Recent research conducted by Zurich shows that in the event of an illness or injury impacting their primary income, almost 40 per cent of individuals would only have sufficient financial resources for up to two weeks. In addition, one in three people indicated they had no financial backup plan in these circumstances.”

“Seeking and obtaining the right advice at the right time can make a significant and positive difference. For this reason, and consistent with our values as an organisation, Zurich remains committed to helping those most in need,” Ms Maini said.

Nicola Beswick, PFAN Chair said: “Our mission is to help improve the financial wellbeing of Australian’s living with serious illness or disability, by providing pro bono financial advice, and to inspire others to do the same. Through our PFAN adviser network, we’re able to connect advisers with people who need financial advice assistance and are experiencing significant financial hardship because of a personal health crisis.

“Having the support from trusted brands like Zurich Assure enables us to service more clients and ultimately extend our services to others that need our assistance. We also hope to inspire the next generation of advisers and increase awareness of the value that we bring to others through our profession,” Ms Beswick said.

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