The Holistic Adviser Wellbeing Toolkit is comprised of two parts:

• 1. My Wellbeing Hub
  2. CPD-accredited training modules hosted on _Zone, the new on-demand financial adviser learning platform. These are the first modules focussed on mental health within _Zone.

My Wellbeing Hub is a brand-new, purpose-built website with tools and resources that can be accessed by anyone at any time, although it has particularly been designed for Zurich and OnePath Life customers, distribution partners and communities.  Its curated and regularly updated resources consider:

• Mental wellbeing: ways to manage mental health, stress, and sleep.
• Nutrition and fitness: tips for healthy living.
• Community: health and wellness organisations.
• Tools and support: links to financial adviser support resources from AFA Care and FPA Wellbeing, as well as national support services such as R U OK?, Lifeline and Beyond Blue.

The Holistic Adviser Toolkit was developed in collaboration with a cross-industry working group borne out of the Zurich Leaders Forums in late 2019. The working group was established to help fight the rising levels of mental ill-health amongst financial advisers, setting out to provide greater guidance and better coordination of resources to help advisers take care of their wellbeing. Feedback from the industry also showed that advisers wanted tools and support to provide industry-leading care, understanding and coaching for their clients and teams.

The working group included: Philip Kewin, CEO Association of Financial Advisers (AFA); Dante De Gori, CEO Financial Planning Association; Nettie Handley, Consultant at Bombora Advice; and Aaron Williams, CEO and co-founder of Mindstar – alongside Zurich Life & Investments’ Kristine Brooks, Chief Distribution Officer, Tim Atley, Head of Strategic Account Management, and Maria Falas, Head of Mental Health & Wellness.

Maria Falas, Zurich and OnePath Life’s Head of Mental Health & Wellness, said, “We’re very proud to be working in collaboration with the industry and our community partners to provide tools, resources and training to help advisers understand and manage their mental wellbeing, and to support customers in the same pursuit. Our ability to support each other as a community is needed like never before, and Zurich and OnePath Life will continue to take an active role in helping to address this pressing issue in all of our communities of influence.”

Philip Kewin, CEO, Association of Financial Advisers (AFA), said, “At a time when financial advisers are providing such valuable service and support to their clients to ease their emotional and financial burden, it is so important for they themselves to have access to tools and support to look after their own wellbeing.”

The Holistic Adviser Wellbeing Toolkit is another initiative within Zurich’s multi-faceted MindFIT program, which was established four years ago to support greater understanding and positive mental wellbeing for its employees, customers, distribution partners, and communities.

Its content enclosed draws upon the resources and expertise from Zurich and OnePath Life’s network of mental health community programs, partners and key industry bodies. This includes SuperFriend; Tackle Your Feelings, a community program for AFL clubs and coaches; and Mr Perfect, which encourages conversations and connections through informal BBQs across Australia.

The post Zurich and OnePath Life launch industry-wide mental health support for financial advisers appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Nathan Taggart has been promoted to the role of Head of Strategic Development and joins the Distribution Leadership team, reporting to Zurich Life and Investments’ Head of Distribution Kristine Brooks.

New appointments include eight Business Development Managers and one Strategic Accounts Manager, based across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.

• In New South Wales: Annqua Murray and James O’Dwyer join as Business Development Managers, and Liz Versace joins as a Business Support Officer.
• In Queensland: Tanya Woolnough joins as Business Development Manager.
• In Victoria: Emily Cossignani and Andrew Roberts join as Business Development Managers, while Sarah Nichols has been promoted to the same role.
• Tim Atley joins as Strategic Accounts Manager and Heena Mulchandani joins as a Business Development Associate, both reporting to the Strategic Development team.
• In Western Australia: Richard Burton and Steve Coyle join as Business Development Managers.

Ms Brooks said the appointments follow Zurich’s recent acquisition of Macquarie Life and the securing of several important new distribution relationships.

“This investment in the size of our team allows us to fully support our growing network of IFA and bank-aligned partners. It comes at a point in time when it’s critical that we as an industry educate as many Australians as possible about the important role of life insurance, and do all we can to ensure as many Australians as possible are properly protected,” Ms Brooks said.

“I’m very excited to welcome these talented people to our award-winning BDM team. It’s a reflection ofin the market opportunity we see across the country and means we have more firepower to support our advisers and licensee partners to grow their practices and focus on delivering fantastic financial advice to help protect and grow the wealth of Australians,” Ms Brooks added.

The appointments come prior to Zurich revamping and refreshing its product proposition in 2017, and more fully integrating the products acquired through the Macquarie Life acquisition in October 2016.

Key experience

New South Wales

• Nathan Taggart joined Zurich in 2013 after five years at BT Financial Group and previously Aviva Australia. He has held a range of distribution and advice roles.
• Annqua Murray has worked at TAL and AIA and previously was based in South Africa.
• James O’Dwyer has extensive Advice experience.
• Liz Versace joins from OnePath.

Queensland

• Tanya Woolnough joins from AMP and her financial services career spans 15 years of product and business development management in the QLD market.

Victoria

• Emily Cossignani has over ten years’ experience managing key relationships in Victoria and Tasmania and joins from AIA Australia, where she held BDA and BSO roles.
• Sarah Nichols joined Zurich’s General Insurance division five years ago before moving to Life Risk in early 2014, moving through BDO and BDA roles since.
• Andrew Roberts joins Zurich from the role of National Insurance Manager at NAB Financial Planning. He played an integral role in the expansion of NAB Financial Planning APL and Zurich product accreditation of 480 NAB advisers. He was previously National Training Manager for IRESS.
• Tim Atley has joined from Lifebroker, where he was Head of Sales & Operations. He has previously held roles at ANZ FP, iSelect and NAB. Tim joins Zurich’s national Strategic Accounts team, managing ongoing relationships with current dealer group partners, and is Melbourne-based.
• Heena Mulchandani joins Zurich from a paraplanning role at Salt Financial Group – Securitor

Western Australia

• Richard Burton joins the WA team from Westpac Group’s mortgage broking team and has over 17 years’ finance industry experience.
• Steve Coyle joins the WA team in the role of Business Development Manager, most recently running his own financial planning business. Previously he was State Manager for Guardian Financial Planning dealer group, and held roles with NAB and AMP.

The post Zurich expands life risk distribution team in NSW, QLD, VIC and WA appeared first on AdviserVoice.