LIFE RISK CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

An initiative of the risk store aimed at recognising
commitment and contribution to the life risk industry

The financial planning industry overall grants many awards – to funds managers, insurers, advisers and to financial products. Some significant industry contributions are recognised in some capacity by, say, industry associations.

The life risk industry has for some time taken something of a second place: in the media, among financial planners, within many licensee groups, and in general also by regulators.

The importance of the life risk industry to the economy is arguably less understood and certainly less lauded than it should be. There are no doubt many ways this can be addressed and all of these ways should be undertaken by relevant stakeholders as an urgent re-vamp of the life risk industry’s ‘image’.

In the light of this, the risk store was developed to be an educational hub for the enhancement of both technical understanding of life risk advice issues but also to champion the cause of writing more protection for the population. In addition to this role, the risk store sees that there is a great opportunity to be the springboard into a heightened sense of industry ‘drive’. Holding a life risk champion up to accolade is a worthwhile part of that promotion of the industry.

The Life Risk Champion of the Year Award was the outcome of this thinking. Each year, at the risk store’s annual conference, the result of an industry-wide nomination and judging process is announced, thus publicising and rewarding the efforts of an individual - any individual, in any relevant capacity.

The criteria describe the individual as:
1.    Identified as being associated with Life Risk issues in Australia
2.    Having a demonstrated enthusiasm and passion for Life Risk
3.    Having sound knowledge of the Life Risk industry in at least one significant area
4.    Having the will and capacity to influence and initiate welcome or necessary change and new ideas
5.    Having some kind of recognisable, direct or indirect distribution influence (doesn’t necessarily need to work in distribution)
6.    Contributing by their actions and/or role to the education of stakeholders, which could include:

•    Advisers
•    Licensee principals
•    Consumers
•    Insurers
•    Regulators
•    Associations