SDT Financial Software Solutions is to host Involve - Putting Life back into Life Assurance, its inaugural life assurance industry conference, on 6 and 7 September at the Birchwood Executive Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg.
Involve aims to assist life assurance industry players with the new challenges created from the 2005 Pension Fund Adjudicator ruling regarding retirement annuities, as well as taking a look at the impact of government focus on the industry.
"The industry needs to change business models to accommodate any rulings passed by the Pension Fund Adjudicator," says Freda du Toit, executive director of SDT Financial Software Solutions.
"The conference will create a discussion platform where market issues can be raised and suggested solutions debated and analysed. It is a forum through which to seek the best possible solutions to commonly shared problems; to highlight experiences; stimulate new ideas; break moulds; and share knowledge. Conference delegates will broaden their perspectives on industry issues and correct any inaccurate preconceived ideas."
Planned as an annual event, this year's conference is organised around the theme of "Building a new model for life assurance". Speakers include Rob Rusconi, an independent actuary; Radesh Maharaj, senior assistant to the Pension Fund Adjudicator - Johannesburg; Basil Reekie, director of QED Actuaries; Deon Olckers, executive director of Absa Brokers; Stewart Henderson, group CEO of Old Mutual Kenya; and SDT's Du Toit.
Topics to be covered include:
* The implications of the Pension Fund Adjudicator 2005 ruling for trustees and administrators of pension funds;
* What life assurance product features are required to address consumer concerns and the impact of these on the sector's long- and short-term profitability;
* The issue of commissions and administrative challenges; and
* The need for and impact of governance and transparency.
"2005 was a watershed year for the South African life assurance industry, forcing companies to make promises to customers, restructure their operations and introduce better products that take greater cognisance of client needs and disclosure," Du Toit says. "Yet, fundamentally, the industry has changed little. To enable the much needed reform, Involve will facilitate concrete discussions on what change is required and what the true impact of this will be on each industry player."
* Contact Sumari Lottering on (+27) 12 347 4945 or sumari@sdt.co.za to book your seat.
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