Professional Adviser www.professionaladviser.com Pandemic fears reboot interest in dwindling life insurance market - adviser's research <p><!--summary start--> The coronavirus pandemic and its massive impact on daily life has sparked renewed interest in life insurance after five years of falling sales, according to Salisbury House Wealth. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/4017784/pandemic-fears-reboot-interest-dwindling-life-insurance-market-adviser-research https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/4017784/pandemic-fears-reboot-interest-dwindling-life-insurance-market-adviser-research Wed, 15 Jul 2020 07:12:28 +0000 VitalityLife launches new comparison tool for advisers <p><!--summary start--> VitalityLife has launched an enhanced premium comparison tool that allows advisers to compare traditional Vitality plans, including Optimiser policies, to show the savings that can be made during the full term of a policy. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/3030239/vitalitylife-launches-comparison-tool-advisers https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/3030239/vitalitylife-launches-comparison-tool-advisers Mon, 16 Apr 2018 10:41:00 +0000 AIG Life introduces over fifties life plan to adviser market <p><!--summary start--> AIG Life has launched an over fifties life plan with a range of benefits in a bid to aim the traditional direct-to-consumer offer into a mainstream adviser product, PA's sister title COVER has exclusively revealed. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/3020471/aig-life-introduces-fifties-life-plan-adviser-market https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/3020471/aig-life-introduces-fifties-life-plan-adviser-market Mon, 6 Nov 2017 13:14:00 +0000 AIG Life introduces underwriting changes <p><!--summary start--> AIG Life has introduced a number of underwriting changes in a bid to speed up the application process for customers. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/3017170/aig-life-introduces-underwriting-changes https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/3017170/aig-life-introduces-underwriting-changes Tue, 12 Sep 2017 12:24:56 +0000 Three odd FOS verdicts (and why advisers need to know about them) <p><!--summary start--> Financial adviser Alan Lakey confesses to a peculiar hobby: scouring Ombudsman decisions to understand its process. Here, he outlines three protection cases with arguable outcomes and urges his peers: make sure you take heed of FOS decisions... <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/opinion/2433925/-odd-fos-verdicts-advisers-about https://www.professionaladviser.com/opinion/2433925/-odd-fos-verdicts-advisers-about Mon, 9 Nov 2015 12:43:09 +0000 FCA tweaks suitability rules on offshore life insurance bonds <p><!--summary start--> The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is planning to update its rules for retail clients advised to buy offshore life insurance bonds, affording them greater protection. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2424680/fca-tweaks-suitability-rules-offshore-life-insurance-bonds https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2424680/fca-tweaks-suitability-rules-offshore-life-insurance-bonds Fri, 4 Sep 2015 13:58:00 +0000 Canada Life returns to individual protection market <p><!--summary start--> Canada Life has returned to the individual protection market with four life plans, two offering a critical illness add-on. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2423211/canada-life-returns-individual-protection-market https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2423211/canada-life-returns-individual-protection-market Mon, 24 Aug 2015 17:41:19 +0000 Aviva CEO vows to double products sold to each customer <p><!--summary start--> Insurer Aviva has vowed to drive up the number of products held by its customers following the integration of former rival Friends Life and launch of a direct to consumer service. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2420961/aviva-vows-ramp-product-sales-increasingly-disintermediated-market https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2420961/aviva-vows-ramp-product-sales-increasingly-disintermediated-market Thu, 6 Aug 2015 09:15:00 +0000 Protection Watch: Five key developments all advisers should know <p><!--summary start--> Our protection detective Kevin Carr examines five important developments in the world of protection and offers his verdict: 'Promising lead' or 'Back to the lab'... <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/feature/2418837/protection-watch-key-developments-advisers https://www.professionaladviser.com/feature/2418837/protection-watch-key-developments-advisers Thu, 23 Jul 2015 07:21:43 +0000 'Pay more commission' protection plea made <p><!--summary start--> Protection providers should pay intermediaries more commission to help the industry experiment and grow, according to the founder of a comparison service. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2417980/pay-commission-protection-insurance-plea https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2417980/pay-commission-protection-insurance-plea Tue, 21 Jul 2015 12:21:00 +0000 Legal & General adds 'second medical opinion' option across protection range <p><!--summary start--> Legal & General is offering new protection customers the opportunity of obtaining an independent second opinion on their condition, should they need to make a claim. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2417846/legal-adds-medical-opinion-option-protection-range https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2417846/legal-adds-medical-opinion-option-protection-range Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:46:14 +0000 IFA wins 'distress payment' from Phoenix for complaint handling delay <p><!--summary start--> Phoenix Life has been ordered to pay an adviser redress after the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) found it had not responded quickly enough to his complaint. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2417419/ifa-wins-distress-payment-phoenix-complaint-handling-delay https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2417419/ifa-wins-distress-payment-phoenix-complaint-handling-delay Tue, 14 Jul 2015 11:57:34 +0000 Advisers urged to summon spirit of Tolkien to boost protection sales <p><!--summary start--> Masterful storytelling is advisers' most powerful tool to boost take-up of protection insurance among clients, according to an expert. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2409841/advisers-urged-summon-spirit-tolkien-boost-protection-sales https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2409841/advisers-urged-summon-spirit-tolkien-boost-protection-sales Fri, 22 May 2015 13:10:12 +0000 Protection Watch: Five key developments all advisers should know <p><!--summary start--> Our protection detective Kevin Carr examines five important developments in the world of protection and offers his verdict: 'Promising lead' or 'Back to the lab'... <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/feature/2408159/protection-watch-key-developments-advisers https://www.professionaladviser.com/feature/2408159/protection-watch-key-developments-advisers Tue, 12 May 2015 14:26:15 +0000 Aviva offers advisers extra commission in revamped protection service <p><!--summary start--> Aviva has updated its protection offering, allowing multi-product quotes for the first time, live case tracking and a promise of 10% extra commission for advisers using its 'interactive' underwriting mode. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2404510/aviva-offers-advisers-extra-commission-revamped-protection-service https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2404510/aviva-offers-advisers-extra-commission-revamped-protection-service Fri, 17 Apr 2015 10:30:00 +0000 Phoenix reviews unit-linked fund costs after being forced to refund ex-IFA <p><!--summary start--> Phoenix Life is reviewing the charges on its Scottish Provident unit-linked funds after refunding a former financial adviser who realised he had been overcharged for years. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2397666/phoenix-reviews-unit-linked-fund-costs-forced-refund-ifa https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2397666/phoenix-reviews-unit-linked-fund-costs-forced-refund-ifa Tue, 3 Mar 2015 07:56:00 +0000 MP: Protection now a 'toxic' word after PPI scandal <p><!--summary start--> The public may view all protection products as "toxic" following the payment protection insurance (PPI) mis-selling scandal, according to the chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Insurance and Financial Services. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2396964/mp-protection-toxic-word-ppi-scandal https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2396964/mp-protection-toxic-word-ppi-scandal Wed, 25 Feb 2015 13:58:05 +0000 Protection Watch: Kevin Carr's verdicts on five recent developments <p><!--summary start--> Professional Adviser's protection detective Kevin Carr delivers his verdicts on five key developments in the protection space in the last month... <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/opinion/2393805/protection-watch-kevin-carrs-verdicts-recent-developments https://www.professionaladviser.com/opinion/2393805/protection-watch-kevin-carrs-verdicts-recent-developments Thu, 5 Feb 2015 09:17:12 +0000 Lighthouse launches mortgage and protection advice service <p><!--summary start--> National advice firm Lighthouse Group has launched a "holistic" mortgage and protection advice service in response to demand from clients. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2391246/lighthouse-launches-mortgage-protection-advice-service https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2391246/lighthouse-launches-mortgage-protection-advice-service Wed, 21 Jan 2015 07:54:42 +0000 Lloyds exits stand-alone protection advice <p><!--summary start--> Lloyds bank has announced it will no longer offer stand-alone protection advice across its Halifax, Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland branches after observing "significantly reduced" customer demand. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2381332/lloyds-exits-stand-protection-advice https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2381332/lloyds-exits-stand-protection-advice Fri, 14 Nov 2014 07:52:18 +0000 Aegon launches integrated whole of life trust policy <p><!--summary start--> Aegon UK has launched a whole of life protection plan which offers the ability to place the policy in a discretionary trust at application. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2376903/aegon-launches-integrated-life-trust-policy https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2376903/aegon-launches-integrated-life-trust-policy Tue, 21 Oct 2014 13:26:25 +0000 Protection Watch... with Kevin Carr (July 2014) <p><!--summary start--> Our protection detective gives his verdict on five key developments in protection in the last month... <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/opinion/2357897/protection-watch-kevin-carr-july-2014 https://www.professionaladviser.com/opinion/2357897/protection-watch-kevin-carr-july-2014 Wed, 30 Jul 2014 11:29:00 +0000 Protection figures 'shatter illusion' of declined claims <p><!--summary start--> Figures showing insurance companies declined fewer than 3,500 of more than 102,000 protection claims last year "shatter the illusion" that providers don't pay, according to stakeholders. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2346696/protection-figures-shatter-illusion-declined-claims https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2346696/protection-figures-shatter-illusion-declined-claims Tue, 27 May 2014 10:28:55 +0000 Defaqto launches star ratings for life cover policies <p><!--summary start--> Research business Defaqto has added whole-of-life protection policies to its star ratings service. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2342520/defaqto-launches-star-ratings-life-cover-policies https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2342520/defaqto-launches-star-ratings-life-cover-policies Thu, 1 May 2014 08:25:12 +0000 Aviva launches 'high value' cases protection team <p><!--summary start--> Aviva has launched a specialist protection team to offer a tailored service for protection cases with high levels of cover and large premiums. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2330729/aviva-launches-value-cases-protection-team https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2330729/aviva-launches-value-cases-protection-team Tue, 25 Feb 2014 10:46:22 +0000 Aegon UK head of protection proposition exits amid restructure <p><!--summary start--> Aegon UK is proposing to make the role of protection distribution director redundant and has announced the exit of its head of protection proposition as part of wide-ranging changes to its protection unit. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2330305/aegon-uk-head-protection-proposition-exits-amid-restructure https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2330305/aegon-uk-head-protection-proposition-exits-amid-restructure Fri, 21 Feb 2014 14:11:00 +0000 L&G increases underwriting limits for life and CI <p><!--summary start--> Legal & General (L&G) is increasing the underwriting limits across its life insurance and critical illness (CI) products among other changes to its protection proposition. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2325378/-increases-underwriting-limits-life-ci https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2325378/-increases-underwriting-limits-life-ci Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:22:00 +0000 Swiss Re: Protection should be bought, not sold <p><!--summary start--> The challenge for protection insurers in today's market is to adapt their approach so products are "bought, not sold", a report by Swiss Re concludes. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2317041/swiss-protection-bought-sold https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2317041/swiss-protection-bought-sold Wed, 4 Dec 2013 13:47:42 +0000 Protection watch...with Kevin Carr (November 2013) <p><!--summary start--> Our protection detective investigates five key developments in the past month... <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/opinion/2305660/protection-watchwith-kevin-carr-november-2013 https://www.professionaladviser.com/opinion/2305660/protection-watchwith-kevin-carr-november-2013 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 10:47:10 +0000 L&G pledges instant call on 80% of life cover applications <p><!--summary start--> Legal & General (L&G) has simplified its underwriting processes for advised clients applying for life insurance, saying some 80% of applicants can now expect an immediate decision. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2296521/-pledges-instant-80-life-cover-applications https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2296521/-pledges-instant-80-life-cover-applications Tue, 24 Sep 2013 14:15:00 +0000 Funding IHT: Protection v investment solutions <p><!--summary start--> Ian Jefferies, head of protection at Skandia, discusses the growing opportunities in IHT planning and the attraction of whole-of-life protection products. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/feature/2294065/funding-iht-protection-investment-solutions https://www.professionaladviser.com/feature/2294065/funding-iht-protection-investment-solutions Thu, 12 Sep 2013 08:00:00 +0000 Aegon launches simple life protection product <p><!--summary start--> Aegon UK has launched a simple life protection product providing up to £500,000 worth of cover to advised clients aged between 18 and 49. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2277537/aegon-launches-simple-life-protection-product https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2277537/aegon-launches-simple-life-protection-product Wed, 26 Jun 2013 10:40:00 +0000 Nucleus to expand protection product range <p><!--summary start--> Nucleus is set to expand the range of protection products available on the wrap to include inheritance tax and death-in-drawdown policies, among others. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2269810/nucleus-expand-protection-product-range https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2269810/nucleus-expand-protection-product-range Wed, 22 May 2013 11:40:00 +0000 Aviva signs three-year deal with the Lighthouse Group <p><!--summary start--> Aviva has signed an exclusive three-year deal with the Lighthouse Group to provide life protection products through its national adviser division, Lighthouse Financial Advice (LFA). <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2269275/aviva-signs-threeyear-deal-lighthouse https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2269275/aviva-signs-threeyear-deal-lighthouse Mon, 20 May 2013 15:33:00 +0000 Protection watch...with Kevin Carr (Apr 2013) <p><!--summary start--> Our resident protection detective, Kevin Carr, runs the rule over five developments in the last month… <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/feature/2263782/protection-watchwith-kevin-carr-apr-2013 https://www.professionaladviser.com/feature/2263782/protection-watchwith-kevin-carr-apr-2013 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000 Protection: an idea to ease advisers' workload <p><!--summary start--> Like it or not, when assessing the hours of work per case in relation to the remuneration, protection business is often less profitable than other lines of advice. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/opinion/2263119/protection-idea-ease-advisers-workload https://www.professionaladviser.com/opinion/2263119/protection-idea-ease-advisers-workload Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:45:00 +0000 AMI in talks over launch of protection trade body <p><!--summary start--> The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) has entered discussions with a number of stakeholders over the launch of a trade body for protection. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2261406/ami-talks-launch-protection-trade-body https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2261406/ami-talks-launch-protection-trade-body Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:45:00 +0000 Advisers revisit protection commission ban 'catastrophe' <p><!--summary start--> Advisers and providers reiterated the "catastrophe" that would befall the advice sector if the incoming Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) read across a ban on commission in the retail investment market to protection. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2255800/advisers-revisit-protection-commission-ban-catastrophe https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2255800/advisers-revisit-protection-commission-ban-catastrophe Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:15:00 +0000 Simple product suite to include whole-of-life cover <p><!--summary start--> A suite of simple products designed to help consumers navigate the financial services market is to include a whole-of-life insurance plan. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2254363/simple-product-suite-wholeoflife-cover https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2254363/simple-product-suite-wholeoflife-cover Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:55:00 +0000