Professional Adviser www.professionaladviser.com L&G ploughs £40k into stroke awareness campaign <p><!--summary start--> Legal & General has agreed to provide £40,000 in sponsorship for Action on Stroke Month in May 2014. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2322225/-ploughs-gbp40k-stroke-awareness-campaign https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2322225/-ploughs-gbp40k-stroke-awareness-campaign Fri, 10 Jan 2014 12:34:48 +0000 Zurich chairman resigns after CFO 'suicide' <p><!--summary start--> The chairman of Zurich insurance group has resigned days after the apparent suicide of chief financial officer Pierre Wauthier. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2291465/zurich-chairman-resigns-cfo-suicide https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2291465/zurich-chairman-resigns-cfo-suicide Thu, 29 Aug 2013 11:45:16 +0000 Zurich CFO found dead <p><!--summary start--> The chief financial officer of insurer Zurich Group was found dead at his home yesterday morning. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2290981/zurich-cfo-dead https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2290981/zurich-cfo-dead Tue, 27 Aug 2013 11:24:56 +0000 Travel advice: dealing with floods, riots and delays <p><!--summary start--> What to do if travel advice for your destination changes just as you're about to jet off. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2274450/floods-riots-delays-travel-advice-tips https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2274450/floods-riots-delays-travel-advice-tips Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:38:00 +0000 NFU Mutual to launch platform <p><!--summary start--> NFU Mutual is to launch a basic platform to give advisers and direct clients access to external fund groups for the first time. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2239892/nfu-mutual-launch-platform https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2239892/nfu-mutual-launch-platform Wed, 30 Jan 2013 07:16:08 +0000 Aviva nets £353m from Delta Lloyd stake sale <p><!--summary start--> Insurer Aviva has strengthened its balance sheet by selling its 34 million share stake in Dutch insurer Delta Lloyd via a private placing. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2234981/aviva-nets-gbp353m-delta-lloyd-stake-sale https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2234981/aviva-nets-gbp353m-delta-lloyd-stake-sale Wed, 9 Jan 2013 08:02:23 +0000 Prudential A+ credit rating 'under threat' <p><!--summary start--> Life and pensions giant Prudential could see its A+ credit rating downgraded by Standard & Poor's (S&P), the FT reports. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2220118/prudential-credit-rating-threat https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2220118/prudential-credit-rating-threat Fri, 26 Oct 2012 07:31:48 +0000 Legal & General Network freezes fees <p><!--summary start--> Legal & General Network (LGN) has confirmed plans to freeze its current charges for existing mortgage, protection and general insurance services until January 2014. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2219880/legal-network-freezes-fees https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2219880/legal-network-freezes-fees Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:32:20 +0000 Zurich makes 200 job cuts <p><!--summary start--> Zurich is to cut 200 jobs from across its UK Life business. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2204821/zurich-makes-200-job-cuts https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2204821/zurich-makes-200-job-cuts Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:14:00 +0000 Cross-party consensus 'essential' in Solvency II fight <p><!--summary start--> Labour front benchers have urged the government to work with the opposition, business and trade unions to protect British interests from planned European regulation of the pensions and insurance industries. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2201743/crossparty-consensus-essential-solvency-ii-fight https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2201743/crossparty-consensus-essential-solvency-ii-fight Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:51:00 +0000 Zurich boosts profits 7% on corporate wrap growth <p><!--summary start--> Insurer Zurich has reported a 7% increase in profits or the first half of the year. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2199202/zurich-boosts-profits-corporate-wrap-growth https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2199202/zurich-boosts-profits-corporate-wrap-growth Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:53:29 +0000 'There are other ways': Euro parliament rethinks commission ban <p><!--summary start--> The European parliament is set to reject a ban on commission to independent financial advisers (IFAs) when it votes on MiFID II next week. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2188371/-euro-parliament-rethinks-commission-ban https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2188371/-euro-parliament-rethinks-commission-ban Mon, 2 Jul 2012 09:15:00 +0000 Insurers revamp capital sums to prepare for SII <p><!--summary start--> More than half of insurers are preparing to change the way they calculate regulatory capital as Solvency II approaches, Deloitte has said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2185721/insurers-revamp-capital-sums-prepare-sii https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2185721/insurers-revamp-capital-sums-prepare-sii Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:06:32 +0000 PruProtect offers 30% free life cover and reprices IP <p><!--summary start--> PruProtect will be offering 30% free life cover free for new Serious Illness Cover plan policyholders and has re-priced its income protection product. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2185672/pruprotect-offers-free-life-cover-reprices-ip https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2185672/pruprotect-offers-free-life-cover-reprices-ip Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:58:00 +0000 Aegon to double direct to consumer sales by 2015 <p><!--summary start--> Aegon is set to tell investors and analysts that it aims to double the percentage of sales it makes directly to customers (D2C) to about a third by 2015, according to reports. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2185331/aegon-double-direct-consumer-sales-2015 https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2185331/aegon-double-direct-consumer-sales-2015 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:03:00 +0000 Equitable Life savers 'dissatisfied' after payout delays <p><!--summary start--> Eight in ten Equitable Life savers who were promised compensation are unhappy due to ongoing delays receiving their payments, a survey suggests. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2184603/equitable-life-savers-dissatisfied-payout-delays https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2184603/equitable-life-savers-dissatisfied-payout-delays Thu, 14 Jun 2012 23:20:00 +0000 Zurich puts 90 jobs at risk across UK life operation <p><!--summary start--> Zurich plans to make 90 redundancies from its UK life business as part of cost cutting measures in light of the challenging economic environment. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2181283/zurich-cut-90-jobs-uk-life-operation https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2181283/zurich-cut-90-jobs-uk-life-operation Thu, 31 May 2012 11:17:00 +0000 Insurance broker banned for misleading regulator <p><!--summary start--> The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has banned a self-appointed insurance broking director from performing regulated functions after he "misled" the regulator and acted dishonestly. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2178604/insurance-broker-banned-misleading-regulator https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2178604/insurance-broker-banned-misleading-regulator Tue, 22 May 2012 11:43:29 +0000 Prudential set to name chairman after five-month head hunt <p><!--summary start--> Insurer Prudential is set to name Paul Manduca as its next chairman after a five-month search to replace Harvey McGrath, the Telegraph reports. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2177395/prudential-set-chairman-head-hunt https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2177395/prudential-set-chairman-head-hunt Mon, 21 May 2012 07:38:45 +0000 Life companies now just 'admin machines', says E&Y's Kerr <p><!--summary start--> A number of large insurers face being killed off by the onset of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) as they are "running out of proposition", a director at Ernst & Young has said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2175581/life-companies-admin-machines-ys-kerr https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2175581/life-companies-admin-machines-ys-kerr Thu, 17 May 2012 13:10:00 +0000 Aviva's Moss got married the day after torrid AGM <p><!--summary start--> Ex-Aviva chief executive Andrew Moss got married the day after shareholders revolted over executive remuneration. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2173325/avivas-moss-married-day-torrid-agm https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2173325/avivas-moss-married-day-torrid-agm Wed, 9 May 2012 07:38:51 +0000 Aviva CEO Moss steps down <p><!--summary start--> Insurance giant Aviva has announced that its chief executive, Andrew Moss, is to leave the group with immediate effect. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2172934/aviva-ceo-moss-steps https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2172934/aviva-ceo-moss-steps Tue, 8 May 2012 07:10:00 +0000 PII experts challenge FSA over Arch Cru fallout <p><!--summary start--> Professional indemnity insurance (PII) experts have questioned the FSA's view that its redress scheme for Arch Cru investors will have no impact upon the future availability of cover for IFAs. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2172124/pii-experts-challenge-fsa-arch-cru-fallout https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2172124/pii-experts-challenge-fsa-arch-cru-fallout Thu, 3 May 2012 08:00:00 +0000 Chubb withdraws from PII market for IFAs <p><!--summary start--> Professional indemnity insurance (PII) underwriter Chubb is withdrawing from the market for financial advisers. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2170259/chubb-withdraws-pi-market-ifas https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2170259/chubb-withdraws-pi-market-ifas Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:35:00 +0000 Aviva Investors 'mistakenly' sacks 1,300 employees <p><!--summary start--> Aviva Investors sent an e-mail by mistake on Friday dismissing its entire staff before retracting the message, according to reports. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2169538/aviva-investors-mistakenly-sacks-300-employees https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2169538/aviva-investors-mistakenly-sacks-300-employees Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:44:01 +0000 Resolution readies 'self-managed' exit from Friends in 2014 <p><!--summary start--> Resolution is preparing a "self-managed" exit from Friends Life in 2014 that would see the company split between a fit for purpose life company and a closed life fund consolidator. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2163786/resolution-readies-self-managed-exit-friends-2014 https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2163786/resolution-readies-self-managed-exit-friends-2014 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 07:40:00 +0000 Aviva distribution head Lamble exits <p><!--summary start--> Aviva's director of distribution development, Dean Lamble, has left the company after just over a year in the position. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2163610/aviva-distribution-head-lamble-exits https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2163610/aviva-distribution-head-lamble-exits Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:45:00 +0000 Which? calls for 'tough' regulation of comparison sites <p><!--summary start--> Comparison sites are failing to provide consumers with the best deal and should be strictly regulated, Which? has said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2163222/-calls-tough-regulation-comparison-sites https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2163222/-calls-tough-regulation-comparison-sites Mon, 26 Mar 2012 07:20:00 +0000 LIVE Budget webcast: Tune in from 3pm tomorrow <p><!--summary start--> Want to make sense of what the Budget 2012 will mean for you and your clients? <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2161971/live-budget-webcast-tune-3pm-tomorrow https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2161971/live-budget-webcast-tune-3pm-tomorrow Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:49:00 +0000 PI insurer locks in rates for two years <p><!--summary start--> Collegiate Underwriting has announced a professional indemnity insurance (PII) deal for IFAs, which freezes rates for two years. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2161752/pi-insurer-locks-rates https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2161752/pi-insurer-locks-rates Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:45:00 +0000 Standard Life CEO is 'very excited' about RDR <p><!--summary start--> Standard Life CEO Paul Matthews said he is excited about the roll-out of the retail distribution review (RDR) next year, as he expects more advisers to use its fee-ready wrap and investment solutions. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2159097/standard-life-ceo-excited-rdr https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2159097/standard-life-ceo-excited-rdr Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:45:00 +0000 L&G profits rise as it hikes divi by a third <p><!--summary start--> Legal & General (L&G) has reported an increase in operating profits for full-year 2011 after a marked rise in its investment management (LGIM) and international divisions. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2159275/-profits-rise-hikes-divi https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2159275/-profits-rise-hikes-divi Wed, 14 Mar 2012 07:45:00 +0000 Axa enters IFA professional indemnity market <p><!--summary start--> Aon Risk Solutions has signed a deal with AXA Commercial Lines to provide professional indemnity insurance (PII) for independent financial advisers in the UK. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2158979/axa-enters-ifa-professional-indemnity-market https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2158979/axa-enters-ifa-professional-indemnity-market Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:45:00 +0000 Aviva UK profits rise as life and pension sales climb 10% <p><!--summary start--> Operating profits at Aviva UK rose 8% to £1.45bn in 2011, thanks largely to a boost in new sales in its life and pensions division. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2157890/aviva-uk-profits-rise-life-pension-sales-climb https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2157890/aviva-uk-profits-rise-life-pension-sales-climb Thu, 8 Mar 2012 07:30:00 +0000 Boris pleads with Pru after relocation threats <p><!--summary start--> Mayor of London Boris Johnson has written to The Prudential in an attempt to convince the insurer not to relocate its headquarters to Hong Kong. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2157322/boris-pleads-pru-relocation-threats https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2157322/boris-pleads-pru-relocation-threats Tue, 6 Mar 2012 12:15:00 +0000 Weale voices concern over 'persistent' inflation - papers <p><!--summary start--> Martin Weale voiced fears over "persistent" inflation yesterday in a hawkish speech underlining the growing splits at the Bank of England over the path of monetary policy. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2156280/weale-voices-concern-persistent-inflation-papers https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2156280/weale-voices-concern-persistent-inflation-papers Thu, 1 Mar 2012 09:30:00 +0000 Private investigator sold tax data to insurers and brokers <p><!--summary start--> A private investigator who allegedly fed information to the News of the World (NoW) has been jailed for separate charges of ‘blagging' sensitive information from government sources and selling it to insurers. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2155741/private-investigator-sold-tax-insurers-brokers https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2155741/private-investigator-sold-tax-insurers-brokers Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:20:00 +0000 Pru may move headquarters out of UK over Solvency II rules <p><!--summary start--> Prudential is considering moving its headquarters out of the UK, partly as a response to what it fears may be an "adverse outcome" on Solvency II. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2155194/pru-headquarters-uk-solvency-ii-rules https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2155194/pru-headquarters-uk-solvency-ii-rules Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:30:00 +0000 Life settlements fund generates £40m despite FSA 'toxic' label <p><!--summary start--> Life settlements fund EEA has generated nearly £40m in revenues in the last two months, despite its suspension following "unprecedented" redemption requests. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2153843/life-settlements-fund-generates-gbp40m-despite-fsa-toxic-label https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/2153843/life-settlements-fund-generates-gbp40m-despite-fsa-toxic-label Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:15:00 +0000