The cost of dying rose again last year, according to a new report which suggests loved ones left responsible for making funeral arrangements are unprepared for the burden.
Annuity rates have mostly remained constant over the past month with Aviva still in the top spot, according to the latest figures from Alexander Forbes Annuity Bureau.
Revenues at Axa Wealth fell 23% last year to £474m as the recession hit bond and pension sales.
Hundreds of thousands of policy holders with pensions, insurance and savings products with Axa Sun Life have discovered their cash is stuck in a "zombie" fund, reports suggest.
Axa has increased its with-profits regular bonus payouts by an average of 75 basis points and market value reductions have fallen again in its latest update on the state of with-profits investments.
About two-thirds of AXA Sun Life's 1.6 million with profits policyholders have been told their bonus rates will be maintained at last year's rates, while the remainder will see cuts of between 0.25% to 0.75%.