Individual Protection

With sluggish sales, a tough economy and the government's reform of welfare provision, Owain Thomas writes that the timing is right for income protection to finally receive the level of attention it deserves

Stonebridge Group has agreed a strategic affiliation with PruProtect for its protection proposition.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will be renamed Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and a consultation has been launched into its overhaul on a social rather than medical basis.

More than 200 firms representing 1,000 users have switched across to Openwork's protection panel, Openwork Select, following its September launch.

True Potential has agreed a partnership with insurance giant Aviva to allow quotes and online applications for a wider range of the provider's products, including protection plans.

The UK's largest ICOBS adviser has applauded the FSA's plan requiring advisers to review protection sales methods.

Mike Farrell, head of sales and marketing at Royal Liver Assurance, has joined LV= as head of protection sales.

The FSA has ordered firms selling pure protection and PPI plans to review their sales policies and compliance procedures after finding "disappointing" oral disclosure practices by some firms.

Axa has amended its critical illness product and unveiled a client support service for all products within its protection account.

Support for an unbiased protection training academy is growing following the announcement that 17 industrywide companies have signed up to the first phase of the initiative.