Protection

Friends Life has appointed former Phoenix Group boss Jonathan Moss as CEO of its heritage division.

Protection will be the biggest growth area for a third of advisers, a sentiment report has shown.

The Money Advice Service (MAS) referred just 0.2% of its 1.3 million users to regulated financial advice last year, it has been revealed.

Resolution has confirmed it will make no more acquisitions and abandoned plans to split the Friends Life business after revealing a 58% fall in profits.

A boost in individual annuities and with-profits bonds sales helped Prudential UK maintain new business levels in the first half of this year, despite a significant decrease in corporate pensions volumes.

Intrinsic Financial has made two senior management appointments.

DOUBLING-UP

Combined second-quarter earnings across Aegon's distribution businesses - which include national IFAs Positive Solutions and Origen - were nil, the insurer has reported.

Insurer Aviva recorded a loss after tax of more than £680m in the first half of the year, after writing down some £870m of goodwill at its US business.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is proposing to reduce the length of time it takes to process applications to register a lasting power of attorney (LPA).