Protection

Omagh Independent Advice Service has launched a website for cancer patients to help them deal with the financial impact of sudden illness.

It's nice to be back at my desk after a few weeks out and about. I've seen quite a few IFAs in the last few weeks about various different things, so if you had the displeasure of bumping into me thanks for your insight.

The industry needs to focus on improving income protection rather than trying to increase sales of critical illness, according to intermediaries speaking on IFAonline.tv 's Great Protection Debate .

Advisers must take responsibility for improving protection sales and encouraging innovation in the market, according to speakers at IFAonline.tv's latest forum - the Great Protection Debate .

Norwich Union Healthcare is calling on the government to introduce a "back to work" tax incentive for employers which would encourage them to act sooner to prevent long-term illness among their employees.

Another set of statistics about sales of pension term assurance was published yesterday, this time from HSBC which claims 84% of its life-only policies sold are PTA products.

Norwich Union payouts on critical illness policies increased to over £80m in 2005, almost a quarter higher than in 2004.

The Association of British Insurers has published draft guidelines on teleunderwriting, which it hopes will improve the clarity of online and telephone protection applications.

Care fees planning group Symponia is extending its remit to encompass all areas of financial planning for people aged 65 and over.

Perhaps it's just me, but I'm beginning to think that our industry should stop banging on about how commission only fails everyone.