Protection

A quarter of advisers will only use pension term assurance for higher rate taxpayers, according to research from Standard Life.

Aegon Scottish Equitable is launching an awareness campaign for IFAs and consumers to stress the importance of full disclosure when applying for critical illness cover.

There have been a number of articles concerning critical illness cover published in the press over the last few months, many of which have focused on the negatives.

The Financial Services Authority's proposal to free-up capital across the life insurance industry has led some providers to suggest there could be reduced premiums and greater innovation across the protection industry.

Norwich Union has announced today it will be withdrawing its immediate care plan to new business with effect from 20 November 2006.

Pricing of critical illness policies could become less reliable and perhaps more expensive if the government puts forward regulations which state insurers can only use public data to calculate premiums for men and women.

Scottish Widows and supermarket giant Asda have terminated their agreement to sell life cover products at the checkout.

Bupa has launched an online quote and application system for critical illness and life cover products, which it claims will shave days off IFAs' processing time.

I spent more than an hour yesterday dealing with questions from advisers and journalists alike on just one subject. The subject in question was "Is pension term assurance having a detrimental affect on sales of ordinary life cover?"

IFA firm Origen is urging employers to act immediately to ensure age discrimination legislation does not become too great a financial burden.