Protection

Scottish Equitable Protect has improved its online underwriting service to enabling IFAs to submit business more efficiently and cost effectively.

The FSA is amending its ICOB sourcebook to allow pure protection advisers to offer consumers pension term assurance from April 2006, albeit with enhanced requirements.

Three-quarters of UK parents with dependent children are unaware they may need more than just life insurance to protect their family's future, says Yorkshire Building Society.

Secretary of state for work and pensions, David Blunkett, has laid out a series of "principles" for the future of the Welfare State which have an increased emphasis on people helping themselves financially.

Stephen Wynne-Jones, Assureweb's director of product marketing, explains that integration is the key to a more streamlined future for the advice industry.

Characterised by speed, low cost and enhanced efficiency, e-commerce is now anestablished way of working for many advisers.

regulation

New insurer City Connexions has now officially launched itself into the market with an MPPI product supported by former GE business Genworth Financial.

The Department for Work and Pensions has plans to implement new occupational health policy to try and get more people back to work after long-term illness.

Standard Life Healthcare is acquiring private medical insurance business FirstAssist Insurance Services Limited and has plans to move its head office to Bournemouth over the next two years.