Retirement

Variable annuities are more suited to older people who are still working, rather than those in retirement, according to Just Retirement.

Hundreds of advisers' clients have failed to make any plans to combat their IHT liability, leaving them vulnerable to a 40% tax hit, research suggests.

Just Retirement saw record business levels in the second quarter of 2009, though it was not enough to prevent the group from posting a sales decline in the 2008/09 financial year.

Hornbuckle Mitchell has created a dedicated administration team to help IFAs efficiently place new business with the SIPP specialist.

The Government wants the UK insurance industry to work more closely with it to manage risks in society.

The FSA has been accused of betraying with-profits investors by allowing insurance companies to continue making compensation payments from inherited estates.

Andy Zanelli, head of professional edge technical sales at AXA Winterthur Wealth Management, says the importance of regular client reviews, particularly in the current economic conditions, cannot be over-emphasised.

Major flaws exist in the equity release advice process, according to an undercover investigation which found some IFAs are failing to ask clients even the most basic fact find questions.

The Government has rejected renewed calls to provide compensation to Equitable Life policyholders who lost out when the insurer was forced to close to new business in 2001.

Problems with pension transfers are becoming more common, and accounted for one in five complaints received by the Pensions Ombudsman in the last financial year.