Aegon

A national approach to generic advice should cover a wide range of financial issues and questions including offering "advice on advisers", says the government.

The Association of International Life Offices (AILO) recently published the new business figures for the third quarter of 2006. The figures are impressive, showing single premium business of £6.5 billion, up 31.79% on the same time last year.

Members can now protect their entitlement to more than 25% tax free cash, or an early retirement age, if they are assigned a policy after their original scheme winds-up.

Zurich has announced it is exploring the possibility of selling its closed book of annuity business.

Standard Life has announced it is withdrawing its pension term assurance policy as of today, following strong hints by the Treasury it will withdraw the right to use the product.

The Law Commission's proposal to introduce a non-contestability period into protection policies will cause insurers to be more selective about which clients they put on their books, according to speakers at an RGA life insurance conference.

Despite broad support for the pension reforms published in today's Bill, some parts of the industry are concerned more could still be done.

The Department for Work and Pensions has rejected calls for a "compliance window" for age discrimination regulations for pension schemes.

Aegon UK has seen its new business sales rise again as a result of changes to A-Day, but distribution division Positive Solutions is named among assets which collectively are listed as operating at a loss, according to the latest figures.

Regulation, recruitment and a lack of trust are the most serious threats to the IFA market, claims new research from Aegon.