Aviva

Clive Balchin had been with Sesame for 18 years but an ever more stringent approach to compliance pushed him to hand in his notice - just days before the group announced it was shutting its investment network.

Aviva has updated its protection offering, allowing multi-product quotes for the first time, live case tracking and a promise of 10% extra commission for advisers using its 'interactive' underwriting mode.

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Aviva has said it expects its acquisition of rival Friends Life to generate extra revenue of £600m over the next two years, including and cost savings for the company of £225m.

The public may view all protection products as "toxic" following the payment protection insurance (PPI) mis-selling scandal, according to the chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Insurance and Financial Services.

Carbon Financial Partners took home the inaugural Adviser Firm of the Year (UK) trophy at the 2015 Professional Adviser Awards, which recognises excellence across adviser firms, providers, platforms and asset managers.

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Restricted adviser network Sesame would be broke and unable to trade without the continued financial support of its parent company Friends Life, Aviva has said in a note to shareholders ahead of its planned acquisition of the provider.

Aviva's £5.1bn acquisition of Friends Life could see as many as 1,500 jobs cut, the company has said.

Major shareholders, including Old Mutual's Richard Buxton have thrown their weight behind Aviva's £5.6bn takeover bid of Friends Life, saying the deal would strengthen both sides.