Putting a square peg in a round hole
Santander is planning to set up a direct to consumer (D2C) investment platform months after confirming it is re-entering the investment advice space.
Platform sales on Axa Wealth's wrap proposition Elevate rose 75% in 2011 to £1.3bn, bringing total platform assets under administration to £3.5bn.
Aviva and Legal & General are to provide life and general insurance products for Barclays Bank UK Retail customers.
Aviva has seen a slight uplift in its protection sales over the third quarter as it continues its attempt to dominate the market.
Santander has been forced to restrict sales of protection products through its branches due to a staff training issue.
Independent advisers say they are undeterred by ambitious plans at Lloyds Banking Group to double sales and profits from its bancassurance division.
The rise of bank-based distribution for many long-term insurance products led to the term ‘bancassurance'. But is bancassurance distribution ready for a rethink? Greg Becker investigates
The FSA's protection proposals under the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) have been applauded, but with a few points to clarify.