Scottish Widows

Scottish Widows says an improvement in the performance of its with-profits funds means the life insurer has cut MVRs and will continue to pay bonus rates of 1% and 1.5% on its unitised flexible investment bond and pension policies.

Scottish Widows has been labelled the top ‘dog' for the fourth time in a row in Bestinvest's latest ‘Spot the Dog' poll, but the number of funds failing to beat their benchmarks is now at least falling, according to the study.

Scottish Widows and Scottish Equitable Protect are considering a move into the guaranteed critical illness market, officials have confirmed.

Introducing a tiered inheritance tax band would cut the tax paid by nine out of ten people but still add an extra £150m a year to the Treasury coffers, says the IPPR.

Scottish Widows has announced further cuts its with-profits policies which sees the payouts on bonds reduced by 0.5%.

Tony Owens has been appointed Scottish Widows director of strategy, planning and monitoring, the company says.

IFAs now have less than 698 days, 11 hours, 58 minutes and 31 seconds to get their act together and prepare for pensions simplification introduction, according to the Scottish Widows' pensions simplification countdown clock.

Scottish Widows is rolling out a series of investment roadshows in May and June alongside Jupiter and New Star in to higlight the opportunities available to clients and help IFAs develop their business.

Scottish Widows is re-opening two property funds to new money by the end of April, but with restrictions on the amounts they will accept.

The Inland Revenue has closed the deficiency relief tax avoidance loophole, which had allowed higher rate taxpayers to offset the losses of life insurance policies against any higher rate income tax.