Standard Life

Growth of Standard Life's sales has been heavily dominated this year by the pension reforms of A-Day, according to the life insurer's latest business figures.

Two government consultants accused of a conflict of interest over assessing companies to administer the new home inspector scheme have been suspended, reports the Daily Telegraph .

The Association of IFAs (AIFA) has accused the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of still wanting to ban commission based payments two years after it defeated the regulator on the same issue.

Standard Life declined to pay 14% of critical illness claims in the first half of 2006, according to its latest claims statistics.

Standard Life has named David Nish, formerly of Scottish Power, as its new finance director, says the Daily Telegraph.

The Financial Services Authority is set to abandon rules which require financial companies to respond to customer complaints and disputes within a fixed period, says the Independent .

Worldwide sales at Aviva rose by 22% to £22.7bn during the first nine months of the year, driven by a record performance in its domestic UK market, reports the Times.

Standard Life has expanded its position in the financial services distribution market with the purchase of a 10% share in IFA support services firm Simply Biz.

HM Revenue and Customs is changing the way retirement annuity contracts are taxed as around 200,000 pensioners are paying too much tax.

The latest savings and investment index from Standard Life suggests few consumers have a continuous relationship with a financial adviser.