Business

Strong performance in Aviva protection and "at retirement" sales has driven a slight increase in long-term sales, the provider's 2012 preliminary results show.

HSBC has joined Barclays in removing all sales incentives from its frontline staff.

PricewaterhouseCoopers has reported resounding optimism among insurer chief executives despite the poor economic forecasts.

Zurich is set to offer its protection proposition on its retail platform later in the year, to offer IFAs a complete holistic view of financial plans.

IFAs have lost significant protection policy renewal income following G-Day price hikes, an adviser has said.

It's been some years since Dan Waters from the FSA first expressed concern about the use of platforms by advisory firms.

The hardest sell

The top five intermediary platforms will likely show their hand on protection propositions in the second half of the year, a technology and consultancy firm to the major intermediary platforms has reported.

I wonder just what impact RDR will have on the protection industry. There are tiny shafts of light starting to show through in the form of unqualified advisers.

A protection and health insurance specialist is setting up a nationwide adviser network with a view to sweeping up IFAs who have not met the demands of RDR.