F&TRC has added tele-underwriting and adviser remuneration to its list on ongoing projects in the protection market.
The Forum has already set its sights on a statement of best practice for collecting online signatures and has now agreed to begin assessing the various tele-underwriting and remuneration processes in place.
Adviser remuneration is likely to become a key dividing line in the industry after the implementation of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR), and some intermediaries are already suggesting there should be more options available.
Peter Chadborn, director of Plan Money, explained in this area the protection industry was out of step with the rest of financial services.
"It is time the issue was addressed," he said.
"Non-indemnity commission is not right for all and too big a step for many therefore there should be more options than simply an either-or.
"Providers may argue that there is little demand but I would suggest this is going to change as we approach RDR," he added.
The Forum added that while tele-underwriting has been a key development in the protection industry in recent years, each provider has essentially developed their own system.
This, it said, meant as a result, independent intermediaries are required to understand a myriad of different rules and processes, of which some could be aligned to benefit all parties.
The process of benchmarking each product provider's options and variations will begin before the findings are reported at the next meeting in June.
The group will then discuss whether or not to continue the work to the next stage, which could include further best practice statements, based upon intermediary needs.
