Individual Protection

The mortgage market's return to strength can only be a good thing for mortgage advisers, but it already appears to be having a damaging effect on the protection industry.

In today's protection market advisers have a choice of term or whole of life cover to meet the needs of their clients. Until now, term cover has primarily been used to provide family protection, with whole of life (minus the over 50s funeral plans) left...

Mortgage advisers are heading towards a 50:50 model of mortgage business to protection and insurance services, Avelo has said.

PROTECTION WATCH

One in three have been embellishing insurance applications in the hope of cheaper premiums, Zurich has said.

The insurance gap is widest for aged 55 and over, MetLife has said.

Lifesearch, has warned against poor industry selling practices and the "laissez faire approach to the quality of distribution" by providers.

The most unnecessarily underinsured group in the UK is the HIV community, according to specialist advisers Unusual Risks.

Welsh broker Moorlife has secured a contract with web site for mothers to be Emma's Diary, providing protection products to its 650,000 members.

Martin Werth, managing director of Ageas Protect is to step down at the end of this year.