Industry news and views from Panacea and our partners.
Retirement_
Proving the value of annuities
In common with many income bearing investments, gilt yields have fallen over the past 5 years, impacting the amount available from annuities
Average 50 year old man earns nearly 60% more than average 50 year old woman
The average 50-year-old man earns nearly 60% more than the average 50-year-old woman with an £11,000 earnings gender gap hitting womens retirement saving, new research conducted for MetLife shows.
Metlife urges pension innovation to help fund long-term care
MetLife is calling for increased innovation and flexibility in the use of pension funds to help pay for long-term care as part of the product response to the Governments Social Care White Paper.
Scottish Widows: New support material explains Governed Investment Strategies on Retirement Account
Since their launch in December 2010, Governed Investment Strategies (GISs) have strengthened our Retirement Account proposition, making us easier to do business with. Our new online video explains why GISs might be a more suitable option for more of your clients.
Scottish Widows: Two new Discretionary Fund Managers added to our Retirement Account
As part of our continuing development of Retirement Account, were delighted to announce weve added two more Discretionary Fund Managers (DFMs).
LV= UNFAMILIARITY STOPS ADVISERS RECOMMENDING INVESTMENT LINKED ANNUITIES
Research carried out by retirement specialist LV= reveals that over a quarter (26%) of advisers do not include investment linked annuities in their retirement planning discussions with clients.
Pensions reform - the latest news and support material
As we approach the first staging dates for automatic enrolment, were keen to provide ongoing guidance and support as you prepare your business and your clients businesses.
Punter Southall Group announces formation of a new division called ASPIRE to operate in the at-retirement market
Punter Southall Group has created a new business to specialise in the at-retirement market.
Metlife: IFAs see surge in enquiries from retired clients
The past year has seen a surge in business for IFAs from already retired clients, with 56% of advisers reporting that they have seen more retired clients compared with previous years, research* from MetLife shows.
Wizard Learning News
Wizard Learning have now added a Financial Crime module to their CPD and gap fill system.
Metlife focuses on fixed-term annuities campaign
MetLife is launching a series of seminars focused on outlining the growth potential of the fixed-term annuity market and how it can fit with client needs following strong demand from advisers.
Wizard Learning: R06 exam and The Expected Solution Package
Our R06 Expected Solution Package has now been expanded and in this update we also cover the contents and requirements of the R06 exam and go on to detail how our R06 The Expected Solution Package will help you pass first time.
Metlife: Consumer engagement key to improving retirement income choice
Increasing consumer engagement is crucial to improving retirement income choices and the Association of British Insurers Compulsory Code of Conduct is a common sense agreement for consumers and the industry, according to MetLife.
Fidelity joins forces with Annuity Direct to offer next generation DC retirement proposition
New retirement income service to offer shopping around as a default as well as provide access to guidance and independent advice
Launch of additional eCommerce capability
Following the successful launch of new eCommerce capability in December 2011, were delighted to tell you that even more features have been added to our online proposition.
Metlife launches next generation of guarantees
MetLife is launching the next generation of guaranteed retirement income and investment products offering clients and advisers increased certainty and stability in response to consumer and IFA needs and current investment markets.
The added value of full underwriting
Taking a simplified underwriting approach to an annuity purchase, where only a few high level questions are asked, might appear to be an adequate indicator of whether an individual could qualify for an enhanced annuity or not.
Fidelity calculates potential cost to the 'squeezed middle' of changes to pensions tax relief
Raid on pensions tax relief could leave the 'squeezed middle' £3000 worse off per year for life in retirement.
LV= launches Trustbuilder
Protection specialist LV= today announces the launch of a free online tool to help advisers write new and existing life policies in trust from any provider.
Nearly one in four pensioners have had to bail out children
Nearly one in four pensioners have had to bail out their children* at a major cost to their own standard of living, new research from MetLife shows.
Metlife grows the fixed term annuity market with Tomas
MetLife has significantly expanded its distribution network with an exclusive six-month contract to become the first fixed-term annuity provider on The Open Market Annuity Service (TOMAS).
Scottish Widows: Special Offer Extended
Weve extended the special offer on reduced service charge rates for Retirement Account until 31 December 2011
Prudential: Can people afford to live longer?
One in three people are now living until they are 90 years old, and many are spending nearly a third of their lives in retirement
LV= Property and good manners - the great British legacy
A new report from protection and retirement specialist LV=, reveals that property and money are the assets that Brits most want to pass down to their children, at 59% and 58% respectively.
LV= Enhanced annuity and protected retirement plan rate improvement
LV= are pleased to announce that their enhanced annuity rates have improved by an average of 1% with effect from 7 July 2011.
LV=Protected Retirement Plan
Just over a year ago, LV= launched the Protected Retirement Plan a retirement income product designed to fill the gap between an annuity and drawdown.
Prudential: April edition of Oracle, Prudential's technical newsletter
This edition focuses on retirement planning and highlights the advice opportunities from pension reforms
Scottish Widows: Q1 fundstalk
The Q1 2011 edition of Scottish Widows fundstalk is now available. Designed to update advisers on the latest market views
AEGON: Retirement planning stay ahead of the game
The retirement market is evolving fast. Stay ahead of the game with our up-to-the-minute
Annuitas: EU Gender Ruling means lower pensions for men and women
The European Court of Justice has ruled that insurers cannot price products or services based on gender as this would constitute discrimination.
LV= urges advisers to revisit drawdown clients before April
LV= is calling for advisers to review their existing drawdown clients whose plans hit their anniversary before 6 April 2011
Annuitas: To be or not to be... in good health
We spend most of our lives striving for good health. Eat 5 a day, 20 minutes exercise five times a week
Annuitas: Is there more EU disruption on the horizon?
As many will know the prevention of discrimination is at the heart of many EU directives but the most recent flies in the face of cold hard facts.
LV= to launch capped and flexible drawdown in April
Following the Governments announcement to remove the requirement to buy an annuity at the age of 75
Win a luxury holiday to Athens with Retirement Account
Were launching the next stage of our Olympic Games cities competition. Throughout February you can enter the silver prize draw and win one of two luxury trips to Athens. All you have to do is complete six Retirement Account quotes, enter online and grab a chance to visit an iconic Olympic Games city.
New content for clients
Our client marketing area has been getting special attention over the past couple of weeks to add in new and relevant content for issue to your clients.
Workers look to employers for guidance on impact of DRA changes
Plans to scrap the default retirement age worries workers and 40% are uncertain what impact the changes will have on them and their long term saving plans, according to new research carried out by Close Asset Management Limited.
PanaceaIFA introduce Annuity service to bolster support for smaller IFAs
Many smaller IFAs today are very conscious that there is increasing media coverage of potential miss-selling of annuity business backed by campaigns such as www.missoldannuity.co.uk. The effect of such coverage can be to deter those IFAs from entering into dialogue with clients looking at retirement options and solutions because they do not have enough knowledge or expertise in that particular area.