800,000 Standard Life with profits policy holders have seen their payouts reduce by around 9%. Performance of the £41.2bn with-profits fund has been poor over the past twelve months, meaning those customers whose policy is due to expire this year, could see a shortfall between the policy value and their outstanding mortgage amount. (more…)

The Co-operative Bank has long sold itself as an ethical financial institution and it’s latest advertising campaign continues with this theme. The ‘good with money’ strapline encompasses so much more than solid financial returns. (more…)

Motor Insurers now regard an offence for driving whilst using a mobile phone as serious as unsafe driving. The offence could add around £200 to your car insurance premium as more insurers now ask for details of such offences when calculating your quote. Several of the big players now factor this in to the quotation, including Allianz, Churchill, Norwich Union and Zurich. Add the increased cost of insurance to the £60 fine and the three points on your driving license and that makes it one very expensive phone call.