Sesame Bankhall Group and Aviva have announced a £5 million investment in new mortgage, protection and general insurance platform Acre Software.

London estate and letting agency, Portico, has launched a mortgage brokerage and protection service.

Prestige Underwriting Services has become the eighth provider to join Paymentshield's home insurance panel.

LV= is offering its Clear Home Essentials, Advanced and Complete range of products through Berkeley Alexander's panel.

GI protection specialist, Assurant Intermediary, has enhanced its broker proposition with a new instant quote system and a facility to refer clients to Assurant.

HLPartnership and Mortgage Support Network have launched a new preferred panel of two general insurance providers.

Paradigm Protect is simplifying its offering to one panel instead of two.

Legal & General has launched SmartQuote for Intermediaries to help advisers obtain home insurance quotes for their clients.

This year Paymentshield is again supporting National Conversation Week to promote more open and constructive conversations about our finances.

We spoke to Scott Cadger, head of protection underwriting and claims at Scottish Widows, about the firm's approach to complex cases and how an automated underwriting process is driving...