EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Protection has reached a new normal and needs to reinvigorate itself
Key findings
Critical success factors
MARKET DYNAMICS
Introduction
The protection market has reached a 'new normal' of lower business levels
Contract levels have reduced due to the RDR
Banks have retrenched to core business and reduced their advisory capabilities
Non-mortgage term insurance remains the dominant product
Protection products are performing differently
The term insurance sector is facing a challenging time
Term continues to dictate the protection market
The mortgage market heavily affects opportunities for term insurance
The number of term contracts has declined
Premiums dropped across all product types in 2015
Product market share echoes the premium performance
The whole of life market is a market of two halves
Guaranteed acceptance is the dominant whole of life product
Whole of life contracts have declined
Premiums have held their own due to rate increases
The whole of life market is more dynamic than term
Pressure from new regulation is currently minimal
The protection market is out of the spotlight for now
All is quiet on the regulation front
The RDR has effectively excluded less affluent consumers from the market
Digital and societal changes are being felt
Subtle social change is taking place, while a lack of proactive customer engagement means the market has stalled
Industry disruption has been catching its breath
Insurers are focused on operational pressures
PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION TRENDS
The RDR has changed the distribution landscape for protection products
The total protection market picture reveals the collapse of restricted advice
However, the premiums story shows the value of advice
Distribution of term products is still dominated by IFAs
IFAs are well placed to upsell to wealthier customers as part of conversations about savings and mortgage protection
Direct channels have not been able to fill the advice gap yet
Distribution of whole of life products is as divided as ever
Guaranteed acceptance products are predominantly sold through the non-advised channel
IFAs are upselling with critical illness to drive up the underwritten market
Frustrations are creeping in among advisors
THE MARKET GOING FORWARD
The national climate of uncertainty will hold the protection market back
It will be a long road back for customers shut out by the RDR
Post-Brexit, the UK's future is uncertain
The domestic political picture is also in turmoil and could change everything
The term market forecast will see an overall drop in premiums to 2020
Sales growth will be driven by the mortgage market and digital technologies
Sales will be inhibited by the advice gap and weak engagement
Whole of life market forecast predicts growth at the expense of term
Sales growth will be driven by changes in inheritance tax
Sales will be inhibited by product perception
INSURERS NEED TO ADAPT THEIR BUSINESS MODELS
Time to move on from life stage journeys and consider the end-to-end customer experience
Insurers have work to do to deliver on hygiene factors
Inability to step away from complexity creates the right conditions for disruption
The distribution challenge centers on digital
Top-down and bottom-up approaches are both needed to solve the digital distribution dilemma
Automated advice offers opportunities to all stakeholders, but fair costs will be key in closing the advice gap
Slow progress on the digital agenda will continue to hold back operations and processes
APPENDIX
Abbreviations and acronyms
Methodology
Bibliography
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