• Life insurers that offer smarter digital services combined with cheaper customer guidance could gain the edge in the retirement market;
• Defined contribution pensions, bulk annuities and drawdown will become almost twice as important, accounting for more than 60% of profits by 2025;
• However, new entrants, asset managers and banks could threaten a quarter of life insurers’ profits in 10 years’ time if they fail to act.
Paul Coulthard, head of life insurance at Deloitte, said: “Life insurers are facing a prolonged period of unprecedented market dislocation. We are seeing a ‘two-speed’ market, as a result of huge pension changes such as auto-enrolment, the retail distribution review and pension freedoms. New rules combined with an ageing population and consumer preference for leaving pensions invested, rather than buying an annuity, mean that insurers’ profits will be dramatically reshaped over the next 10 years. While some market commentators have argued insurers could lose out, we think insurers have important advantages. These include close ties to employers and strong actuarial and risk management, which position them well to grow in the decade ahead.”
However, Deloitte’s research warns life insurers could risk up to a quarter of profits by 2025, if they fail to evolve and offer new products. In this scenario, insurers’ total profits would fall by approximately £1bn compared to today.
Richard Baddon, head of insurance insight and partner at Deloitte, said: “New entrants are offering simpler and more engaging ways to save for retirement. The challenge for life insurers will be to provide customers with low-cost advice, guidance and financial education. For example, robo-advice, or automated advice models, can generate low-cost, yet well researched personal product recommendations for a saver with typical needs.
“Insurers that are digitally focussed will be more effective in protecting their market share and profitability. Those that use social media, wearables and the cloud will be best placed to develop new savings products that have the customer in mind. M&A opportunities are also one to watch, as selling off non-core assets could help insurers raise much needed capital for new innovative projects. Success is dependent on acting now. Those that fail to act with sufficient speed will be disrupted and face long-term decline.”
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