Swiss Re

Whole of life sales have plummeted following a change in non-investment linked marketing emphasis among providers, Swiss Re's Term and Health Watch 2013 has shown.

Swiss Re has said the industry is "getting it right" following strong in-force group risk premium growth figures in its Group Watch 2013.

While many in the industry are predicting the end of whole of life, others are questioning how, post-RDR, it can be used to build more holistic cover, Nicola Culley reports.

Reinsurer Swiss Re could be on the hook for $1bn in damages over a life insurance deal agreed with Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate, according to reports.

Is it time for intermediaries to look at whole of life cover as more than an Inheritance Tax planning tool and to take a multi-usage approach, asks Jennifer Gilchrist.

Establishing a clear income replacement proposition in time for February's final Review of Simple Financial Products could be "unlikely", Swiss Re has said.

Swiss Re's net income attributable to common shareholders fell by $877m to $83m (2011: $960m) in the second quarter of 2012 owing to a $1bn loss from the sale of the US business Admin Re.

Market surveys are nothing without analysis. Paul Avis finds Swiss Re's latest highlights a few worrying trends in group markets but also a number of opportunities.

The long-term protection market has remained resilient through 2011 despite significant increase in the UK protection gap, Swiss Re has reported.

Swiss Re has reported "strong underwriting, good investment performance and lower than-expected major natural catastrophe claims" for a "very strong first-quarter" net income of $1.1bn compared to a loss of $665m for Q1 2011.