"It is interesting that so many advisers at this time are optimistic about growth in the advised protection market despite the uncertainty"
Advisers specialising in individual protection forecast 14% growth for the advised protection market by 2022. They also predict their own firm’s protection sales will expand by the same amount over the period. Almost all advisers surveyed expect some growth in the market.
Policies expected to see the most growth are identified as critical illness insurance, which half (50%) of advisers believe will achieve the largest expansion in sales, while 47% believe income protection insurance is most likely to benefit from the expanding market.
Advisers identified the increase in self-employment and the gig economy as a potential source of growth for the advised protection market in the next two years. More than two out of five (41%) advisers believe the growth of the gig economy will boost sales of advised protection products, while 30% believe the self-employed will fuel sales of protection cover over the next two years.
Advisers say there is a growing recognition among clients that protection products are important – 61% say cover is regarded as very necessary by many customers. However less than two out of five (38%) believe policies are seen as affordable, which could be a potential brake on growth in the advised market.
Mark Hussein, CEO of HSBC Life (UK) Ltd, said: “The cover that protection offers customers is increasingly seen as invaluable, with people recognising that looking after themselves and those they love is a vital investment. Recent events have only served to underline this thinking.
“It is interesting that so many advisers at this time are optimistic about growth in the advised protection market despite the uncertainty and that they believe critical illness and income protection are likely to be the biggest opportunities for growth over the next two years as the protection market expands. Recent feedback and support of IFAs for our own protection offering has demonstrated that this opportunity is there.
“Advisers are resilient and adaptable and are seeing there is an opportunity to demonstrate their value and expertise to customers, while also growing their own businesses supporting customers in protecting what is valuable to them.”
