UK Direct Distribution of Life, Pension and Investment Products 2002

This report examines the distribution of retail life assurance, pensions and investment products in the UK via the Internet, telephone and direct mail. This report is intended to act as a reference book that features data on the key areas of direct distribution of life, pensions and investments in the UK. Datamonitor considers these areas to be:

• Market and distribution channel data, in terms of new business and market share
• Consumer data, covering usage of and attitudes towards servicing and purchasing via the Internet and telephone
• Marketing data, which focuses on the use of direct mail by the UK's top life, pension and investment companies
• Competitor data, detailing the amount of new business sold through direct channels for the UK's top life, pension and investment providers
• Forecasts for the size of the market and relative size of different distribution channels up to 2006

Through covering these key areas, the report forms

a complete guide to the direct distribution of life, pensions and investments in the UK that can be used in a multitude of ways.

 Introduction

The distribution of life, pension and investment products through direct channels - Internet, telephone and direct mail - has received much attention over the past few years, driven predominately by the need for providers to cut costs in the '1 per cent world' created by stakeholder pensions.

But this market is still largely unchartered territory, with Internet and telephone sales of life, pensions and investments only taking off in the past few years. Among the industry and consumers alike, opinions are still divided as to whether this market has been over-hyped, or whether it is only just starting to realize its full potential.

By providing data and analysis on key areas such as market size, consumer attitudes, direct sales by company, and the future shape of the market, this report forms indispensable guide to this confusing market - past, present and future. It is a report no life, pension or investment company seeking to adapt their business model to suit the 1 per cent world can afford to be without.