Despite the ups and downs on the financial markets - life insurance remains secure and profitable

A world without life insurance?

The question as to whether a return of almost 4 percent is too low or appropriate given the current environment can be hotly disputed. What is far more decisive, however, is the fact that life insurance policies are not just pure investment products, but also serve to cover what are known as biometric risks. The best way of demonstrating this is to imagine, for a moment, that this sort of product never existed. If we no longer had life insurance, there would be no financial protection for relatives if the policyholder died. Sufficient protection for a family, or partner, in the event that something happens to the main wage earner while he/she is still young, for example, would be much more difficult to obtain. Life insurance policies are often also key to allowing individuals to turn their dream of owning their own home into reality. At the end of 2011, there were no fewer than 1.9 million policies designed to cover the risks associated with home loan savings contracts in Germany and around 2.9 million residual debt insurance policies, which are often a prerequisite for buying a property in the first place.

Life insurance helps to stabilize the capital markets

The important role played by life insurers on the capital market becomes obvious if we look at the volume of investments accumulated: at the end of 2011, life insurers in Germany managed funds to the tune of 743 billion euros. In the EU as a whole, the total amount came in at around 5,400 billion euros. This means that these providers are major institutional players on the capital market that help to stabilize the financial markets with their long-term investment policies, which are ultimately reflected in the maturities of their liabilities.

Important form of protection against poverty in old age

Another important social aspect is the fact that life and pension insurance offer protection against poverty in old age. Given that sovereign debt levels are already high and in light of the sheer number of "baby boomers" who are set to reach retirement age over the next few years, further state pension cuts are on the cards in most countries - either directly, in the form of moves to cut pension levels, or indirectly, in the guise of measures to lift the retirement age. What is more, without cover for their own longevity risk, many people will be forced to accept a lower standard of living in old age, despite having personal savings set aside for this purpose. This happens when private investment capital has been used up, leaving individuals with only their state pension to live on. The following figures clearly show that the world is growing older as a whole. Whereas in 1950, there were 2.3 people over 60 to every newborn baby, by 2050, we are set to see just under 16 over 60s to every newborn baby. This means that one in five of the earth's citizens will be aged over 60.

In 2011, each German citizen spent an average of EUR 1,042 on life insurance

Life and pension insurance is important for many areas of our society. This is also reflected in the considerable amounts that customers entrust to insurance companies across the globe. Last year, the life insurance premiums paid worldwide totaled the equivalent of more than 1.7 trillion euros; which roughly corresponds to the gross national product of the UK. In 2011, each German citizen spent an average of 1,042 euros on life insurance, with each US citizen spending the equivalent of 1,270 euros and each Japanese citizen spending as much as 2,183 euros.

Despite all of the criticism – life and pension insurance is profitable

There is no doubt that the current period of low interest rates is putting pressure on policyholder returns. This is compounded by the fact that the investment regulations for life insurance companies are appropriately stringent. By way of example, at the end of 2011, German companies held less than 4 percent of their total investments in equities. But in 2008, it was precisely this conservative investment policy that spared German life insurance customers the sort of hefty losses incurred, for example, by customers of British life insurers, which invest far more in equities. As far as the returns are concerned, it is important to bear in mind that all other investment products - which, unlike life insurance, do not offer protection against life's risks - are also affected and offering lower returns. "In uncertain times, people need a reliable product. This is why I believe that, despite all of the criticism, life and pension insurance will remain key components of private provision in the long term", concludes Heise.

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