Life Insurance & Pension Products

Course Description

The so-called “Pension Time Bomb” (i.e., the likely future situation, in which the number of people retired will be greater than the number of people working) has been a subject of discussion and press articles for many years. As this “time bomb” comes closer to exploding, governments are encouraging people to save for their own pensions. This trend has been a boon for insurance companies, which have been innovative in developing new products that address the needs of investors. But the wide range of “life” and pension products offered today is often difficult for investors and financial service professionals to understand.

This course describes the many forms of life insurance and pensions that are common in today’s financial markets. The focus of the course is on the insurance products that today are viable alternatives to traditional long-term savings vehicles, such as debt instruments, investment funds or savings accounts. The course covers the international market as well as selected domestic markets. Although no previous knowledge of insurance products is required, a basic understanding of financial instruments is assumed.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, delegates will have a good understanding of

• the development of the international life insurance and pension industry

• the “Pension Time Bomb” and the different approaches that aim to
  “defuse” it (e.g., the Three Pillars)

• the legal and risk principles behind life insurance and pension products

• the differences between defined benefit and defined contribution plans

• unit-linked insurance products, savings plans (e.g., 401(k)), additional voluntary retirement plans, bancassurance and other life insurance and pension products

• investment management for insurance policies

• regulatory and fiscal issues impacting life insurance and pension
  products in Europe

• the international market and selected domestic markets for life insurance and pension products

Target Audience

People working in the insurance sector; anyone working in financial services who needs to understand life insurance and pensions.

Duration

1 day for up to 12 participants