Has with-profits had its day?

roundtable

Investment Week brought together two advisers, a life office representative and an actuarial consultant, to discuss the issues affecting the asset class. Opinion was divided as to its merits and the future

IW: Could you explain why the with-profits market has suffered so much over the past couple of years? David Hare, Standard Life: It is important to remember the size of the asset class. There is more than £300bn in with-profits vehicles. Although everyone has suffered a drop in new business, I'm not sure it is a with-profits issue so much as a general lack of confidence in investments. IW: So would you say with-profits has not suffered more than other parts of the market? Graham Hooper, Charcol Holden Meehan: It depends on which part of the market you look at. With-profits products u...