In this issue of DeRisk, we explore two areas where insurers and pension trust funds are focusing on identifying new customer touchpoints and maintaining market share: through the use of social networks and product customisation. We also identify the drags and what could possibly be done to make the process smoother.

We have considered insurers and pension trust funds in the same bucket because their clientele have similarities: insurers have pension and wealth products such as annuities; pension trust funds also have similar asset management obligations.

Additionally, multiple pension trust funds have seen pension buy-outs from insurance portfolios. Even insurers are offering lump-sums instead of annuities – a trend of de-annuitisation seen over the past 15 years.