Strategic Growth of Structured Products in Insurance

Structured products have emerged as a significant component of unit-linked assets for certain insurance companies, representing approximately 30% of such assets, as discussed at SRP France 2026 in Paris on May 21. Pierre Moretti, president of Neolife, emphasized the increasing influence of life insurers in France as key distributors of structured products. This trend underscores a broader strategic focus on enhancing asset management through diverse product offerings.

Daniel Chevalier, sales director at Oradéa Vie, a part of the Société Générale group, observed that the alignment of favorable market conditions in life insurance has driven record levels of premiums. He attributed this expansion predominantly to euro funds, catalyzed by rising rates, and unit-linked products, with structured products contributing a substantial share. Chevalier highlighted that structured products account for about 30% of Oradéa Vie's unit-linked assets, shaping the strategic approach to product distribution.

Strategic Inclusion and Market Demand

Pierre-Alexandre Etienne from Abeille Assurances corroborated this observation, explaining their strategic integration of structured products into balance sheets, which significantly increased assets under management. Etienne described a balanced market demand between fixed-income and index-linked products over the past year, reflecting a comprehensive approach to risk management and product diversification.

Oradéa Vie maintains standard product offerings, focusing on both fixed-income and index-linked products. Chevalier noted robust demand for traditional structures like Phoenix and Athena, indicating consumer confidence in such offerings. Abeille Assurances' sales team effectively manages partner relations through dedicated platforms, ensuring an even demand split and aligning with regulatory compliance requirements.

Ensuring Product Clarity and Consumer Understanding

Insurers continually focus on managing product complexity, striving to ensure clarity and comprehension for consumers. Oradéa Vie incorporates disclaimers in their product documentation to confirm consumer understanding, addressing the challenge of balancing simplicity with multifaceted product mechanisms. Etienne assured that familiar product structures, though longstanding in the market, remain comprehensible to investors. Chevalier highlighted the critical role of distributors in facilitating consumer understanding, emphasizing its significance in preventing future dissatisfaction and strengthening customer relations.