AFM’s CEO comments on the demise of a stalwart of member-ownership
25 March, 2021 – Read more
Mutuals paid out £36m in IP claims in 2020
17 March, 2021
Research from Association of Financial Mutuals (AFM) shows paid claims volume increased 38% compared to last year. Read more
What is financial mutual and why should you consider joining one?
In an article published in the i on 11 January 2021, AFM CEO provides expert advice on businesses owned by customers: Read more
Child Trust Funds: five tips on what to do with the money
1 September, 2020
Most of the around 55,000 young people turning 18 in September will enjoy an unexpected and worthwhile birthday present: the Child Trust Fund (CTF). This scheme was launched by the government in 2005 and the first funds will be available to spend or re-invest this year.
The average CTF will be worth over £1,000, but many accounts will hold significantly more than that. And while the temptation might be to spend the money on a car, a holiday or to pay off bills, recent research from OneFamily, the largest provider of CTFs, shows that most young adults are inclined to invest the money to build up a future nest egg.
Young people are also likely to look for help on what to do with the money from their parents, grandparents or guardian, so here are five tips on guiding them to make the right decision.
What are healthcare mutuals doing to create new value?
17 August, 2020
Insurers and cash plan providers are innovating in response to the pandemic, says AFM’s Martin Shaw in an article published in COVER Magazine
The latest newsletter from Association of Financial Mutuals: Mutually Yours, August 2020
With-profits funds can help investors weather stormy markets, says AFM CEO in article published in Professional Paraplanner
AFM statement on protection insurance and coronavirus, July 2020
Member organisations of the Association of Financial Mutuals assess each application for income protection on an individual basis, focussed on the applicant’s health, medical history and the severity of any symptoms at the time. In reviewing an application, a mutual will ensure it complies with the Equality Act, to ensure the outcome of an underwriting decision is fair and appropriate.
Amongst AFM members, in 2019 more than 95% of claims received were paid. For a mutual, underwriting is the first stage in the claims process: in other words, by taking care in the underwriting process to take full account of the medical history and circumstances of the individual at application stage, the policyholder can reasonably expect that a valid claim in the future will be paid, assuming the usual policy conditions are met.
Underwriting is a source of competition between insurers, and each develops its own underwriting philosophy based on its risk appetite. As a result, in the early stages of the pandemic, many mutual insurers responded cautiously to the unknown consequences of Covid-19. Exclusions were introduced, consistent with the Equality Act, to protect the existing membership. As the worst effects of Covid-19 begin to fall away, mutuals are beginning to carefully explore how they can relax some of their exclusions and policy changes.
And major acts of Mental Health Support
Income protection mental health support is taking on a new light during COVID-19, writes AFM CEO in an article published in COVER Magazine
New research from AFM shows mutual providers continue to lead the way in paying claims
In 2019, Mutuals paid out on 19 of every 20 income protection claims. Read the full article here
Mutuals put their money where their mouth is with £26m IP claims spend in 2019
Read the full Health Insurance and Protection article here
The latest newsletter from Association of Financial Mutuals: Mutually Yours, April 2020