IT Spotlights: high net worth

Brokers are coming under increasing pressure from banks and direct providers for a share of the high net worth (HNW) market, a recent report has revealed.

The High Net Worth Home Insurance Guide, published last month by research firm Defaqto, found that while the HNW market had been dominated by the intermediary sector in the past, a clear challenge was emerging from other companies and sectors capitalising on brand recognition and customer knowledge.

Such has been the increased competition that the HNW market has reported 41% and 28% rises in providers and products respectively between 2008 and 2012.

Growth through M&A

Commenting on the increased competition from banks, Defaqto’s insight analyst for general insurance Mike Powell says: “The dominance of intermediaries in the high net worth home insurance market is clearly being tested as more banks and direct providers enter the frame.

“In some respects, however, the entrance of banks and direct providers can be seen as good news for the intermediary sector, as more competition enables intermediaries to raise their profile.”

The increased competition hasn’t stopped mergers and acquisitions in the HNW intermediary sector. This is because it is so tough for firms involved in HNW to grow organically. When a customer finds a HNW broker, they tend to remain loyal.

Home and Legacy (H&L) managing director Barry O’Neill says: “Some of the M&A side is a reflection that some companies want to be in this sector in a more substantial way, but it is a tough job to grow HNW organically unless you have the expertise and capacity.”

Most recently, RSA Group acquired Oak Underwriting Agency for an undisclosed sum in April 2011, propelling it into the top three in HNW.

In December last year, Randall & Quilter snapped up high net worth underwriter Synergy Insurance Services (UK). In the same month, RK Harrison bought high net worth broker Mercury West Associates.

Add to this other key players such as Chubb and Hiscox, and to a lesser extent Sterling and Chartis, in a sector valued at around £1bn by business analysts Datamonitor, and you have a fast-growing industry with universal and lasting appeal.

Challenges for brokers

O’Neill says HNW is a very lucrative market, with a number of opportunities if you have the right skills and focus on underwriting to meet the client’s lifestyle and needs.

“You have essentially got clients who have a good attitude to risk management who look after their property and generally present good risks,” O’Neill says.

“It is a very loyal client base as long as you deliver the right products and service combination.”

H&L has been focused on developing its broker business and has achieved quotation growth of 20% last year and 15% so far this year. It has already had more sales this year than for the whole of 2010.

It is a tough job to grow high net worth organically unless you have the expertise and capacity”

Barry O’Neill, Home and Legacy

O’Neill says the insurer has been bringing in an increasing number of higher premium cases in the £5,000 to £10,000 bracket, bucking the trend of traditionally lower-end leads, culminating in landing its largest contract of more than £140m sum insured two months ago.

Among H&L’s clientele are celebrities, footballers and actors, but the majority of its clients are wealthy individuals who have made their money from commercial business.

The insurer typically covers fine art and jewellery collections, and clients with multiple properties.

“The key thing for us is to understand the client’s lifestyle, because it is quite different from the average man on the street,” O’Neill says.

According to O’Neill, the recession has made clients more careful about how they spend their money and made them question whether they are getting the best deal from their broker. “They are challenging brokers around the price and product mix they are getting,” he says.

Brokers have responded, O’Neill says, by shopping around for a wider range of products for their clients.

The perennial challenge then is making sure the clients have the right sums insured by keeping up-to-date with the values of their property at risk, particularly items such as precious metals like gold, which have sky-rocketed in price in recent years.

Maintaining the quality of underwriting, and improving the transaction process between brokers and insurers have been other issues.

While claims have remained low in line with previous years, O’Neill says there needs to be an increase in rates to reflect inflation after two flat years. “It’s a very competitive market,” he says. “There are lots of companies that are competing for business.