Key points to consider

• With Profits maturity values have fallen for 10 years in a row
• 1 in 4 policyholders would have been better off in a savings account
• Smoothing was supposed to allow insurers to keep money back in the good years to help fund the weak ones
• However whilst underlying With Profits funds have grown over the last five years, returns have been reducing
• With Profits funds, their charges, the fund mix and their mechanics are not transparent

Questions the Financial Services Authority, our regulatory body, considers important for investors

• What sort of policy do I have?
• Does the policy still meet my needs?
• How long have I had the policy and how long is left?
• What can I expect my policy to be worth if I keep it until it matures?
• What benefits does my policy have?
• What could I get if I cashed-in my policy?
• Is there any way I can cash-in my policy without the company charging a surrender penalty?
• If I do cash-in the policy, what should I do with the money?
• I've received a letter from my insurers saying I can switch to a unit-linked fund - should I?
• Should I move my money to another insurer?