CONSUMERS PREFER BANKS TO INSURANCE AGENTS
By Adnews Staff
Almost half of holders of individual life insurance policies would switch to chartered banks for a 5% saving on premiums, according to a study done by Marketing Solutions of Toronto. Even if premiums were on par, 20% of respondents would still switch their life insurance to a bank. A third of respondents said their primary source of financial advice is an employee of a bank or credit union. Life insurers didn't fare as well as fee-based financial planners in knowledge about financial matters. Twenty-three per cent of respondents said life insurers were knowledgeable while 58% said financial planners were. Forty per cent of respondents said life insurers were poor in knowledge. When asked which financial advisors would put the consumer interest first, life insurance agents ranked fifth behind accountants, fee-based financial planners, bank managers and stock brokers.