In the first few months of 2008, Aviva Vie will launch offers and products specifically geared to the requirements of clients and financial markets buffeted by the recent crisis as this year begins.
In the first few months of 2008, Aviva Vie will launch offers and products specifically geared to the requirements of clients and financial markets buffeted by the recent crisis as this year begins.
These offers for the first four months of 2008 are part of the Good Advice approach. This is based on the five pillars that Aviva Vie puts into practice on a daily basis: helping clients prepare for their retirement; drawing up the beneficiary clause correctly; working out the best asset allocation; saving regularly to "even out" investments over time; meeting with clients once a year.
Aviva Puissance 7: For savers who want to wait a while before investing in unit-linked products
Amidst the particularly unstable situation of the financial markets, the Aviva Puissance 7 (AP7) offer comes at the right time as it represents a real short-term interim solution for highly prudent savers for their life insurance policies before investing in other unit-linked products in the range.
Available from 4 February to 28 March 2008, AP 7 allows capital to be invested in a guaranteed fund with an exceptional annual rate of 7%*, for a maximum period of six months, until 4 August 2008.
At the end of this period, together with his insurance adviser, the client will decide upon the asset allocation which best suits his objectives, based on a review of his personal situation.
Expanded range of financial funds
As part of its Good Advice approach, one of the pillars of which is helping clients to work out the asset allocation that best fits their expectations and requirements, Aviva Vie is expanding its range of unit-linked funds as from the end of February.
The expansion of the range of funds will result in them being open to new classes of assets, whilst keeping the range compact and understandable for the client. Four of these new funds will be managed by Morley, Aviva's asset management company in London, a practical illustration of the "One Aviva" strategy developed by the Group. Marketing of these funds will be based on an approach specifically focussed on clients, their personal situation and their objectives, using an online asset allocation tool.
New version of the Sélection International multi-fund policy
At the end of February, Aviva Vie will launch a new version of its Sélection International multi-fund policy.
Three innovations will enhance the attractiveness of this policy: it will be more accessible thanks to the lowering of the payment thresholds, will benefit from the expansion of the range of eligible funds and be accompanied by an optional new additional guarantee in case of death. Also, all financial funds eligible for this new contract will be subject to daily valuation.
Pensions: the best way of coping with the transitional arrangements for the Fillon Act
As a survey by Aviva plc revealed in December 2007, pensions are among the major preoccupations of French savers. A major event will take place on 30 June 2008: the transitional arrangements for the Fillon Act, which enable employees to take advantage of the old tax-free allowances, will cease to apply.
To help companies cope with this situation, Aviva Vie will be launching a unit-linked "Article 39" policy, as well as a PEI (inter-company savings plan) and a PERCOI (inter-company pension savings plan).
Two new financial options for managing life insurance policies
Having presented its clients with three financial options (the Progressive Investment Plan, the Scheduled Switch Plan and the Unit-Linked Scheduled Buy-Back Plan) in September 2007, Aviva Vie has enhanced its range with two new financial options available for its main policies since the end of 2007.
This means that all clients of Aviva Vie with life insurance policies can now benefit free of charge from two new financial options for managing their policies with: - Automatic Readjustment: This new option enables them to keep their asset allocation stable for a specified period, after which their personal situation is reviewed and the distribution adjusted accordingly.
- The Progressive Security Plan, which enables them to switch the investments in one or more funds gradually to secure funds, thus avoiding overexposure to market risks, prior to the paying out or surrender of the policy.
In this way, Aviva Vie is remaining true to its convictions and promoting the choice of unit-linked products when putting together life insurance portfolios. Although the current downturn in the markets may represent a promising investment opportunity for its clients, Aviva Vie reminds them of the importance of saving regularly to even out the ups and downs inherent in the financial markets.
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* before tax and social security contributions. Annual net rate applying to net sums invested in the Horizon August 2008 fund, pro rata to the investment period and up to 4 August 2008 at the latest.
Press contacts:
Aviva Vie
David Chenu
Telephone: 01 76 62 67 92
E-mail: david_chenu@aviva.fr
HDL Communication
Valérie Dudoit
Telephone: 01 58 65 20 16
E-mail: vdudoit@hdlcom.com
You can find all Aviva Vie press releases at www.aviva-vie.fr under "espace presse".
Notes to editors:
About Aviva
Aviva is the top life and pensions insurer in Europe and occupies a strong position in other markets throughout the world. Aviva is involved in three main areas, life assurance and long-term savings, fund management and general insurance. As at 31 December 2006, Aviva achieved a turnover of €61.9 billion and its assets under management amounted to €543 billion, making it the fifth largest insurer worldwide based on gross premiums.
With more than 150 years' experience in France, Aviva is among the top ten players in the insurance market. Aviva France is distinguished by a balanced multidistribution model which has proved itself: 875 general agents, 1,800 agency staff, 400 life advisers, more than 1,000 brokers, partners (Union Financière de France and Médéric). Aviva France's partners also include AFER, the leading association of savers in France, and the Crédit du Nord Group. Specialising in unit-linked products, Aviva is well-known for the performance of its long-term funds and its strong commitment to its customers through its Good advice approach. Aviva has more than 3,200 employees. As at 31 December 2006, Aviva France recorded a consolidated turnover of €6.4 billion, a consolidated operating profit of €689 million (based on intrinsic value - EEV/IFRS norms) and managed assets worth €72.9 billion.