The index tracks three key elements - current sales opportunities, future sales opportunities and type of product purchased. The key findings from the inaugural report are:
* Nearly one in four advisers (23%) said that their current level of protection sales is better than usual
* Over half of advisers (52%) said that there were ‘some' opportunities to talk to people about protection, a further 18% said there were ‘many' opportunities
* 61% of advisers said that it is no more difficult than normal to convert opportunities to sales
* 37% said that they expect protection sales to be better in six months time
* 19% said that there will be many opportunities to discuss protection with clients in six months time
Martin Noone, IFA sales director said: "What we are seeing here is a combination of skilled advisers targeting the right people with the right products at the right time. The recession has focused people's minds on what they have got to lose, which is where an IFA can come in with helping to provide peace of mind. Protection is as relevant now as ever whilst people focus on their income, their expenditure and how they would cope should the worst happen.
"Despite the protection market suffering because of a downturn in the housing sector, our research shows that there is a high level of optimism amongst IFAs. Not only do almost a quarter of them think that sales are better than usual, but 37% expect sales to be even better in six months' time. In terms of opportunities to see clients, 18% said that there are currently many opportunities and 61% said that it is no more difficult to convert those opportunities to actual sales. What's interesting is that the more IFAs sell protection, the more positive they are about the market."
