It could be due to complacency and a false sense of security that misfortune would not befall the individual. Or it could also be a general lack of awareness of how much coverage would be considered adequate. But the more likely reason is the perception that getting the recommended amount of insurance protection is costly and beyond their means. Hence, it is given lower priority amidst other more pressing financial commitments like housing, children’s education and other day-to-day needs. 2  BIS Review 163/2010  13. What can we do to keep insurance protection affordable? I urge the insurance industry to make a more concerted effort to address this. Part of the problem lies in the conventional practice of insurers in bundling the savings and protection elements into what is known as Whole Life Plans. Since the savings element in such Whole Life Plans can be very significant, the insurance premiums could be 3–5 times that of pure protection Term Assurance plans, for the same level of protection. I faced the same problem when I first started work. I could not afford a Whole Life Plan but had the good sense to choose a Term Assurance policy. Protecting my young family then was more important than leaving them my Whole Life insurance payout after they are all grown up when they need the sum of money the least. 14. The insurance industry should not always push for a Whole Life Plan as it may result in under insurance.
They needed temporarily to look beyond their traditional markets for funding, and unquestionably these conditions put their resources and management under strain. It can definitely be said that those involved passed this difficult test. The funding problem that loomed around this time a year ago is a thing of the past, terms in the secondary market have been normalised and market confidence has been restored. This  BIS Review 34/2007  1  is to be welcomed. What remains, however, is of course that people are now more aware of the widespread risks that the future may hold in store. Global market conditions can change suddenly. Credit access, which in recent times has been exceptionally favourable for Icelandic and other banks, may change suddenly if unexpected conditions arise. It is important to be prepared for such a contingency. At the height of this furore, I would venture to say that the Central Bank made a strong contribution with its Financial Stability report, which was deemed to be professional, candid and in line with international best practice. The Bank’s next Financial Stability report will be published towards the end of April. Although these were not enviable times for financial companies, they definitely learned a lesson from this ordeal and are both more cautious and more aware of external influences than before. Rapid and sweeping changes in the financial sector put a great strain on regulatory agencies, which may face an uphill struggle to keep up with the swift pace of developments.