EU, Asia Pacific and UK provide the best opportunities for expansion in the life industry, according to a report commissioned by the Association for International Life Offices (AILO).

It's Future Visions 2022 report, which is based on an annual survey conducted by Milliman on behalf of AILO, provides analysis across four key areas - strategy, markets, regulatory and hot topics facing the industry.

In response to which regions respondents thought provided the best opportunities for expansion, the results showed a big bounce back regarding opinions about the UK since the 2021 survey. 

This could be related to the ongoing trend towards consolidation in the industry and Brexit, the report said. 

Respondents were also asked to choose the most attractive jurisdictions for their sector, based on nine factors covering cost, regulatory, market access, security, reputation and tax issues. 

Ireland was the clear leader followed by a closely ranked group of Luxembourg, the Isle of Man and Liechtenstein.

The Future Visions 2022 report concluded with the following insights:

•    Dealing with the challenge of increased regulatory compliance is absorbing more costs and resources within insurers.
•    Europe and Asia Pacific are still seen as attractive markets to the cross-border insurers, with the view of the UK market being more volatile given recent political changes.
•    Conduct supervision will be a continuing focus for supervisors and, therefore, 
insurers too. In particular, assessing and demonstrating value for money in insurance products is a growing consideration.
•    As inflation starts to bite, insurers are looking to automation to solve quality and staff cost issues, but there is much more scope for development in this area.
•    Unsurprisingly, consolidation is a trend that has not yet run its course.

AILO CEO Bob Pain (pictured) said: "We must say a big thank you to Milliman - and especially Rob Frize, Senior Consultant at Milliman Dublin - for the excellent work that went into producing the Future Visions 2022 report. 

"Throughout the year we carry out or commission research which provides useful data and analysis that is available exclusively to our full and associate members.

"In that context the Future Visions report is another example of the value we provide to our members and the industry generally."