COVER poll: Fewer providers will hurt protection market

In the last poll, COVER asked "Do you worry that the number of protection providers is going to reduce to a market damaging level, due to reduced competition?" Two thirds (65%) of respondents agreed that only a few big players is bad for the market. Less than a third (30%) feel it will not affect the market, while 4% suggest reduced competition is unlikely to happen despite the current activities. With Aegon set to announce its protection fate in September, and Friends Provident planning a new Friends Life proposition once the merger with Axa's life arm is complete, it appears we w...