Introduction
This report examines the future prospects for brokers in the ultra competitive personal lines sector. With the FSA regulatory regime now underway and other channels making advances, brokers are under unprecedented pressure. Will broker models need to change? Will high-street brokers become extinct? Which consumers will retain an affinity for brokers? This report investigates these issues and more.

Scope
Extensive coverage of distribution and consumer data, providing insight into the purchasing habits of personal insurance consumers
Incorporates primary interviews with senior distribution managers, brokers and underwriting directors within the industry
Utilizes Datamonitor's in-house model to forecast brokers' share of distribution across motor and household sectors to 2010
Highlights
Use of the telephone within the broker channel has increased as brokers improve their accessibility and intermediaries adopt a quasi-direct model to stem the flow of business to the direct and brandassurance channel. Face-to-face contact has fallen sharply but insurance arrangement with a broker via the Internet is gathering momentum.

The most successful insurance brokers are those that have managed to portray themselves as direct players. These have been able to compete with direct players most effectively, with the added advantage of offering a wider range of products for a greater number of risks.

Datamonitor predicts that the key qualitative factors exerting an influence on the future prospects of the broker channel will include the rate of broker consolidation, shifts in product mix, consumer demand, technology and niche specializations. These factors will affect brokers of different sizes to various degrees of significance.

Reasons to Purchase
Understand consumer behaviour and tailor your broking activities accordingly, improving retention rates and attracting new customers
Gain insight into which broker models have proved successful, and how personal brokers can remain competitive in testing market conditions
Develop your future strategy confidently and focus your product range effectively using Datamonitor's broker distribution channel forecasts to 2010

Introduction
This report examines the future prospects for brokers in the ultra competitive personal lines sector. With the FSA regulatory regime now underway and other channels making advances, brokers are under unprecedented pressure. Will broker models need to change? Will high-street brokers become extinct? Which consumers will retain an affinity for brokers? This report investigates these issues and more.

Scope
Extensive coverage of distribution and consumer data, providing insight into the purchasing habits of personal insurance consumers
Incorporates primary interviews with senior distribution managers, brokers and underwriting directors within the industry
Utilizes Datamonitor's in-house model to forecast brokers' share of distribution across motor and household sectors to 2010
Highlights
Use of the telephone within the broker channel has increased as brokers improve their accessibility and intermediaries adopt a quasi-direct model to stem the flow of business to the direct and brandassurance channel. Face-to-face contact has fallen sharply but insurance arrangement with a broker via the Internet is gathering momentum.

The most successful insurance brokers are those that have managed to portray themselves as direct players. These have been able to compete with direct players most effectively, with the added advantage of offering a wider range of products for a greater number of risks.

Datamonitor predicts that the key qualitative factors exerting an influence on the future prospects of the broker channel will include the rate of broker consolidation, shifts in product mix, consumer demand, technology and niche specializations. These factors will affect brokers of different sizes to various degrees of significance.

Reasons to Purchase
Understand consumer behaviour and tailor your broking activities accordingly, improving retention rates and attracting new customers
Gain insight into which broker models have proved successful, and how personal brokers can remain competitive in testing market conditions
Develop your future strategy confidently and focus your product range effectively using Datamonitor's broker distribution channel forecasts to 2010