Is my Endowment relatively safe?

theped

Hi,


I just want to follow up on a similar question that i asked previously now that the current world financial climate has worsened this last week.

I have an endowment with NU which is fulfilled/expires in May next year (2009). Does anyone think that there is any risk in this sector of our investments being lost in any way? Or is this considered a relatively safe area of investment/saving?

I am not talking about the endowment not performing to predictions but more to the possibility that the company or its investments not surviving the current situation for any reason.

Would appreciate any general thoughts and opinions here, thanks.

feisty1

The maximum levels of compensation are

Deposits: £50,000 per person
(for claims against firms declared in default from 7 October 2008).
100% of the first £50,000.*

Investments: £48,000 per person.
100% of the first £30,000 & 90% of the next £20,000.

Mortgage advice and arranging: £48,000 per person
(for business conducted on or after 31 October 2004).
100% of the first £30,000 and 90% of the next £20,000.

Long-term insurance (e.g. pensions and life assurance): unlimited.100% of the first £2,000 plus 90% of the remainder of the claim.

General insurance: unlimited.
Compulsory insurance (e.g. third party motor): 100% of the claim. Non-compulsory insurance (e.g. home and general): 100% of the first £2,000 plus 90% of the remainder of the claim.

General insurance advice and arranging: unlimited
(for business conducted on or after 14 January 2005).

100% of the first £2,000 plus 90% of the remainder of the claim.
Compulsory insurance is protected in full.
* The FSA changed the rules that govern compensation payments on 3 October 2008 to increase the total limit to £50,000. The limit comes into effect on 7 October 2008. For deposit claims against firms declared in default between 1 October 2007 and 6 October 2008, the maximum level of compensation is £35,000 (100% of £35,000). For deposit claims against firms declared in default before 1 October 2007, the maximum level of compensation is £31,700 (100% of the first £2,000 and 90% of the next £33,000). Depositors may still receive a share of their savings above £50,000 back following any distribution of assets as part of the insolvency process for a failed bank. This would be a matter for the insolvency practitioner to determine and any recovery would, by necessity, vary according to the circumstances of the specific failure. The actual level of compensation you receive will depend on the basis of your claim. FSCS only pays compensation for financial loss. Compensation limits are per person (per firm and type of claim). Slightly different limits and rules apply if you have a claim against an insurer or a bank that was insolvent before FSCS became operational (1 December 2001), or if your claim is against an investment firm that was declared in default before FSCS became operational

EdInvestor

theped wrote: »

I have an endowment with NU which is fulfilled/expires in May next year (2009). Does anyone think that there is any risk in this sector of our investments being lost in any way? Or is this considered a relatively safe area of investment/saving?

Is this a with profits endowment? If so your money is invested in shares, property and bonds and all these markets have been falling ovr the past 18 months.

It is thus likely that the value of your policy will fall over the next year, as the "delayed action" effect of WP kicks in. You may like to consider monitoring the surrender value month by month (just ring them up and check it) and if it starts to fall, consider cashing in early.

I am not talking about the endowment not performing to predictions but more to the possibility that the company or its investments not surviving the current situation for any reason.

If anything happened to NU you would be covered by the FSCS as above, but this is much less likely.