Due to tax laws they are a common form of investment in the UK and some offshore centres.
Traditionally insurance bonds were with-profits policies and were often called with-profit(s) bonds. Since the introduction of unitised insurance funds they have often been marketed as unit-linked bonds or investment bonds.
Why invest in an insurance bond?
Bonds can provide income or growth and have access to a wide range of investment funds. The tax advantages offered by bonds attract investment after the tax free ISA limit has been used.
Range of investment funds
Traditionally investment bonds only invested in the with-profit fund of the insurance company. However, since the late 1970s the insurers have tried to compete directly with the unit trust market in offering a wide choice of unit-linked investment funds. Geographic and themed funds for almost every sector are available.
One innovation from the insurers is the distribution fund introduced by Sun Life in 1979. A distribution fund is designed to provide a regular rising income for investors. This is achieved by carefully balancing income generating assets such as corporate bonds and/or property with equities. The equity element provides some growth and the other assets the income. Since 2000 distribution bonds have been very popular and have replaced with-profit bonds as the low risk investment of choice in the UK.