Core Viewpoint - Major insurance companies are shifting towards "guaranteed returns + floating dividends" products, indicating a transformation in product design towards dividend insurance, which relies on the actual operating surplus of the insurance companies, thus testing their investment and operational capabilities [1][2][4]. Product Structure Shift - The insurance predetermined interest rate has entered a single-digit era, with a continuous decline over three years, reaching the lowest level in 20 years. Ordinary products have dropped from 3.5% to 2%, while dividend products have decreased from 3.0% to 1.75% [3][4]. - The dynamic adjustment mechanism for predetermined interest rates was officially launched this year, with rates being adjusted quarterly based on various market indicators [3]. - To adapt to the low-interest-rate environment, insurance companies are focusing on dividend insurance products, which provide guaranteed returns and potential growth, thus enhancing their sales strategies [3][4]. Investment Capability Challenges - The shift towards dividend insurance is influenced by multiple factors, including declining interest rates and the need for better asset-liability matching to mitigate interest rate risk [4][5]. - Dividend insurance consists of guaranteed returns and non-guaranteed bonuses, with the latter being subject to fluctuations based on investment performance, claims, and expenses, placing higher demands on the investment and operational capabilities of insurance companies [6]. Ensuring Dividend Realization Rates - To prevent misleading clients with overly optimistic projected dividend rates, regulatory measures have been implemented, requiring insurance companies to disclose actual dividend realization rates and allocate at least 70% of distributable surplus to clients [7]. - Major insurance companies are increasingly investing in high-dividend assets to ensure stable cash flow and long-term matching, employing a combination management framework to balance short, medium, and long-term investment goals [7][8]. - Companies must possess advanced product design capabilities, professional dividend policy formulation skills, systematic risk management abilities, and innovative asset-liability linkage capabilities to ensure sustainable dividend levels and financial stability [8].

Core Insights - Major insurance companies are launching "opening red" products, focusing on dividend insurance with floating settings, which test the investment and operational capabilities of insurers [1][4] Summary by Sections Product Structure Shift to Dividend Insurance - The preset interest rates for insurance products have entered the "1" era, with a continuous decline over three years, including a 50 basis points drop in the first two years and a 25 basis points drop this year [2] - Ordinary products have decreased from 3.5% to 2.0%, while dividend products have dropped from 3.0% to 1.75% [2] - The dynamic adjustment mechanism for preset interest rates was officially launched this year, marking the lowest level in nearly 20 years [2][3] - Major insurance companies are focusing on dividend insurance design to navigate the low-interest-rate environment, with products like Ping An Life's "Yuxiang Dividend Whole Life" and "Yuxiang Golden Year" [2] Impact of Low Interest Rates - The shift towards dividend insurance is influenced by lower interest rates, with dividend products having a smaller decline in preset rates compared to ordinary products [3] - Economic cycles and market conditions are prompting insurers to prioritize asset-liability matching to mitigate interest rate risk [3][4] - A clear market understanding of dividend products has led many insurers to focus on them for business development [3] Investment Capability Challenges - The design of dividend insurance includes guaranteed returns and non-guaranteed dividends, which helps to alleviate the liability pressure on insurers [4] - Non-guaranteed dividends are subject to fluctuations based on investment returns, insurance payouts, and expenses, placing higher demands on insurers' investment and operational capabilities [4] - Insurers must consider various factors beyond just the displayed dividend rates, including operational performance, investment strength, historical dividend performance, risk management, and reputation [4] Ensuring Dividend Realization Rates - To prevent misleading high displayed dividend rates, regulations require insurers to disclose actual dividend realization rates and allocate at least 70% of distributable surplus to clients [5] - Some large insurers have disclosed their dividend realization rates for the past three years, with AIA revealing data for the last ten years [5] - Insurers face multiple challenges in asset management, including quality asset shortages, declining yields, and balancing duration and returns [5] - Companies like Ping An are increasing investments in high-dividend assets and establishing a comprehensive management framework to meet short, medium, and long-term investment goals [5]

Core Viewpoint - The continuous reduction of the predetermined interest rate for life insurance over the past three years has led to dividend insurance becoming a key focus for many insurance companies, as it offers both guaranteed and floating returns, making it an attractive product in a low-interest-rate environment [1][3]. Product Structure Transformation - Dividend insurance has a smaller reduction in predetermined interest rates compared to ordinary products, enhancing its yield advantage [3]. - The design of dividend insurance, which includes guaranteed benefits and non-guaranteed dividends, helps to mitigate the liability pressure on insurance companies and reduces long-term interest rate risk [3][4]. Investment Strategy and Management - The investment team at the company has established a combination management framework called "tactical, scenario, and strategic warehouses" to balance short, medium, and long-term investment goals [1][8]. - The company aims to enhance the competitiveness of dividend insurance through a robust investment system that includes good teams, strategies, projects, performance, and dividends [9]. Dividend Characteristics and Distribution - The source of dividends in dividend insurance comes from surplus generated when actual operating conditions exceed pricing assumptions, primarily from interest margin, mortality margin, and expense margin [6]. - The company is committed to distributing at least 70% of the distributable surplus to policyholders, ensuring a fair share of the operating results [6][10]. Stability and Fairness Mechanism - The smoothing mechanism, referred to as the special reserve for dividend insurance, is designed to protect the long-term interests of policyholders by stabilizing dividend levels across different economic cycles [11][17]. - The mechanism allows for the accumulation of excess returns in good years and draws from reserves in poor years, ensuring a balanced approach to dividend distribution [11][12]. Governance and Transparency - The management of dividend insurance funds is conducted independently, with strict internal controls and annual audits by third parties to prevent misuse of the smoothing mechanism [14][15][16]. - The company adheres to regulatory requirements and its own dividend policies to ensure sustainable and stable returns for customers [12][13].

Core Viewpoint - The leading life insurance company, Ping An, is accelerating its transformation towards dividend insurance products, with a significant increase in the proportion of dividend insurance in new individual policies to around 40% in the first half of the year [1][2]. Group 1: Transformation Strategy - Ping An is focusing on a "turn to dividends" strategy, enhancing its product offerings in wealth and pension insurance, as well as protection products [2][3]. - The company aims to build a unique competitive advantage in dividend products by emphasizing "good products, good accounts, and good services" [2]. - Ping An is enriching its dividend product system by launching new products such as the "Yuxiang Dividend Whole Life" and "Yuxiang Jinyue Annuity" [2][4]. Group 2: Financial Management and Investment Strategy - The company is implementing a "asset-liability linkage" model to improve the competitiveness of its dividend products [2][3]. - Ping An has established a comprehensive management system for dividend accounts, leveraging its investment strength to create operational advantages for new dividend accounts [2][4]. - As of the end of Q3, Ping An's investment portfolio exceeded 6.41 trillion yuan, with an average net investment return of 5.0% over the past decade [5]. Group 3: Regulatory Environment and Market Dynamics - The recent regulatory guidelines from the National Financial Supervision Administration are reshaping the dividend insurance market, emphasizing asset-liability management and linking dividend levels to actual investment returns [9][10]. - The new regulations are expected to favor companies with strong operational stability and investment capabilities while imposing constraints on those with weaker asset-liability management [10]. - Ping An is preparing to launch dividend critical illness products in response to the regulatory framework, enhancing product design and pricing models [10][11]. Group 4: Consumer Guidance and Product Features - The company emphasizes the importance of consumers understanding their needs and matching them with the characteristics of dividend products, which typically require long-term holding [6][8]. - Consumers are advised to evaluate insurance companies based on their investment capabilities, historical dividend performance, and overall operational stability [8]. - The return of dividend critical illness insurance is seen as a significant move to meet changing market demands and provide long-term protection and stability for consumers [11].

Core Viewpoint - The leading life insurance companies in China are intensifying their transformation towards dividend insurance products, with Ping An Life Insurance taking significant steps in this direction, aiming to enhance their product offerings and competitiveness in the market [2][10]. Group 1: Transformation Strategy - Ping An Life has adopted a "turn to dividends" strategy, shifting its wealth and pension products to dividend types following interest rate adjustments, with dividend insurance now accounting for approximately 40% of new individual policies [2][10]. - The company is focusing on enriching its product lineup with dividend whole life and annuity products, incorporating unique features such as dual insured persons, and enhancing competitiveness through an "asset-liability linkage" model [3][4]. Group 2: Product Development and Management - Ping An Life is actively developing dividend critical illness insurance products in response to regulatory guidance aimed at promoting high-quality health insurance [2][11]. - The company has established a robust management system for dividend accounts, leveraging its investment strength to create competitive dividend returns for customers [4][5]. Group 3: Investment Strategy - The investment team at Ping An Life is highly qualified and collaborates with top international investment institutions to manage insurance funds effectively [6]. - The company employs a unique investment management framework that balances short, medium, and long-term investment goals, focusing on sectors like technology and clean energy [6][7]. Group 4: Regulatory Environment and Market Dynamics - Recent regulatory changes are reshaping the dividend insurance market, emphasizing the need for companies to align dividend levels with actual investment returns and manage their asset-liability effectively [10][11]. - The new regulations are expected to favor companies with strong operational stability and investment capabilities while imposing constraints on those with weaker asset-liability management [10][11]. Group 5: Consumer Guidance - Consumers are advised to assess their needs, select appropriate products, and evaluate the financial strength and historical performance of insurance companies when considering dividend insurance [8][9].