Lifetime Assurance Company announced an increase in the sales of its PIPs and PEPs savings products by approximately 55 per cent for the year to March 1999. At the end of 1998 the market for this product was estimated to be worth £90 million (€114.28 million).

One feature of this equity-based investment product, which is increasingly popular with investors in general, is a free fund-switching facility.

This allows investors to move between Lifetime's three funds: Investment for Growth, Investment for Opportunity or the Secure Fund as often as they wish, free of charge.

Investors may use a customer care line to access up-to-date information on their policies including value and future growth projections. An increase or decrease in premiums or a premium break of between one month and one year can be arranged by telephone. Written confirmation is no longer required.