A Dictionary of Dutchness

Woekerpolis

Woekerpolis literally means ‘profiteering policy’ and is the rather telling nickname given by the media to investment- based savings schemes in which between 25% and 86% of the premium is spent on costs (life insurance, commission and other costs) rather than investments. Some 6.5 million of these policies have been sold over the past 15 years. All the big financial services groups offered them and are now busy forking out court-ordered compensation to policy- holders. In 2008, the financial services ombudsman ruled that policyholders faced with costs over 3.5% of their total premium should get compensation.