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Despite most of us expecting the year ahead to be a hard slog, advisers specialising in the risk market remain upbeat.

The Zurich-Beaton Adviser Sentiment Index found that Australian life risk advisers were ‘moderately positive’ about the outlook for themselves and their practices. “These results show that, despite facing stagnant financial markets, low consumer sentiment and remaining uncertainty around FOFA, risk advisers are looking forward with optimism to the opportunities that 2012 may bring,” said Colin Morgan, CEO of Zurich’s Australian Life and Investments business.

Returning a ‘moderately positive’ 4.5 out of 7 for December 2011, the index assessed five key areas:

- consumer demand for advised life insurance
- the adviser’s current sales volume
- the regulatory environment
- likely sales volume for next quarter
- the long-term viability of their practice

Meanwhile Beaton’s Jelena Dodic said it was important that advisers were starting to look towards the long-term positivity in the industry. “Despite the overall negative sentiment in terms of the current regulatory environment, advisers are looking beyond the short term and remain positive about the long-term viability of their practice,” she said.