HARTFORD, Conn., October 26 – The life insurance industry accelerated its rapid profit growth in 2005 with statutory net operating gains of $32.8 billion in 2005, and sharp profits are expected to continue through 2008, according to the latest analysis for the life and health insurance industry from Conning Research and Consulting, Inc.

Our analysis of life insurance profitability in 2005 shows a $1.7 billion increase from the record level achieved in 2004 and there appears to be more good news to come, said Stephan Christiansen, director of research at Conning Research & Consulting, Inc. We forecast continuing statutory net gain increases for the period 2006 through 2008.

The semi-annual Conning Research study, Life-Health Forecast & Analysis by Line of Business, 2006-2008 reports on 2005 final results for the industry and forecasts results for the life and health insurance industry and its top lines of business through 2008.

Our study identifies a variety of different market conditions across different products in our 2006-2008 forecasts, said Terence Martin, senior analyst at Conning Research. Overall, thanks to continuing product innovation and increased fee-based revenue, the industry appears to be sustaining historically strong margins, even in the face of lower investment returns and the need to support a growing capital base.

Life-Health Forecast & Analysis by Line of Business, 2006-2008 is available at www.conningresearch.com.