In a fluctuating economy, life and annuities insurance professionals have to be innovative enough to keep pace.

This is according to the organisers of the International Life and Annuities Forum, which will be held in Bermuda later this year.

Forum organiser told The Royal Gazette : "The world economy is in constant fluctuation. As such, our challenge needs to be innovative enough to keep pace while complying with the conflicts that exist between multi-jurisdictional tax and legal structures.

"This conference offers the consummate environment in which to meet and share resources with other insurance industry leaders and executives -- to assist in ongoing efforts to keep up with the ever-changing trends in offshore wealth management products and to develop cutting-edge solution for global clients.'' In the world of annuities, Bermuda has put itself on the map with the IBC conference which is being held for the fourth year on the Island.

Hot topics this year for the hundreds of delegates that jet in for the three-day conference include how to make sure clients tax and legal structures, heir-ship issues and business continuity planning are right up to scratch.

The conference will again be held at the Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel between June 25 and 27 and will in general examine the international trends in offshore insurance.

The keynote speaker this year is E.J. Dionne Jr, a Washington Post columnist and regular political pundit on CNN and National Public Radio in the United States.

Mr. Dionne, who is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, will address "Examining the Global Political Landscape.'' The conference claims that it is has now become the premier meeting place for international life and annuities executives. It is the most comprehensive conference dedicated exclusively to the insurance market.

The organisers said: "Our goal is to provide the leading international life and annuities conference in the world that explores product opportunities, marketing strategies and the latest legal and tax trends for the industry providers, practitioners and clients.'' The convention will also feature an interactive brainstorming breakfast and on day two several interactive round table breakout sessions.

The breakout sessions will cover areas of product development and marketing and legal and tax concerns.

Forum to study trends in offshore insurance Organisers have put together a pre-conference workshop which will focus on applying traditional insurance planning techniques to HNWI in the international marketplace.

The session will cover the use of various life insurance products, including variable, universal life insurance and survivor life insurance as part of the portfolios of high net worth individuals in the international marketplace.

Panel discussions will feature at the three day conference and will seek to delve into challenging topics like regulatory issues in Latin America and estate planning with life insurance for Europe.

BUSINESS BUC