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Conditions: The product is factory gate-priced with customer agreed remuneration.

The bond is being launched with access to more than 1500 funds, a range of offshore bank deposit accounts, a discretionary management facility and flexible options available for withdrawals and payments.

It is also available as a capital redemption plan and offers a death benefit guarantee, as well as access to a full range trusts for inheritance tax-planning

The product is underwritten by Zurich's Irish business, and the bond is provided from, and will be administered in, Dublin. It will be passported initially into the UK, with the potential to launch later into other countries.

Contact: www.zurich.co.uk

Verdict: David Brunning, managing director of Kent-based Brunning Newman Houghton, said: "Zurich has designed a flexible arrangement reflecting the needs of more sophisticated investors and their often fee or "client agreed remuneration" based advisers. The range of accessible investments is in keeping with its competitors, although we would like to see more exchange-traded funds and investment trusts represented.

"The ability to invest in various currencies will appeal to clients who want to invest beyond sterling, whether this is down to investment diversification or their chosen location or jurisdiction.

"All of this flexibility and sophistication usually comes at a price, and so before making a judgement on the cost-effectiveness of this product we would have to know more about the pricing structure."

2/5 stars