LIMRA Research Podcast

To Shop or Not to Shop for Life Insurance

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Past LIMRA research has shown life insurance ownership is at a 50- year low and that people have a tendency to procrastinate when it comes to buying life insurance. Yet it’s also true that there remains a large potential market for life insurance sales. LIMRA talks with Cheryl Retzloff, senior research director with LIMRA’s Markets Research and author of a new report entitled, “To Shop or Not to Shop for Life Insurance,” which takes a look at what motivates shoppers to buy life insurance, and when and where they are most likely to do it.

Perceptions of the Economic Downturn

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talks with Jim Mitchel, vice president with Development and Strategic Research here at LIMRA and author of the report, “Perceptions of the Economic Downturn,” about some of the challenges small business owners and professionals face as they consider long-term business goals, retirement issues, and what they’ll be leaving behind.

Analyzing the Insurance Cross-Purchase Survey

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA interviews Laura Murach and Polly Painter-Eggers, both with LIMRA’s Distribution Research, on a report they co-authored with LIMRA Client Services’ Sean O’Donnell. The study, entitled “The Insurance Cross-Purchase Survey – How Consumers Buy Life Insurance from Multi-Line Insurance Companies,” compares multi-line customers with tri-line customers and emphasizes the importance of timing when it comes to the life insurance discussion.

Women and Retirement

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talks with Cecilia Shiner, senior analyst in Retirement Research at LIMRA, about the continuing gap between men and women when it comes to investing for retirement. Cecilia is the author of a report that came out earlier this year, “Gender Matters – Retirement Savings of Working Men and Women,” and wrote an article in the second quarter issue of LIMRA’s Market Facts magazine entitled, “Unstacking the Deck: Preparing Women for Retirement.”

Group vs. Individual – The Lines Blur

Thu, 3 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talks with Associate Research Director Jennifer Douglas (Developmental Research, LIMRA) and Assistant Vice President Anita Potter (Product Research, LIMRA) about the motivations for buying insurance in the workplace and the blurring of the lines between individual and group insurance products.

Life Insurance Ownership Across the Generations

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA interviewed Shawn Flynn, assistant research director in LIMRA’s Markets Research, about the generational differences in life insurance ownership, according to LIMRA’s 2010 U.S. Life Insurance Ownership Study data.

Voluntary Benefits: How Did the Market Fare Following the Recession?

Wed, 6 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA spoke to Ron Neyer, assistant research director for LIMRA’s distribution research area, about his new report called “Weathering the Storm: Examining Voluntary Benefits in the Wake of the Great Recession,” which examines trends in voluntary product penetration and participation rates, and looks at the different things that might influence the decision making on benefits by employers.

The Future of Life Insurance part 2

Mon, 2 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talked to Scott Kallenbach and Cathy Ho, researchers from LIMRA’s strategic and product research groups, about their new report, “Behind the Eight Ball: Is the Future Bright for Individual Life Insurance?” This podcast is the second in a two-part series focusing on a segment of the report about the new demographic trends and what that means for the industry.

The Future of Life Insurance part 1

Tue, 5 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talked to Scott Kallenbach and Cathy Ho, researchers from LIMRA’s strategic and product research groups, about their new report, “Behind the Eight Ball: Is the Future Bright for Individual Life Insurance?” This podcast is the first in a two-part series focusing on a segment of the report: New Ways to Look at Old Markets.

The Advantages of Niche Marketing

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talked with Scott Kallenbach, of LIMRA’s strategic research group about a recent report on Niche Marketing. The study explores niche or target marketing and provides insight into why companies and individual producers should consider specialization.

Who Is Buying Life Insurance?

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talked to Karen Terry, manager, LIMRA’s Product Research, about the new study: “2009 Individual Life Buyers in the United States (2010).” In this study, LIMRA examined the demographic information (sex, age income level, etc.) of the buyers of individual life insurance in 2009 and the product preferences of these buyers.

Embrace Success: How Leverage and Collaboration Can Improve Sales Productivity

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talked to Pat Leary, Assistant Vice President of LIMRA’s Distribution Research, about his new report: “Embrace Success: Leverage, Collaboration, and the New Sales Environment (2010).” The study examined how leverage and collaboration may be keys to success in the new sales environment.

A Global Look at Pre-Retirees

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talked to Ruthine Williams-Baron, analyst, LIMRA’s International Research, about her new report: “A Global Dilemma: Are Pre-Retirees Ready to Retire? The study examined pre-retirees from different countries and compared how prepared they are for retirement.

Individual Life Insurance Sales

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA spoke with Ashley Durham, senior analyst for LIMRA’s product research, about the individual life insurance sales performance in the first half of 2010 and what we can expect for the remainder of the year and beyond.

The Key to Successful Bancassurance in China

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talked to Ingrid Goodenow, senior analyst, LIMRA’s International Research, about her new report: “Bancassurance: Products and Marketing,” which focuses on the sale of insurance products through banks in China. In this study, Goodenow examines this rapidly growing distribution channel; identifies the products obstacles and challenges carriers face; and uncovers the products and marketing strategies that have been successful.

Pre-retirees: Can They Really Retire?

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talks with Matt Drinkwater, associate managing director and Cecilia Shiner, analyst for LIMRA's Retirement Research about their new report, Scaling the Pre-Retiree Market. In this report, Matt and Cecilia examined long-term financial preparedness of Americans approaching traditional retirement age.

What Financial Advisors Think About Retirement Income Planning

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EST

Financial advisors say they want more education and training from wholesalers and carriers—especially about guaranteed income products, which they feel are too complicated. This is according to a recent study of financial advisors conducted by Matt Drinkwater, associate director of LIMRA’s retirement research. Matt shares other key findings from his study and what it means for financial services companies.

What’s New with Staffing Contact Centers in the Financial Services Industry

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talks with Malcolm McCulloch, senior research & market consultant, and Steven Miano, director of the customer contact center at ING, about changes and challenges with staffing call center in the financial services industry.

Reaching Out to Middle-Income Women

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talks to Nilufer Ahmed, senior research director, LIMRA Markets Research, who recently released a report comparing the behaviors and attitudes of middle-income women and men and the differences in their financial priorities, concerns and goals.

Best Laid Plans

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talks with Kimberly Landry, associate analyst for LIMRA’s Group Product Research, about her recent report called, “Best Laid Plans: Will Employers Change Their Philosophy Around Employee Benefits?”. This study examines the challenges employers face when trying to develop an affordable benefits package that meets the needs of their demographically diverse employees.

Tech Quake

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talks with Mary Art, LIMRA research director, Technology in Marketing and Distribution Research, who led a survey of financial services experts worldwide to identify and assess emerging technologies and potential environmental challenges that may impact the distribution of insurance and financial services. The result was her recent report, Tech Quake.

It’s All About me—Or Is It?

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA talks with Polly Painter-Eggers, author of a new LIMRA report, It’s All About Me—Or Is It?, and Delores Freitag, assistant vice president and director of LIMRA’s product management, about the report’s findings, which examined the key factors that help companies develop strong relationships with their producers and what the barriers are for long-term retention.

The Secret of My Success

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Distribution research analyst Polly Painter-Eggers talks about why many consumers remained loyal to their advisors during the recent economic downturn, despite some big losses in their portfolios.

Employee Benefits and Health Care Reform

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Will health care reform have an effect on other employee benefits? LIMRA experts Anita Potter and Jennifer Parmelee-Witt talk about the potential impact of health care reform on the full range of employee benefits, and what companies can do.

The New Normal – Myth or Reality?

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

Will the world be different after the current recession is over? Will we have what some call a “new normal?” LIMRA research expert Jim Mitchel talks about the arguments both for and against major change in consumer attitudes.

Forces of Change

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST

Trends in distribution in the life insurance and financial industry are the subject of this interview with Lucian Lombardi, LIMRA vice president and head of Distribution Research. Lombardi discusses findings released in recent research, titled Forces of Change – Issues Facing Distribution Leaders.

The New Reality

Wed, 5 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA’s Anita Potter talks about new research on the changing face of the consumer in the 21st Century, and what insurance and financial companies and distributors need to do in order to educate consumers and successfully market products.

Retirement Income Trade-offs, Implications for Product Development

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

Marie Rice, vice president and director of LIMRA’s Retirement Research, discusses the results of a recent retirement income consumer survey and shares the surprising findings on what drives consumers’ choices when it comes to buying a retirement income product.

Rules of Engagement

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

Scott Kallenbach of LIMRA’s Strategic Research team talks about the important public policy changes coming along as Congress and regulators look at the new financial world emerging from the chaos of 2008.

The Case of the Disappearing Customers

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA research analyst Ron Neyer tells about customers who “disappeared” during the direct marketing process and how solved the mystery of their absence. He is joined by LIMRA research head Bob Baranoff.

Employee Benefits in Uncertain Times

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA analysts Anita Potter and Jennifer Parmelee-Witt talk about the outlook for employee benefits in light of changing and difficult economic conditions. Their research shows continued commitment among employers and employees to offering and using benefits.

Busting the Liquidity Myth

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA Retirement Research expert Matt Drinkwater, Ph.D., studied the impact of annuitization on liquidity in a portfolio. He learned that, contrary to what many believe, liquidity improves when part of a portfolio is put into an annuity that produces retirement income.

Social Media 101

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST

Thinking Out Loud talks to Todd Silverhart, Ph.D, LIMRA Corporate Vice President and Director of Technology in Marketing and Distribution Research about the differences between traditional and social media. Silverhart describes how leading financial service companies are utilizing these new tools and outlines some emerging best practices.

2008 Annuity Sales Results

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA’s annuity research director Joe Montminy talks about annuity sales results for 2008. Overall sales were up three percent, variable sales were down, while fixed annuity sales skyrocketed.

Generations X and Y

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

As the baby boomers wind into retirement, the following generations, X and Y, are emerging as a powerful and important market for financial services. But they have different needs and attitudes than their boomer parents, and technology is a key part of their lifestyle. LIMRA researchers Nilufer Ahmed, Ph.D., and Mary Art, talk about the new generations.

Recognition Conferences Get a Closer Look

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

With the need to cut costs, and negative publicity in the air, companies are looking at their recognition events. LIMRA’s Tom Spinelli, project director in distribution research, surveyed member companies about their plans for recognition conferences in 2009 and 2010.

Forces of Change in Distribution

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Thinking Out Loud talks to Pat Leary in LIMRA’s Distribution Research Center about a new, joint research initiative with McKinsey and Company. Pat talks about industry trends and challenges and how companies need to adapt to a changed economic environment.

Worksite Marketing from the Inside Out

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA’s worksite analyst Ron Neyer and Walter Podgurski, head of the Workplace Benefits Association, talk about the worksite market and how worksite professionals see it today, as well as what the future might bring.

LIMRA Research in 2009

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA’s head of research, Bob Baranoff, talks about how LIMRA research has evolved over the years to meet changing company needs, and gives a preview of the highlights of important research projects coming out in 2009.

LIMRA’s Market Maturity Model

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Thinking Out Loud talks with Jennifer Berlin, head of LIMRA’s International Research unit, about the Market Maturity Model. This is a model that identifies different phases that a financial services market goes through, especially in emerging economies around the world.

Inside the Economic Crisis

Tue, 2 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

A panel of LIMRA experts looks at the results of consumer and producer research conducted during October, at the height of the financial crisis. In addition to pessimism and mistrust, they see hope for the future and possible opportunities

What Producers Value

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

Distribution research analyst Denise Marvel talks with Cora Hall about the results of the latest producer panel survey on what producers value in their relationships with companies. Competitive products remain extremely important. Producers also want other kinds of support, such as lead generation, service support and a sense of urgency in dealing with requests.

Banks Sell Life Insurance? Who knew?

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA research manager Pat Leary talks about a new report on consumer knowledge and interest in purchasing life insurance through banks. He says more education is needed to raise consumer awareness.

Canadians: Ready to Retire?

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST

LIMRA’s Shawn Flynn and Stephanie Nickson of SunLife find that many Canadians are not well-prepared for looming retirement. They talk about the need for more saving and how insurance companies can help with education, as well as products and services.

Bancassurance in Asia, Part Two

Tue, 7 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST

This podcast features International Research Analyst Lori Chester talking about bancassurance practices in Japan, China, India and Malaysia, and what has been successful.

Bancassurance in Asia, Part One

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST

This podcast features International Research Analyst Lori Chester talking about the working relationship between banks and insurers, including the division of labor, first-year commission rates and training in the Asia bancassurance industry.

The Timing of Retirement

Mon, 8 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST

Sally Bryck of LIMRA’s retirement research team talks about how people decide when they are going to retire, and how they prepare – or fail to prepare – for the big step. For many people, retirement comes sooner than they expected, sometimes due to ill health or other problems, and sometimes because they feel ready.

What you need to know about e-marketing.

Tue, 2 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST

Betsy Schwarz of LIMRA's markets and technology research team, talks about the promise and pitfalls of using new Internet tools to market financial services through e-marketing. By following the rules of interactivity, marketers can use the Internet strategically to build trust and understanding with customers.