by Kathleen E. Krozel, LLIF, FLMI, ARP, LIMRAIn this era of information overload, we cannot always trust every sound bite we read or hear. Some often-cited statistics can take on a life of their own. The financial services industry is not immune from this phenomenon. So with the goal of dispelling (or, in some cases, confirming) common “myths,” this article fact-checks several oft-repeated numbers and perceptions about agency-building distribution.
Download this article of MarketFacts by Eric T. Sondergeld, ASA, CFA, LIMRAWhether your company already has a target marketing or segmentation strategy, or is thinking of building one, this article considers target markets from the financial professional’s perspective. This will help develop an understanding of how face-to-face distribution could be useful in connecting your company’s products and services to its target market(s).
Download this article of MarketFacts by Richard I. Kolsky, Ph.D., Kellogg School of ManagementRapid growth and better margins await financial services companies that embrace their own digital disruption. In this article, Rick Kolsky provides key attributes shared by “industry transformers” and offers recommendations for how the industry can apply these principles.
Download this article of MarketFacts by Yuliya Babushkina, LIMRAWhile insurers and benefit specialists commonly believe that short-term disability benefits are extremely useful, most employees who face the decision to purchase this benefit — even at a very reasonable cost — are slow to act. This article offers ways to help gain employees’ attention: make it personal, communicate intelligently, and divide the work.
Download this article of MarketFacts by Mary M. Art, LIMRAFor many life insurance policyowners and prospects, their online experience helps form their impression of the company, its products, and the sales representatives with whom they may interact. This article offers a list of eight actions companies can take to meet people’s expectations and help build relationships online.
Download this article of MarketFacts by Vince Peterson, LIMRAThis article explores three key ways agencies can improve their abilities to serve multiline customers and prospects: First, understand what motivates today’s customers. Second, define how your agency interacts with them. And third, acquire skills that engage them and enhance their experience.
Download this article of MarketFacts by Deb Dupont, LIMRA Secure Retirement InstituteToday’s workforce is remarkably diverse and multi-layered — and understanding its dimensions can help employers, advisors, and product/service providers better meet workers’ needs. This article shares LIMRA’s recently developed employee engagement spectrum and how it reflects employees’ feelings about their own role in the workplace; their employer; and their retirement benefits, plans, and opportunities.
Download this article of MarketFacts by Kristen Gillis, ALMI, LIMRARegulations similar to the U.S. DOL fiduciary rule have already been implemented in other parts of the world. U.S. financial services organizations can benefit from not having to be the first to navigate this type of complicated regulations. They can learn from the experiences in other countries and be better positioned to align strategies and advisor practice models with the rule’s requirements and implications. This article shares lessons learned from Finland, Denmark, Norway, Australia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Download this article of MarketFacts by William C. Anderson, American Funds, Part of Capital GroupGiven the rapid acceptance of target-date funds as the primary retirement investment strategy for American workers, the choice of target-date provider is now among the most important decisions for an investment committee. One of the considerations is whether the TDF should be actively or passively managed. This article offers insight to inform this choice.
Download this article of MarketFacts by Jim Gauger, Deloitte Consulting LLPA study conducted by Deloitte Consulting LLC and LIMRA reveals the current state of the U.S. and Canadian life insurance industry relative to modernization strategies for policy administration systems. This artciel provides important findings and recommends actions insurers can take to transform their legacy ecosystem.
Download this article of MarketFacts by Leo Tucker, CLU, CLF, Northwestern Mutual Disruptions take place when the use of digital and other resources lowers the barriers of entry into a specific market. This can create substitute or complementary products to what is currently available. This article shares some related considerations through the lens of our industry, but from the field view.
Download this article of MarketFacts by Scott Campbell, M.B.A., American National Property and Casualty CompanyIn this View From the Top article, Scott Campbell (EVP and CMO, Multiple Line, with American National Property and Casualty Company) shares forces of disruption, including demographics, client experience, digital and data, and distribution evolution. He discusses each through an industry lens and offers insight on how companies can harness them to move forward.
Download this article of MarketFacts by John Sisson, Wilde AgencyHere, John Sisson discusses how science can help marketers overcome new realities in the marketplace. We can leverage science to better understand our audience, and then we can use it to move them to engage. The first step is achieved with data science, and the second with behavioral science.
Download this article of MarketFacts by E. William Weeks, CLUToday there is a heightened sense of urgency to improve profitability. There are fewer — but bigger and more competitive — companies. Low interest rates, new regulations, and new competitors are pushing down profit margins, while prospective customers have become more knowledgeable and more demanding. This article explores the issue of distribution effectiveness through the lens of the distribution cost ratio, using gross distribution commissions to manage distribution costs, and where to begin.
Download this article of MarketFacts by James T. Scanlon, M.S., HIA, LIMRAWithout question, the U.S. life insurance market is large and growing. Also, market penetration is stable. This article explores factors that will influence growth, current opportunities in the underinsured market, the future forecast, and how to overcome market challenges.
Download this article of MarketFacts by Farron Blanc, RGAxHere, Farron Blanc, Vice President, Innovation Studio with RGAx, answers these three questions: Why should insurance industry insiders or incumbents care about InsurTech? What impact might InsurTech startups have on the life insurance product value chain? What pending revolutions might have a good chance of reshaping the life insurance landscape?
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