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On the surface, life insurance seems to be a basic product designed for a simple purpose. Logic and reason would tell us that life insurance coverage is a sensible thing to have. But people don’t always make decisions in a rational or logical way. We’re far more complex than that.

In fact, there’s an entire field devoted to analyzing the tendencies of people to make irrational decisions when money is involved. It’s called behavioral economics. New LIMRA research on behavioral economics looks into the human subconscious to help put several psychological pieces into the life insurance ownership puzzle.

For example, do we know how consumers really feel about owning life insurance? What do we know about the emotional benefits they want from it? What kind of messaging might increase the likelihood of someone to buy?

The LIMRA study found that major barriers to individual life insurance ownership can be better understood by some of the core principles of behavioral economics including:

It’s also clear that the purchase of insurance involves both functional needs and emotional needs. For example, security, control, belonging, and power are key emotional benefits that people want from life insurance.

By utilizing the concepts of behavioral economics, life insurance carriers can tailor their marketing messages to effectively reach potential customers. Once consumers understand the value of life insurance and take action to protect their families with coverage, everybody wins.

Complete findings from the study will be revealed at LIMRA’s 2015 Marketing and Research Conference, May 27–29 in Baltimore. To learn more, please visit the conference webpage here.  

To learn about a LIMRA sales-effectiveness program steeped in behavioral economics, please visit Trustworthy Selling.

Media Contacts

Catherine Theroux

Director, Public Relations

Work Phone: (860) 285-7787

Mobile Phone: (703) 447-3257

ctheroux@limra.com

Brooke Lacey

Senior Public Relations Specialist

Work Phone: (860) 298-3920

Mobile Phone: (413) 530-6184

blacey@limra.com

Bailey Reed

Public Relations/Social Media Specialist

Work Phone: (770) 984-3788

breed@loma.org

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