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WINDSOR, Conn., Oct. 24, 2011 — Today, Robert A. Kerzner, president and CEO of LIMRA, LOMA and LL Global, opened the 95th LIMRA Annual Conference challenging the more than 500 financial services executives attending to better leverage the power of social media, mobile devices and other technological advances to grow life insurance and investment sales in the future.

“The changes in available technology are happening at a staggering pace,” said Kerzner. “Do you think there is any way iPhones, iPads, Droids and other mobile devices are not going to materially change our business model? Is it realistic to think that this type of device-to-device communication won’t change how people buy our products?”

Kerzner suggested that the industry must leverage these advances to find ways to increase productivity from our existing distribution so they can close many more sales per year; to find new sources of distribution; and to reach the consumer directly and frequently in new and different ways.

From recruiting, hiring and training producers, marketing and communicating with consumers to data collection, Kerzner described how current technology is being used in other industries and how it can be adopted to improve and expand the business model of the financial services industry to better align with how people are living.

He showed the audience examples of online job fairs and how some companies are using social media to attract new candidates both in the field and at the home office. Kerzner encouraged the industry to train their producers differently, using mobile devices to provide on-the-spot lessons and mentoring.

According to Kerzner, communicating with consumers needs to change. “Many of our companies continue to post lots of pages of text on their websites and wonder why no one’s really getting the message. It’s not just the younger generations who play games online – consider if we incorporated our messages into games like Angry Birds.”

“Gen X & Y consumers want to buy differently – they want to retain control,” noted Kerzner. “What if we invert how we think about prospecting, really turn the model upside down?” Kerzner then showed a video portraying how future customers will not wait to hear from an advisor but will search online for an advisor that closely meets their needs, reading online reviews from past customers and friends. He asked the audience: “Are you ready for something like this? Are you training your reps on social media?”

Throughout his remarks, Kerzner provided examples of how social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn could be used to reach new customers, collect data and get referrals from satisfied clients. He advised that insurers not allow negative distractions prevent them from reevaluating how they conduct every aspect of their business and see if they can improve.

“Growth is the imperative,” closed Kerzner. “We must embrace the new world and make it ours.”

The 2011 LIMRA Annual conference theme, Transform Potential Into Performance, focuses on what leaders can do to capture emerging opportunities and innovate their business strategies to secure future, sustainable growth for their organizations. This event provides a unique opportunity for attendees to share their experience and knowledge with their colleagues and counterparts.

More than 500 top executives from LIMRA member companies throughout the world attended the industry's most preeminent meeting.

LIMRA Contacts:

Donna G. Sullivan, 860-285-7875, dsullivan@limra.com
Catherine Theroux, 860-285-7787, ctheroux@limra.com

 

About LIMRA

LIMRA is a worldwide research, consulting and professional development organization that helps more than 850 insurance and financial services companies in 73 countries increase their marketing and distribution effectiveness. Visit LIMRA at www.limra.com.

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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