LIMRA's Market Facts articles from March 22 2001

LIMRA's Market Facts archives from March 22 2001

The 3 percent factor. (from the president).(failure of Mortgage.com)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
March 22, 2001... The February 2001 issue of CFO Magazine contains a cautionary article on Internet failures. One of the stories, for example, is about Mortgage.com. With more than $50 million in funding, the company had created a 200-person customer-support...

From the editor.
March 22, 2001... The past four months have been exciting times for us at LIMRA International. During this period, our editorial staff has been working diligently to ensure the smooth transition of LIMRA's Marketfacts to a quarterly publication. It's been a job...

LIMRA's CEO Outlook Index: Fourth Quarter, 2000. (ceo outlook).(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... LIMRA's CEO Outlook Index rose for the second quarter in a row, reaching an all-time high of 722 in fourth quarter. This is out of a possible 1,000 points and represents an increase of 15 points since the third quarter. The index measures...

Bigger and (we think) better. (Cover Story).(Cover Story)
March 22, 2001... THOSE OF YOU who are regular readers of LIMRA's Marketfacts cannot help but notice that this edition is very different from its predecessors. If nothing else, it weighs more (which I hope will not be a deterrent for those of you who take it on...

High potential, yet underserved: the dichotomy of the women's market in the United States. (Markets).(Statistical Data Included)
March 22, 2001... The statistics related to today's female market might surprise you. Although women account for slightly more than half (52 percent) of the U.S. population, they write 80 percent of all checks and are responsible for 85 percent of all consumer...

Relationship is key to reaching the women's market. (Markets).(financial products)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... Women have a particularly strong affinity for relationship This and their resulting willingness they have to discuss what is important to them must be taken into account by any company that wants to build a market with women, according to Mary...

The changing environment of the U.S. small business market. (Markets).(Statistical Data Included)
March 22, 2001... THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES for small businesses. The last few years have seen a booming U.S. economy, with increased corporate profits, exceptional (and volatile) stock returns, low inflation, and a very strong job market. How have small...

Use of the Internet by middle-market consumers. (Markets).(Statistical Data Included)
March 22, 2001... A recent study by the U.S. Department of Commerce reports that Internet use has increased across all income brackets, with the middle-income bracket demonstrating the greatest increase between December 1998 and August 2000. Given this...

Perceptions of Canadian financial planning needs. (Markets).
March 22, 2001... OVER THE YEARS, financial institutions' interest in using financial planning as a customer service tool has waxed and waned. Lately, it appears that interest in financial planning is again on the increase -- not only as a means to cross-sell...

The electronic meeting ground: a study of transaction-based models. (Technology).(business-to-business insurance exchange)
March 22, 2001... THE RECENT MOVEMENT within the insurance industry toward a second stage of e-commerce activity -- a transaction-based stage -- has formed the distinct business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) market spaces. B2B insurance...

Consumers on the Web. (Technology).(study results)(Statistical Data Included)
March 22, 2001... THE NUMBER OF CONSUMERS on the Web continues to grow. Based on a recent phone survey conducted by LIMRA, it is estimated that 55 percent of adults ages 20 to 69 are connected to the Internet at home. The number online continues to increase but...

Crossing the dot-com line. (Technology).(the Internet is just part of Allstate's strategy)(Company Profile)(Statistical Data Included)
March 22, 2001... IN SOME WAYS, THIS ARTICLE'S TITLE IS MISLEADING. It implies that there is a clear boundary -- perhaps even a barrier -- between business and e-business and between old-economy and new-economy companies. * I don't think such a clear distinction...

Striking the right balance; evaluate your call center's success. (Distribution).
March 22, 2001... FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED and managed in the center industry, the transformation of this entity as a distribution channel has been profound. Call centers have developed beyond traditional telephone interaction between an organization and...

Using CPAs to distribute life and investment products. (Distribution).
March 22, 2001... AS MORE AND MORE insurance companies look to increase their "point of access" to the consumer, many companies and independent broker-dealers are looking at using Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to distribute their financial products. ...

Issues facing insurance company broker/dealers. (Distribution).
March 22, 2001... ROLE OF the insurance company broker/dealer (B/D) has gone through a tremendous transformation over the past two decades. It wasn't all that long ago that the BID was seen as little more than a conduit for registered products for a small group...

Wait if you'd like (but opportunities abound in the income annuity marketplace). (Retirement).(Statistical Data Included)
March 22, 2001... THE WORD ANNUITY is defined simply as a series of payments. Purchasers of deferred annuities enjoy the benefit of tax deferral of investment returns because of the unique feature of lifetime income that other investment products available on a...

Meeting the global retirement challenge. (Retirement).(pension fund management)
March 22, 2001... I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY to address the challenges -- and opportunities -- that the world's aging population provides for those of us in the global pensions and funds management businesses. Populations around the globe are rapidly...

Retirement: not a destination a journey: observations on how people approach money management in retirement. (Retirement).
March 22, 2001... RETIREMENT TODAY IS ABOUT CHOICE. Thanks to the booming economy of the past eight years and dual-income households, today's retirees and preretirees enjoy a much bigger cushion than any group of retirees has had before. Nothing in this...

Catching the wave. (Retirement).(retirement planning)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... The beginning of the 21st century brings with it a mix of challenge and opportunity for U.S. retirement plan sponsors and pension and 401(k) providers. Just consider the following three significant facts: 1. In 1998 in the United States,...

Stable value and financial advice in DC plans: are they compatible? (Retirement).(defined contribution)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... Today, many people debate whether defined contribution plan sponsors should offer financial advice to participants. A consensus is emerging that like other developments in the DC marketplace, advice will become de rigueur, much like daily...

Close ratios for sales of ancillary group products. (snapshots).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 22, 2001... Twelve companies participated in a recent LIMRA MarketScan on the close ratios (defined as the ratio of new business sold to new business quoted) of life insurance, short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and dental...

Canadian group life and health insurance on the rise. (snapshots).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 22, 2001... Total group life and health insurance sales premiums were up for the calendar year 2000 by 16 percent over calendar year 1999, according to LIMRA's latest findings. Sales were led by group life and disability premiums that increased 53 percent...

Portability of group products. (snapshots).(US companies participate in survey)(Brief Article)(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included)
March 22, 2001... A total of 17 U.S. companies participated in a recent LIMRA email survey regarding portability of various group products -- whether portability is offered, the minimum group size required, and the percent of covered employees who use the...

Dental PPO recruiting practices. (snapshots).(Brief Article)(Polling Data)
March 22, 2001... Results from 16 companies that offer PPO networks and responded to a recent LIMRA MarketScan show that five do not own their own PPO networks but lease them from another carrier or independent vendor that performs all tasks associated with...

The middle-child syndrome: are midsize businesses lost in the shuffle of the employee benefit world? (Products).
March 22, 2001... Do midsize businesses suffer from "middle child" syndrome? It's a question begging to be asked. The fact is that very few insurance companies target this market for health care benefits. Yet the more than 380,000 employers with 50 to 259...

Committed to quality recruiting? (A LIMRA Special Feature).
March 22, 2001... DOES YOUR COMPANY truly believe, that hiring the best people begins with recruiting the right candidates? It had better if it wants to survive the technical advances, market pressures, and regulatory changes reshaping insurance and financial...

The many faces of CRM. (A LIMRA Special Feature).(customer relationship management)
March 22, 2001... CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (CRM) is the most talked-about concept since marketing databases were invented in the early 1980s. Sometimes called eCRM -- the e stands for enterprise -- CRM is a process that provides a 360-degree view of the...

New chair, Board members elected. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).(Kenneth A. McClure, CLU, FLMI, elected chair of LIMRA International's Board of Directors)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... Kenneth A. McClure, CLU, FLMI, senior vice president, sales and marketing, USAA Life Insurance Company, was elected chair of LIMRA International's Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting in October 2000 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in...

LIMRA teams with ZILS for training initiative in newly opened Indian marketplace. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... LIMRA International will initiate a groundbreaking new program designed for putting a highly trained, professional insurance sales force and management in the field in India, and in record time. The project has been spurred by the recent...

Researchers: attend three dynamic conferences in one. (LIMRA Conferences).(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... The only constant in the financial services industry today is change,, and it's happening so quickly that it s difficult to keep up. Would you like an opportunity to learn and talk about today's changing issues? LIMRA will once again host three...

New annual study shows life sales trends. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).(life insurance)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 22, 2001... LIMRA recently released the results of its new annual survey of U.S. individual life insurance sales, 1999 U.S. Annual Individual Life Insurance Sales Industry Results. The survey includes individual life sales for over 140 companies and their...

New member companies. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).(life insurance companies)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 22, 2001... DOMESTIC AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENT SERVICES INC. Kansas City Missouri CATHOLIC WORKMAN FRATERNAL LIFE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION New Prague, Minnesota FLORIDA COMBINED LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY Jacksonville, Florida LIFEMARK...

Researchers join LIMRA staff. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).(Pete Jacques, Ph.D. and Doyle Ray Oakey)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... Pete Jacques, Ph.D., joined LIMRA International in November 2000 as an associate scientist in Markets Research. He is responsible for conducting research related to the middle-income market, specifically consumer preferences for buying...

LIMRA dates. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).
March 22, 2001... RESEARCH SEMINAR MARKETING RESEARCH CONFERENCE CLIENT MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE May 30, 2001 Sheraton Boston Hotel & Towers Boston, Massachusetts EUROPEAN ANNUAL MARKETING June 6-8, 2001 Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam,...

Career Profile+ and ExSel make online debut. (Inside LIMRA Online).(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... LIMRA's Career Profile+ made a successful debut last November when a New England Financial candidate was tested at www.exseltoolkit.com, the site of LIMRA's new Internet-based ExSel selection system. The exseltoolkit.com site is designed...

LIMRA and Personal Notes offer new Internet-based activity management system. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).(Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... LIMRA International and Personal Notes have entered into a partnership to develop ExSel into an innovative, Internet-based recruiting and performance management system. The new ExSel Activity Manager is built around three key modules: *...

Contributions made to Continuing Education Fund. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... Five individuals were recognized by their companies at LIMRA International's Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, through contributions made in their honor to LIMRA's Continuing Education Fund. Those honored in 2000 are: * Jairo...

LIMRA International online. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).
March 22, 2001... ONLINE RESEARCH UPDATE Check the LIMRA Online Research KnowledgeBase (www.limra.com) periodically far recently released reports. DISTRIBUTION ALL TIED AGENT COMPANIES The La Chambre-LIMRA Survey of Intermediary Opinion --...

Asia-Pacific Strategic Issues Conference offered. (Of International Interest).
March 22, 2001... What kind of investment should you make in agent training? Are unit-linked products right for your portfolio? Which technologies are the springboard to increasing return on equity? For answers to these and other vital questions, LIMRA...

Director appointed to Manage Selection Services for international sector. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).(William J. Bambara joins LIMRA)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... William J. Bambara joined LIMRA in September 2000 as selection services director of the International Selection Services unit in International Operations. He is responsible for managing the company's recruitment and selection products offered...

Joseph Mauro (second from left), former executive vice president of the Knights of Columbus and long-time LIMRA supporter, friend, and industry leader for over 30 years, was presented with a commemorative plaque before his retirement on December 31, 2000, in recognition of his service to the industry. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).
March 22, 2001... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Joseph Mauro (second from left), former executive vice president of the Knights of Columbus and long-time LIMRA supporter, friend, and industry leader for over 30 years, was presented with a commemorative...

InfoFocus paper describes human factor in making mergers work. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... Consolidation in the financial services industry is poised to continue well into the 21st century. In addition to acquiring entire companies, insurers are seeking new access points to alternate distribution channels and niche markets through...

Dorsey/PIM market study offered at discount. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).(African-American market studied)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... The research firm Dorsey/ PIM conducted an in-depth research study of the African-American market in fall 2000 to examine the behavior, usage, and attitude patterns of African-Americans across the country concerning life insurance, investment...

Annuity persistency data now published quarterly. (LIMRA International Digest: an update of member benefits, resources, and news).(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... In recent years many companies have seen large blocks of fixed deferred annuities reach the end of their surrender charge periods. They have witnessed generally decreasing (renewal)interest rates, a rising stock market, and a population that is...

The real risk. (look again).(life insurance industry should respect the choice of the consumer)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2001... "For of all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: `It might have been!'" -- John Greenleaf Whittier As baby boomers get older, we in the insurance industry seem to be emphasizing the risk of living too long over the risk of...