Description: This article presents the mathematics for evaluating direct marketing test programs.

Description: There are two key trends in the preneed and final expense insurance market, the first being small independently held preneed insurance companies presenting attractive acquisitional benefits and secondly, changing consumer attitudes may drive increased final expense activity in the future.

Description: This presentation, session number 53PD, took place at the 2000 Annual Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held October 15-18 in Chicago. The panelists note that “for several years only a few foreign insurers were permitted to provide life and health insurance in China. In recent years, regulators have been more receptive to the new entry of foreign insurers…” Topics include history of the development of the market, market demographics, including regionalization, types of products, distribution systems, and regulatory requirements for entry and continued operation. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 26, No. 3.

Description: This is a panel discussion session examining the complaints of life insurance consumers. The subjects include readability of contracts, risk classification methods, variety of product including the meaning of product names- what does the customer think he/she is buying or has bought, perceived lack of competition,

Description: This article discusses the results of a LIMRA survey about the use of the internet by life insurance and annuity consumers.

Description: The article summarizes results of a Milliman survey per the title. These products comprise about 40% of the total individual life market, and the survey covers a range of topics on these plans, which should be of interest to a large portion of the life industry.

Description: This article discusses three litigation issues: 1. Shelter Framing Corp. v. PBGC: This is a case recently placed on the Appellate Docket of the U.S. Supreme Court being appealed from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. That Circuit Court held that the Multiemployer Pension Plan amendments Act, which imposes liability on employers who withdrew from multiemployer plans, is unconstitutional as applied to employers who withdraw before the Act’s enactment but after its retroactively effective date. 2. Federal Trade Commission: The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has held that an investigation by the FTC into whether finance companies and auto dealerships were engaging in unfair and deceptive practices by representing that purchase of credit life insurance was required as a condition to obtain financing, was not outside the FTC’s power. 3. Baldwin-United Case: Under the rehabilitation plan for Baldwin-United, the Company would refund $3.7 billion to the annuity holders. Several groups are challenging this decision.

Description: The Distribution Channels: Part 1 -- Agent Channels provides general information on agent distribution channels covering a high-level perspective of members and the pros and cons to insurers.

Description: This report is based on simplified issue [SI] products sold during 2004 but introduced before 2004. Twenty-seven companies responded, covering 48 products.

Description: Presented at May 1996 Spring Meeting. Discusses how marketers are pushing the distribution frontiers of insurance and financial services: technology utilized, what is successful, product and service implications.