Description: Discussion of the attitudes of consumers and consumerists regarding the life insurance industry and its products and a discussion of opportunities for improvement Topics include: 1. Disclosure to existing policyholders 2. Policy loan problems, including the policy replacement problem 3. dividend determination practices and 4. deceptive sales practices in the llfe insurance business.

Description: In the face of declining response rates from direct mail campaigns, the author suggests use of the internet to generate leads will be much more efficient and successful.

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

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

Description: This 1978 session focused on persistency and agent retention. Questions addressed: 1. What are the current industry practices and experience with regard to the recruiting, training and retention of agents? 2. Are there ways of building the marketing system that can ease the cost impact of loss because of terminated agents? 3. To what extent are agents directed to markets that will allow them to survive ? 4. Are policy persistency studies valuable in helping general agents and managers identify poor markets? 5. Are persistency studies made that relate to the profile of the insured, in addition to relating to policy characteristics? 6. What uses are made of persistency data by agency to improve results? 7. How effective are persistency incentives in compensation plans for agents and home office field management?

Description: Overview of call center and digital sales platforms for the development of distribution strategy in the individual insurance market.

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: 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.