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October 24, 2011 at 04:00 PM
In a sea of specialized products with increasingly complex rules and fee structures, it might be surprising to know that industry leaders themselves favor a more streamlined approach.
But in listening to the thoughts of the CEOs of MassMutual, ING Insurance U.S. and Protective Life Corporation at Monday’s LIMRA conference in New York City, you get the idea that simpler might be better – especially for the increasingly cynical and befuddled consumer.
Prompted by moderator Robert Kerzner, CLU, ChFC, president and CEO of LIMRA, LOMA and LL Global Inc., the powerhouse trio was surprisingly candid in their assessment of what should (and should not) be done to help build industry success.
“We’ve had the greatest growth in the past 18 months, over our entire 104 year history,” said John D. Johns, president and CEO of Protective. “But considering that the average American has only 15 months worth of retirement savings, I see a huge opportunity for all of us.”
A return to tradition
Roger Crandall, CFA, president and CEO of MassMutual, says he sees a future built on a return to some traditions that the industry may be forgetting in its rush for innovative products and the newest social media selling tools.
“I think we could see some good success in some old-fashioned sales training and tools,” he said. “Instead of more products, we need more innovation on getting to the market and serving our customers. Using those old-fashioned concepts may appeal to people who’ve seen enough and been burned enough by other products. Maybe simpler is better.”
Robert Leary, president and CEO of ING Insurance U.S., agreed that the push for newer and better may not appeal to everyone.
