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May 18, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Completion of the 2010 census set off much discussion about the growth of minority segments of the U.S. population. While the Hispanic segment is cited as the largest, agents should not lose sight of the Asian-American population, which the U.S. Census reports is the group that grew faster than any other between 2000 and 2010.
See also: Multiple Cultures, Multiple Financial Needs
Those numbers point to an interesting fact about recent sales at New York Life: agents working in Asian markets accounted for nearly 20% of our whole life insurance sales in 2011. Also, while determining exactly which ethic groups buy our products is not a perfect science, we estimate that for one-third of our sales force — now totaling some 12,500 agents — Asian Americans form at least 50% of their client base.
These statistics may be surprising until you learn more about the clients themselves. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income for Asian Americans in 2009 was $68,780 — well above that year’s national average of $52,000. Meanwhile, during the five-year period between 2002 and 2007, the number of businesses owned by Asian Americans increased 40%, to 1.5 million.
What’s more, according to the U.S. Census, the population growth for Asian Americans over the past decade came in at 46%, the fastest of any major ethnic group. The 2010 American Community Survey reveals that occupations for this market segment are as follows: management, business, science and arts (48.1%); sales and office occupations (21.8%); service (17.2%); and other occupations (12.9%).
A compelling profile
There are many ways Asian Americans pursue the American dream. Initially, some came to the United States to pursue higher education and eventually developed professional careers. Others embraced their entrepreneurial spirit and successfully started their own businesses, despite language and/or cultural barriers. Some began by establishing businesses within their community and then expanded them into other regions.
Often, first-generation Asian Americans created wealth and accumulated assets through hard work coupled with a natural propensity to save what they earned. However, many were uncertain about how to safeguard wealth and preferred a conservative way to protect and further grow what they had accumulated. Like the rest of us, they’ve seen the risks of investing in the stock market and real estate in recent years.
Based on our experience with first-generation Asian Americans, there’s also a lot of truth to the observation that many are committed to sacrificing everything, especially luxury goods, and doing whatever it takes to provide better educational opportunities and living standards for their children. Leaving a legacy for the next generation is a very high priority for Asian Americans.
The second generation of Asian Americans also offers a compelling profile, having held onto many of the values treasured by their parents. These traits make Asian American prospects ones to seek:
- Entrepreneurial at heart. Skilled at starting and expanding businesses.
- Banking on the future. Industrious savers of what they’ve earned.
- College-bound. Recognize the value of higher education, which often translates into future prosperity.
- Supportive of family values. Strong belief in the family and the protection life insurance offers.
- Loyal. Find a good product and sticking with it.
- Forge relationships. Just the kind of attribute that a good life insurance agent can reinforce.
Propensity for whole life insurance
Financial statistics, as well as the long-held values of this community, provide a clearer picture of why permanent life insurance with cash value accumulation is a natural fit with the financial goals of Asian Americans. The desire to leave a legacy reliant on financial vehicles proven to be safe havens for families’ wealth and a source of supplemental retirement income1, if needed, plays directly to the strengths of permanent life insurance.
Right now, federal estate taxes apply to amounts over a certain lifetime exemption. Of course, some states also have state estate taxes. Generally, a tax-free death benefit and tax-deferred cash value accumulation make permanent life insurance a compelling solution for many of the wealthiest Americans, Asian or otherwise.
