Life Insurance Awareness Month Gets Its Own 'Apprentice'

Jacksons mother passed away when he was in his teens, and the proceeds from her life insurance were used to fund his college education.

"He feels very, very passionately about it," Woods said.

Jacksons experience with life insurance was a key factor in the decision to bring him on as a spokesperson, according to Woods.

"We were looking for someone who would be a credible spokesperson for the industry," he said. "They had to have a personal story."

In addition to providing that credibility and a well-known face, Woods said Jackson also would provide an appeal to LIFEs target demographic, young people. LIFE also had considered former "Dynasty" star Linda Evans as a spokesperson, Woods said, but went with Jackson specifically to reach that target audience.

Jacksons pre-"Apprentice" professional background, as an investment manager at Goldman Sachs, also made him an attractive candidate for the industry as someone who could speak professionally as well as personally on the issue, Woods noted.

LIFE is coordinating the main ad campaign for Life Insurance Awareness Month, but Woods said that other companies have undertaken their own awareness efforts. "You wouldnt believe what some of these companies are doing," he said, adding that "some of the major names that everybody knows" are funding their own ads.

Although LIAM is only a little over 2 weeks away, Woods said LIFE is still seeking to bring more companies and associationsin addition to the 70 already lending their supportinto the joint effort. Those interested in joining the campaign, he said, can contact Jon Dressner at LIFE.

Reproduced from National Underwriter Edition, August 12, 2004. Copyright 2004 by The National Underwriter Company in the serial publication. All rights reserved.Copyright in this article as an independent work may be held by the author.