As we reflect on 2015 and look toward 2016, sea change in America is resulting in a wave of effects on the life insurance industry. From shifts in demographics to Americans' health status and their sources of retirement income, the new realities are reflected in ways that carriers and their products are transforming to offer solutions.
Let's explore these new realities and their implications for life insurance product development and distribution.
Shifting demographics
If you type "millennials" into any search engine, you may get the impression that the millennials are taking over. Article after article explores the many different ways members of today's most-talked-about generation are leaving their mark on the workforce, the country and the world. While "taking over" might be an exaggeration, it's not too far from the truth.
The needs and buying habits of millennials differ substantially from prior generations, calling for new approaches in the manner in which life insurance carriers interact with many prospective clients. At the same time, the life insurance business is also evolving to better serve baby boomers, our industry's traditional primary targets, who are living longer than ever before — although not necessarily more healthfully.
Three truths about millennials
Consider some important truths about millennials — the approximately 83 million Americans born between 1982 and 2000. While not every millennial is the same, the following are three things we know about Generation Y.
First, millennials are a large, and increasingly influential, segment of the population. U.S. Census Bureau estimates for 2015 indicate that millennials now represent 25 percent of the U.S. populace, making them our nation's single largest demographic group.
Pew Research Center analysis of this data indicates that millennials surpassed Gen Xers in the first quarter of 2015 to take over the largest share of the American workforce. Look around you: More than 1 in 3 U.S. workers today is a millennial.
Second, many millennials have already fallen behind in planning for their financial futures. According to a 2015 LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute study, 70 percent don't know how much they ought to be saving for retirement, and only four in 10 are putting aside at least 10 percent of their incomes.
Given the fact that this generation grew up in an era of great financial flux — coupled with the reality that they're currently paying down burdensome student loans, getting married, starting families, taking on mortgages and more – it's no surprise that long-term financial planning isn't necessarily a top priority for millennials as they head into 2016.
It is surprising, however, that 15 percent of millennials think winning the lottery is a "viable retirement strategy" and 11 percent are hoping for monetary gifts to see them through their later years.
That's according to a 2015 study by the Insured Retirement Institute and the Center for Generational Kinetics. The report also finds that 70 percent of millennials underestimate — by about $10,000 per year — how much money they'll need to spend in retirement.
Third, when it comes to life insurance specifically, millennials are woefully underserved and, perhaps, undereducated. Recent LIMRA research indicates that while a majority believe they need to have more coverage, fewer than one in five are "very likely" to buy it.
In fact, in a 2015 study from Life Happens and LIMRA, 60 percent of millennials prioritize paying for mobile phones, Internet and cable over life insurance. Saving for vacations is more important to 29 percent.
In the year ahead, what will be the best way to get millennials to rethink these priorities and begin to understand the role life insurance serves in protecting their financial futures? Ideally, millennials will be met in the marketplace on their own time and terms, as they will likely help steer their own buying experiences.
Part of the key to meeting millennials on their own time and terms lies in understanding how their lives and spending habits have been shaped by technology. Millennials can search for and buy something on their smartphones or laptops in less than a minute, and believe everything should be that quick and easy.
They are exposed, primarily on the Internet, to abundant information about whatever they are buying. They expect to be able to "visit" their financial professionals and their accounts anytime they want, virtually or electronically, 24/7.
To connect with this demographic group in 2016, insurance carriers and financial professionals should focus on natural, straightforward communications. It will be crucial to be able to relay the value proposition of the solutions being offered, and to be able to provide more information, in an easily palatable format.
When it comes to specific products, what is most appropriate for some millennials (as determined after a comprehensive financial assessment that should be conducted for each client or prospect) may be a universal life insurance policy offering not only needed guarantees, but also the potential to access cash value in the contract to cope with costly contingencies while still alive.
Changing realities for baby boomers
Just because millennials have risen to the top of the demographic charts this year doesn't mean it's time to push the needs of baby boomers to the back burner. Far from it.
Baby boomers are the wealthiest generation in American history. Older boomers are nearing retirement and younger boomers are beginning to confront the challenges of aging. As they evolve, boomers will continue to reshape every aspect of life they touch.
Their own lives have been shaped in part by their journey through economic recession. Having seen the impact that hard times can have on personal and family finances, many boomers are still working. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center Fact Tank, of the 75 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964, about 45 million are still in the labor force as 2016 approaches. Furthermore, boomers are known for their work ethic. If you're going to be doing business with them in the coming year, they're likely going to want to see that same quality in you.
