Digital distribution

Insurers are finding self-service portals to be an important distribution channel and are taking steps to improve functionality.

Research reveals gap in health, life insurance direct marketing to Gens X and Y.

A Towers Perrin survey finds customer experience as the key driver, while predictive modeling has been slow to make inroads.

Insurers may be wary of target-date funds, but are keeping their eye on regulatory developments.

AXA Equitable Life Insurance, Conseco Inc. and Midland National Life Insurance Co. are some of the companies to receive recognition for technology and quality enhancement.

The Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina recognized the personal and commercial P&C insurer for the second consecutive year.

Northeast Bancorp's 10 insurance agency acquisitions since 2007 have vaulted it to 60th place among bank holding companies that sell insurance, up from 156th place in 2005.

Vendor purports its comparative rater will keep personal lines agents on the frontlines.

Anne MacDonald will be responsible for the company's marketing, brand management and advertising strategy, and will serve on the company's management committee.

With co-branded URL addresses, brokerage firms can use the tool to generate qualified leads.

New solution features include ability to track and manage sales workflow without requiring users to log in to system.

Conning Research reports that life insurers’ tactics may no longer be effective in the face of recessionary and regulatory impacts on state-based wealth demographics.

A recent survey shows auto insurance buyers are ready for a change, and depending on the target market, insurers can take action.

While the tangible savings to paperless include decreases in postage and paper costs, the fringe benefit for insurers is potentially tapping into the growing eco-friendly customer segment.

U.K.-based edge IPK and Phoenix-based Discoverture Solutions, have partnered to combine and leverage the companies’ respective core competencies to offer property/casualty insurers a built-to-fit presentation layer. The companies say Discoverture’s expertise in insurance systems design and delivery combined with edge IPK’s edgeConnect open presentation platform (OPP) offers insurers a fresh approach and a cost-effective, quick-to-implement way to extend the life of legacy applications.

New Orleans-based Pan-American Life Insurance Group has completed the acquisition of USNow, a Plano, Texas-based provider of administration and management of limited medical plans. Since 2006, USNow has been representing Pan-American Life's worksite product line in the United States, and Pan-American Life previously held a 20% ownership stake in the company. USNow had achieved recognition in the insurance industry as the company that pioneered the concept of managed limited medical benefits, providing underinsured/uninsured individuals and corporate employees with access to affordable group health care.

Online insurance aggregator Esurance is targeting a new demographic with a new marketing ploy: Bollywood fans invited to create Bollywood videos with the insurer’s iconic character Erin Esurance. Bollywood, a Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, India, has become popular to date due to its inclusion in the Oscar-winning film “Slum Dog Millionaire.”

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The insurer says the opportunity allows them to develop "stronger partnerships" with banks by giving them more investment choices.

A study complains that CEOs are not well represented on social networking sites, but is that really a problem?