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Annuities Research

Digging into the Customer Experience: Annuities

Corporate Insight’s Annuity Monitor keeps clients on top of developments in the annuity business. Our value-added annuities research digs deeply to identify and assess specific aspects not only of the customer experience, but also the ways in which leading insurers market their annuity products to independent financial advisors.


Electronic & Print Newsletters PDF Print E-mail
This report looks at electronic and print newsletters offered by the Annuity Monitor firms. Electronic newsletters were taken from public, private and advisor websites and only newsletters with a retirement or annuity-focus were reviewed. Nine firms were evaluated on the following key criteria:
  • Accessibility
  • Format & Distribution
  • Layout & Content

The newsletters reviewed in this report were generally impressive. Seventy-eight percent of the firms in this report offered multiple newsletters. Nearly every firm displayed their newsletters using PDF. Print newsletters were included in statement mailings by only 33% of firms.

Appearance was a strong point for the newsletters, as most firms used attractive color schemes, imagery and themes to add visual appeal. The layouts were organized and easy-to-follow, featuring adequate spacing, prominent headings and large font.

The biggest issue we had with the newsletters was in accessibility. Only one firm offered access to its newsletter directly from the homepage. Most other firms required significant navigation to find their newsletters. In the case of firms offering multiple newsletters, a centralized page was provided by only one firm.

The report also elaborates on the following key findings:

  • Newsletters were accessible from 67% of public websites.
  • Forty-four percent of firms offered online statement archives.
  • Quarterly release schedules are used by 78% of firms.
  • 67% of firms offer newsletters targeting prospective investors.

Segment: Annuities
Publication date: Tuesday, September 16, 2008
# Pages: (49 pages)
 
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