A life has no meaning. Brooklyn Dodgers. Abraham Lincoln. Insurance Revealed

Transcription

1 A life has no meaning No man except stands for the so impact tall as when it has he on other stoops lives. to help Jackie a child. Robinson, infielder, Brooklyn Dodgers Abraham Lincoln Insurance Revealed An online survey of American consumers opinions and beliefs about life insurance conducted in the summer of 2012 by Praxis Research on behalf of ING U.S. and the ING family of life insurance companies. LIFE INSURANCE

2 There are some basic notions about life insurance in the U.S. about which most reasonable people would agree: Now add to those notions two basic misconceptions that often lead to the gulf between those who need life insurance and those who sell it: Virtually every American consumer understands the basic concept behind life insurance someone dies and someone receives a death benefit. On any given morning, no one wakes up and is all too anxious to talk about and ultimately purchase life insurance. Yet for those who understand the basic concept, and even feel the need to discuss it with a financial professional, life insurance is too often considered a complex financial tool. Life insurance is too expensive. Life insurance can do more to assist with a person s basic financial plan than just provide a death benefit. It is against that backdrop of time-honored beliefs, assumptions and disconnects that ING U.S. commissioned this research to better determine Americans behaviors about and attitudes toward life insurance. The study was conducted by Praxis Research of a representative sample of 1,006 U.S. households, 25 years and older, with a minimum annual household income of $50,000. Findings of the study were introduced in September of 2012 to coincide with that year s Life Insurance Awareness Month, an annual monthly campaign spearheaded by LIFE Foundation to make Americans aware of the benefits of life insurance.

3 Research Highlights The study confirmed that the vast majority of respondents owned some type of life insurance and realize that life insurance can do more than simply provide a death benefit. Among the most telling of findings: 83% of those surveyed own some form of life insurance; ownership skews to those above age 35 Life Insurance Coverage Over 8 in 10 currently Life Insurance have life Ownership insurance Those with life insurance know; 1% are more likely to be Over 35 Employed full-time No; 16% No; 16% Don't From households with incomes above $100K Life Insurance Ownership Don't know; 1% Yes; 83% No; No; 16% 16% Total (n=1006) Yes; 83% Total (n=1006) Have Life Insurance Yes No (n=839) (n=158) Age % 35% % 30% % 35% Average age Have Life 45.1 Insurance 42.6 Gender Yes No Female (n=839) 54% (n=158) 56% Age Male 46% 44% % 35% Employment Status 38% 30% 50+ Full-time 41% 83% 35% 58% Average Part-time age % % Gender Female 10% 54% 23% 56% Male Household Income 46% 44% $50K-$74.9K 30% 37% Employment $75K-$99.9K Status 25% 29% Full-time 83% 58% $100K-$124.9K 20% 15% Part-time 7% 20% $125K-$149.9K 11% 8% 10% 23% $150K+ 15% 11% Average Income Household Income $101.1K $92.4K $50K-$74.9K 30% 37% $75K-$99.9K 25% 29% $100K-$124.9K 20% 15%

4 Half of those who do not own life insurance view it as an expense they can t afford, and two in 10 view it as unnecessary Among those with life insurance coverage, nearly six in 10 have not calculated how much coverage they have those who have calculated how much coverage they need are significantly more confident about their level of coverage. About a third who have purchased life insurance have done so through a financial professional; the data indicates that these consumers are more likely to have calculated their coverage needs and feel even more confident with their coverage Method Used to Purchase Life Insurance The most common method of purchasing life insurance is through an employer. Followed distantly by face-to-face with a financial professional. 66% 36% 10% 7% 7% Benefit purchased through an employer Face to face with a financial professional Telephone via an insurance company representative, agent or broker Internet Some other method Have Life Insurance (n=839)

5 It is clear from even these findings that opportunities exist both for consumers who need life insurance and financial professionals who can bring it to them in the marketplace. Going beyond these initial findings: Some 78% of the survey respondents indicated that life insurance is an important part of their overall financial plan and estate planning Attitude Toward Life Insurance Those with life insurance view it as an important part of their overall financial picture, or a valuable estate planning too. Those without insurance see it as something they can t afford (consistent with their lower income), or unnecessary (consistent with their younger age). 15% Life insurance is an important part of my overall financial plan. 46% 52% 14% Life insurance is a valuable estate planning tool. 51% Life insurance is an additional expense that I can t afford right now. 32% 36% Life insurance is unnecessary. 15% 8% 7% 4% 21% Tota (n=1006) Have Life Insurance (n=839) Do Not Have Life Insurance (158)

6 While 62% of respondents identified family as the number one reason for purchasing; many couples confirmed they avoided talking about the issue Strongest Motivation For Purchasing Life Insurance A desire to provide for family is far and away the key motivation for purchasing life insurance. 5% indicate that their motivation is that it is provided as a free benefit from their employer A desire to provide for my spouse/family/starting a family Recommendation from a life insurance agent or financial advisor Provided as a free benefit through employer Improved financial situation Death or serious illness of a close friend/family member Getting married 6% 5% 5% 5% 5% 62% Buying a house 4% Recommendation from family or friends 3% Other motivation 5% Discussion of Life Insurance with Spouse Among Those Who Are Married Life insurance is not a frequent discussion among spouses even among those who are insured. Those without insurance discuss it even less frequently. Interestingly, women are more likely to indicate that they discuss it with their spouses more often than do men. Often 6% 9% 7% 10% 2% 8% Occasionally 43% 51% 45% 54% 33% 38% Rarely Never 40% 41% 30% 29% 10% 9% 7% 8% 38% 27% 38% 17% Males (n=371) Females (n=423) Males (n=324) Females (n=354) Males (n=45)* Females (n=66) Total Yes No Have Life Insurance

7 The current economic environment plays a major role in the understanding of the importance of life insurance, with those findings driven by age, having children, employment status and income levels Impact of Current Economy on Importance of Life Insurance Among Those With and Without Life Insurance Consumers who feel the economy has placed greater importance on having life insurance, and do, in fact, have insurance, are more likely to: Be older Be employed Have children Have slightly higher incomes Feel The Economic Environment Has Made Life Insurance More Important Do Not Have Life Have Life Insurance (n=470) Insurance (n=59) Age % 34% % 29% % 37% Average Age Gender Female 60% 58% Male 40% 42% Have children 72% 59% Employed 90% 73% Income $50K-$74.9K 34% 32% $75K-$99.9K 25% 32% $100K-$124.9K 20% 20% $125K-$149.9K 8% 9% $150K+ 13% 7% Average Income $96.1K $93.7K

8 Employer Provides Option to Purchase Life Insurance In the workplace... Yes; 69% No; 22% Don't know; 9% Nearly 90% of those who work Among for Employed an employer that provides the option to purchase life insurance (n=887) have purchased from their employer Employer Provides Opportunity to Purchase Life Insurance Among Those Employed About 7 in 10 employers offer an opportunity to purchase life insurance. And nearly all (89%) who work for an employer that provides the option to buy life insurance take advantage of that benefit. Those who work for employers that don t offer life insurance plans, are 7 times more likely to not have life insurance, than those who work for an employer that does offer life insurance. Employer Provides Option to Purchase Life Insurance Have Life Insurance Coverage Don't know; 9% Yes, from employer 55% 65% 61% No; 22% Yes, from a third party Yes; 69% Yes, from both employer and a 3rd party No 6% 34% 35% 32% Among Employed (n=887) Don't know 5% 7% Yes No Don't Know

9 Respondents understand they can purchase more types of coverage than just life insurance through the workplace Purchase of Other Insurance Through Employer By Purchase Method Benefit purchased through an employer (n=522) Face to face with a financial professional (n=267) Telephone via an insurance company representativ e, agent or broker (n=66) Internet (n=46) Some other method (n=43) Disability 49% 37% 36% 41% 35% Accident 31% 26% 15% 30% 23% Critical illness 16% 13% 9% 22% 16% Hospital indemnity 9% 8% 9% 15% 7% Don t know 10% 6% 5% 7% 7% None of the above 34% 47% 53% 48% 49%

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11 Wherever your life may lead, stand tall and let life insurance help protect your loved ones.

12 Ask your financial professional how life insurance can benefit your financial future. About Voya Financial Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), which is rebranding from ING U.S., is a premier retirement, investment and insurance company serving the financial needs of approximately 13 million individual and institutional customers in the United States. The company s vision is to be America s Retirement Company TM and its guiding principle is centered on solving the most daunting financial challenge facing Americans today retirement readiness. Working directly with clients and through a broad group of financial intermediaries, independent producers, affiliated advisors and dedicated sales specialists, Voya provides a comprehensive portfolio of asset accumulation, asset protection and asset distribution products and services. With a dedicated workforce of approximately 7,000 employees, Voya is grounded in a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible one person, one family, one institution at a time. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook and Life insurance products and other insurance issued by ReliaStar Life Insurance Company (Minneapolis, MN), ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York (Woodbury, NY) and Security Life of Denver Insurance Company (Denver, CO). All are members of the ING family of companies ING North America Insurance Corporation CN /07/2014