Retirement Plan Insurance Providers Expanding Mobile and Social Media Capabilities, Says Novarica

BOSTON - Nov. 5, 2014 - PRLog -- In the battle for market and wallet share in the defined contribution retirement plan space, insurers are expanding mobile and social media capabilities to help attract, retain and profitably serve clients, says a new report from Novarica, a research and advisory firm focused on IT strategy.

Novarica’s annual Business and Technology Trends: Defined Contribution Retirement Plans report is based on the expertise of Novarica’s staff, conversations with members of the Novarica Insurance Technology Research Council and solution providers.  This report provides an overview of defined contribution retirement plan business and technology issues for carriers, data about the marketplace and 39 examples of recent technology investments by insurers.  A few key findings from this report include:

*Plan participants expect the same level of transactional capability from their mobile devices that they experience in the retail industry and other mobile friendly segments.

*Producers want carriers to provide access to clients’ plan information and insights via mobile and tablet devices.

*Social media capabilities include not only posting, but managing compliance and driving engagement to promote broader financial planning conversations.

*Video has been effective as a tool for addressing the need of multilingual communications.

*Carriers are consolidating systems as the expense of managing multiple legacy systems has become a burden that cannot be offset by gains (e.g., from investment income) in other facets of the business.

*Portal initiatives seek to provide producers and sponsors with additional insights, as well as financial education and self-service capabilities.

“Insurance carriers are now competing for defined contribution retirement plan dollars with asset management firms, banks and mutual fund providers,” explains Rob McIsaac, Principal, Novarica.  “All of these players have moved down-market to smaller and midsized firms, the traditional clientele of insurers offering retirement solutions.  As the pressure on fees increases, carriers are relying on technology to help drive down costs and attract new clients, while retaining existing clients and assets through improved insights and investment performance,” says McIsaac.

For a free preview or to purchase this report, visit: http://www.novarica.com/b_and_t_trends_retirement_2014/

About Novarica
Novarica provides information, insights, and perspectives on markets, operations, and technology to financial services and insurance executives. The company delivers its service through published research, retained advisory services, and project-based consulting. Novarica draws its knowledge from the personal experience of its principals, the ongoing information gathering initiatives of dedicated research staff, and regular communication with insurer executives through informal networks and through the Novarica Insurance Technology Research Council, a moderated knowledge-sharing community of more than 325 senior IT executives representing more than 300 North American insurers. More information at www.novarica.com