Life insurance—the promise of an insurer to pay a sum upon a person's death in exchange for a regular premium—is a bizarre enterprise. How can we monetize human life? Should we? What statistics do we use, what assumptions do we make, and what behavioral factors do we consider? First published in 1979, Morals and Markets Is a pathbreaking study exploring the development of life insurance in the United States. Viviana A. Rotman Zelizer combines economic history and a sociological perspective to advance a novel interpretation of the life insurance industry. The book pioneered a cultural approach to the analysis of morally controversial markets. Zelizer begins in the mid-nineteenth century with the rise of the life insurance industry, a contentious chapter in the history of American business. Life insurance was stigmatized at first, denounced in newspapers and condemned by religious leaders as an immoral and sacrilegious gamble on human life. Over time, the business became a widely praised arrangement to secure a family's future. How did life insurance overcome cultural barriers? As Zelizer shows, the evolution of the industry in the United States matched evolving attitudes toward death, money, family relations, property, and personal legacy.

A history of The Guardian Life Insurance company.

An incisive look at the war for market share in the Asian life insurance market Although the life insurance industry in Asia has emerged from the financial crisis stronger than ever, it has not escaped unchanged. As the general focus of insurance companies across the continent moves towards profitability beyond growth, tightening regulatory measures, shifts in consumer preferences, and risk tolerance, battle lines have been drawn between local incumbents, attackers, and foreign players. Life Insurance in Asia: Winning in the Next Decade, Second Edition looks at the ways in which small local agencies and multinational companies alike are seizing control of as much of the market as they can by aggressively recruiting new agents, leveraging new channels, and selling new products to cash in on the explosive Asian markets. Thoroughly revised and updated, this new edition offers a comprehensive introduction to the booming Asian life insurance markets and outlines exactly what it takes to capture the opportunities that are emerging. Drawing on the research and experience of the McKinsey Asia financial services team, it includes everything you need to know about the battle for the life insurance market in Asia. Looks at how China and India are becoming increasingly important players on the international life insurance scene Goes behind the scenes of the Asian life insurance industry and the contentious battle for market share Outlines the steps to successfully entering, and prospering, in the Asian market The life insurance industry in Asia is changing like never before. What the future holds, no one knows, but with Life Insurance in Asia in hand, you'll have a clear idea of the factions in play and the rules of the game.

Is life insurance a bad investment? Don't I lose all my cash value when I die? Shouldn't I just make a bundle and invest it instead? What about my spouse or my kids-do they need life insurance? Can I borrow money from (or is it against?) a life insurance policy? My insurance advisor told me one thing about insurance, but my financial planner gave me different advice, and an expert on TV said something else entirely. What do I do now? Help! Every day, people like you and me run into questions like these-and no good answers. The truth about life insurance is that myths, misunderstandings, and even outright lies cause a lot of uncertainty around what it is, how it works, who needs it and when, and-most importantly-the great benefits it can bring to your life. This book is here to clear up all that confusion. With combined experience of over fifty years in the life insurance industry, Kim Butler and Jack Burns know what's true and what isn't. They've seen what works and what fails. They've lived through every success and failure the industry can throw at them. And they're fed up with seeing smart, well-meaning people fall for costly half-truths and mix-ups because they just can't find the right information. Busting The Life Insurance Lies takes the 38 biggest, loudest myths around life insurance and breaks them wide open. Whether you're wondering if life insurance is right for you, wanting to understand how it can help you while you're still alive, or even an insurance advisor yourself, this book will guide you to the answers you need to make the clearest, most informed decision-one you'll feel good about for the rest of your life.