8December 2016Driving Insurance Agent Productivity with Mobile and Big Data SolutionsIN MY OPINIONBy Brad Bodell, SVP & CIO, CNO Financial Group, Inc.Life and health insurance agents in the U.S. live in a bit of a quandary in this ever-changing industry. The need for professional advice has never been more critical for consumers trying to navigate changes in health care laws and insurance regulations, to understanding savings options in annuities and other complex retirement instruments.According to a November 2014 study by the Bankers Life Center for a Secure Retirement, 83 percent middle-income Boomers have not received any specialized training or education on topics related to retirement financial security.Yet insurance agents are increasingly more challenged in finding customers, who have interest in meeting or speaking with them. Telephone solicitation rules and compliance requirements make getting in touch with customers that have a genuine need for insurance or retirement products more difficult. Moreover, a majority of insurers now sell many of these products over the phone or online--bolstering the harsh reality of how hard the role of an agent has become.In the future, I believe a true omni-channel experience will continue to develop in the life and health insurance industry. Carriers need to be able to allow customers to buy via the channel of their preference, and in this I see a strong role for agents to continue to deliver the advice and guidance that many Americans need to navigate the health, wealth and protection offerings that exist today.How can technology help insurance agents improve their productivity and help bring this needed advice to an underinsured U.S. population?I believe there are some current and potential future opportunities that insurance carriers can take to differentiate themselves as the "channel of choice" for consumers:MobileMobile solutions are at the heart of the future for insurance agents. A few key features mobile agents of the future could use include: Online and Offline Access: Agents need to be able to operate both online and offline regardless of cellular or Wi-
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