FE Prospects and Computers

[rousemark]

There has been a lot comments in other threads that the typical FE prospect does not have a computer and is not internet savy.

I am sitting in a surgical waiting room waitng on my wife to have a diagnostic outpatient procedure. I notice the majority of the folks here are 65+. And, the majority fo those apepar to be lower to lower middle income people. Yet almost everyone of them is on either a smart phone, a tablet or a laptop.

Maybe the FE people are catching up with the times?

 

[bboman23]

I have have had a good many of the seniors I wrote send me a Facebook friend request after I've wrote them. Times are slowly changing.

 

[WinoBlues]

There has been a lot comments in other threads that the typical FE prospect does not have a computer and is not internet savy.

I am sitting in a surgical waiting room waitng on my wife to have a diagnostic outpatient procedure. I notice the majority of the folks here are 65+. And, the majority fo those apepar to be lower to lower middle income people. Yet almost everyone of them is on either a smart phone, a tablet or a laptop.

Maybe the FE people are catching up with the times?

It seems that it has a lot to do with what part of the FE market they prospect. e.g. Newby and JD. same area, same age group, different prospects. It is rare that my 55+ do not have a cell. Many text and use email.

Different segments of the same market? Just like the guys that start income at zero v the guys that start it at $15,000.

 

[rousemark]

It seems that it has a lot to do with what part of the FE market they prospect. e.g. Newby and JD. same area, same age group, different prospects. It is rare that my 55+ do not have a cell. Many text and use email.

Different segments of the same market? Just like the guys that start income at zero v the guys that start it at $15,000.

Even those in the lowest income strata have cell phones. The "Obama" phones aren't just basic models.

 

[WinoBlues]

Even those in the lowest income strata have cell phones. The "Obama" phones aren't just basic models.

I agree, but you will find many post that say they do not own them as a rule. My experience is that it is rare that they do not.

I find that a good percentage are able to fax back requirements either through their own multi-function machine, friend or at the corner store.

 

[Justin Bilyj]

What is the tipping point is now all the Obamaphones are smart phones. I was teaching a lady the other day how to use her's.
Now that they have smartphones and they can navigate the web, its only a matter of time before they are asking for quotes as well.

 

[rousemark]

What is the tipping point is now all the Obamaphones are smart phones. I was teaching a lady the other day how to use her's.
Now that they have smartphones and they can navigate the web, its only a matter of time before they are asking for quotes as well.

Seems that is the direction they are heading.. But the question is, will they buy without an agent present.. As JD says, they are world class procrastinators (See JD, I do listen to what you say. ). Since that is the case, why would they not get the quote and say to themselves, "well, that looks like a good deal. I'll take care of it next month." I think many are going to have to have a F2F meeting with an agent to nudge them along in the right direction and to prompt them to take action now.. not later.

 

[senior-advisor-indiana]

Seems that is the direction they are heading.. But the question is, will they buy without an agent present.. As JD says, they are world class procrastinators (See JD, I do listen to what you say. ). Since that is the case, why would they not get the quote and say to themselves, "well, that looks like a good deal. I'll take care of it next month." I think many are going to have to have a F2F meeting with an agent to nudge them along in the right direction and to prompt them to take action now.. not later.

I just sold a 67 yr old lady today off of a FE lead. She had an iPhone, MacBook and also had a boot phone. I found out today what a boot phone is. It's to keep in your boot in case the bank or store you are in is getting robbed and the perp takes your regular cell. I think I'd rather have a boot gun though.

 

[Justin Bilyj]

Newest Limra stat:

While face-to-face is still the most preferred method for buying life insurance, 86 percent of consumers would use the Internet to research life insurance before purchasing. Only 16 percent of consumers would prefer to buy insurance completely online.

Now 16% doesn't seem like a lot, but remember the amount of baby boomers turning 65, there's a ton!

And not even if they will shop online for it, that population segment is only increasingly utilizing the internet. I talk to prospects that go to the library to use it for free.

New Statistics: Older Adults and Internet Use, 53% of U.S. Seniors Now Using Net or Email | LJ INFOdocket

As of February 2012, one third (34%) of internet users age 65 and older use social networking sites such as Facebook, and 18% do so on a typical day. By comparison, email use continues to be the bedrock of online communications for seniors. As of August 2011, 86% of internet users age 65 and older use email, with 48% doing so on a typical day.
Looking at gadget ownership, we find that a growing share of seniors own a cell phone. Some 69% of adults ages 65 and older report that they have a mobile phone, up from 57% in May 2010. Even among those currently age 76 and older, 56% report owning a cell phone of some kind, up from 47% of this generation in 2010.

I think either way will work.

 

[rousemark]

I just sold a 67 yr old lady today off of a FE lead. She had an iPhone, MacBook and also had a boot phone. I found out today what a boot phone is. It's to keep in your boot in case the bank or store you are in is getting robbed and the perp takes your regular cell. I think I'd rather have a boot gun though.

Freeze Dirtbag! I got you covered with a boot phone!!