How to Be a Demographic Realist
To prepare for the implications of aging populations, individuals, organizations, and society as a whole must confront assumptions that are no longer valid. (more…)
Getting a Return on Financial-Services Marketing
Financial services companies spend enormous sums on marketing — more than $10 billion annually. But unlike consumer packaged goods purveyors, they lack clear outcome data to rigorously assess their ROI. The result is haphazard spending and an inability to evaluate the performance of marketing efforts. Analytical methods like breakeven analyses and consumer funnels can help services companies ground their marketing decisions in data rather than speculation. (more…)
Moving Beyond Cost-Cutting
In the race to globalize and add market share, most leading banks have introduced significant complexity to their operations through expanded product portfolios, international acquisitions, and diversification into new lines of business. These complications make costs difficult to control, but banks stand to benefit dramatically from the same operational streamlining procedures that have recently transformed productivity in the manufacturing sector. (more…)
Health Meets Wealth
The health care market is in a state of flux. Soon consumers will have the option to choose health care plans closely aligned or connected to their financial services plans. Some health care companies already offer options to customize and invest for future health care needs using health savings accounts and health reimbursement accounts. Companies that adopt new service models and incorporate the sophistication of financial planning into their health care offerings stand to profit from the changing environment. Although a hybridized industry is still years away, players who sit out the ea (more…)