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The Changing Family: A New Reality for Life Insurance

Todd A. Silverhart, Ph.D., LLIF 1/13/2025

Over recent decades, numerous fundamental shifts have influenced the structure of the American family. Within the life insurance landscape specifically, these changes present modern and meaningful implications for consumer needs and expectations.

Summary

Over recent decades, numerous fundamental shifts have influenced the structure of the American family. New social, demographic, and cultural trends have emerged to both shape existing family dynamics and give rise to many forms beyond the “typical” household. At a high level, these point to the emergence of a new era in the United States — one with a more heterogeneous and complex population than ever. Within the life insurance landscape specifically, these changes present modern and meaningful implications for consumer needs and expectations. Key populations to consider include those who have delayed typical milestones, single-parent families, nontraditional families, and LGBTQ+ households.

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Meet the Project Director

Todd A. Silverhart, Ph.D., LLIF

Silverhart is responsible for directing select strategic research initiatives as well as implementing and managing processes to assure the quality of LIMRA and LOMA’s research program. Todd oversees the development of research agendas, the practices followed in conducting research, and the procedures for assuring the quality of research deliverables.

A frequent industry speaker and author, he also serves as staff representative for LIMRA and LOMA’s Customer Insight Advisory Council.

Having joined LIMRA and LOMA in 1988, Silverhart previously served in LIMRA and LOMA’s Assessment Solutions unit, where he conducted producer and field manager selection research, consultation, and product development. From 2000 to 2019 he managed various LIMRA and LOMA research functions including Technology in Marketing and Distribution, Markets, and Insurance Research.

Silverhart is a graduate of Middlebury College and received his Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology from Old Dominion University.

Corporate Vice President Research Quality & Markets Research
LIMRA and LOMA
tsilverhart@limra.com


For more information, please contact tsilverhart@limra.com.

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