- 5th Annual LIDMA Fall Meeting & Showcase to be held in New Orleans October 6th thru 9th  –

ATLANTA, GA – February 27, 2008  -- Top life insurance executives will gather at the 5th annual Fall Meeting & Showcase of the Life Insurance Direct Marketing Association (LIDMA) to be held October 6th through October 9th at the Hilton Riverfront Hotel in New Orleans.  The announcement was made by Pat Wedeking, president of LIDMA.

“LIDMA serves as a catalyst in the industry for the evolution and growth of direct sales of life insurance to consumers,” says Pat Wedeking, president of LIDMA.  “As a result, our Fall Meeting & Showcase has grown into the premier event for the marketing and sale of life insurance to the vast middle market.”

LIDMA is the only association dedicated to supporting businesses and professionals active in the direct sale of life insurance products to consumers – the fastest growing sales segment in the life insurance industry.  A not-for-profit organization, LIDMA is committed to helping members increase revenues derived through direct response sales as well as assist new entrants into the segment in their direct response efforts.  Members of LIDMA include top industry carriers, agencies, producers, exam companies and technology vendors.

“In 2007 LIDMA’s membership increased by thirty-five percent, illustrating the escalating rate of growth among direct response professionals,’” according to Gina Grantham, CAE, executive director.  “One of the common needs among our members and across the life insurance industry was to develop a way to lower costs and accelerate sales of new term life insurance policies for middle America.  Through the tireless efforts of a talented and committed team of industry professionals, we unveiled the new LIDMA E-Process at last year’s Fall Meeting & Showcase.”

The LIDMA E-Process utilizes newly developed technologies including e-signature, e-delivery and credit card processing to substantially reduce the time it takes for new policy purchases to be initiated by the consumer and delivered by the carrier.  Lower costs and quicker delivery provide for higher margins and less loss of new business during the processing phase.

Under the theme ”Life In The Fast Lane,” this year’s event will feature presentations from top direct response producers and executives on such topics as new technologies including the phased implementation of new LIDMA E-Process.

Members will receive updates from LIDMA’s Process Improvement  Committee regarding their 2008 initiatives including voice signature and further assessment of the telemed process.  Speakers will provide up-to-date research on the direct response industry.  The event will also feature private insurance company sessions which provide detail on new programs available to direct response life insurance professionals.  There will also be committee discussions, a vendor exposition and a variety of social and networking functions.

“The agenda of this year’s event is designed to provide value to both large and smaller sized marketers as well as exam companies, insurance companies and our other key business partners that are fueling the growth of our industry,” said Wedeking.  “Each year our attendees are excited about leaving with information and tools they can use immediately in their business.”

Attendance at the Fall Meeting & Showcase is available only to LIDMA members.  Prior to August 1, 2008, membership in LIDMA is available for direct marketers and producers for $2,000 which includes one admission for the Fall Meeting & Showcase.  After August 1, 2008 membership costs for direct marketers and producers becomes $2,500 (including one admission to the Fall Meeting & Showcase). 

In an effort to afford broader participation, in addition to LIDMA members, registration is open this year to first-time Direct Marketer attendees meeting the minimum production requirement of $500,000.  The cost for these attendees is $999, which can be applied to a new LIDMA membership for thirty days after the event.

Membership and registration information is available at www.lidma.org.

About LIDMA

LIDMA is the primary association dedicated to supporting businesses and professionals active in direct sales of life insurance products to consumers – the fastest growing sales segment in the life insurance industry.  The not-for-profit organization is committed to helping members boost their revenues derived through direct response sales as well as assisting new entrants adapt and succeed in their direct response efforts.

For more information visit www.lidma.org.

Media Contact:

Michael Biagiotti
(561) 620-8781
mikeb@madisonenvoy.com