Total new individual life annualized premiums improved 2 percent in the 2010 fourth quarter, for a 4 percent growth for the year, according to LIMRA's U.S. Individual Life Insurance Sales Survey.

Health reimbursement arrangements and health savings accounts enrollment is growing, but the market penetration remains relatively small and the amount of time individuals have been in these plans is lower than time enrolled in traditional coverage.

MassMutual female retirement plan participants have been shifting an increasing percentage of their retirement savings into asset allocation investments but are favoring target-date options.