Life insurance sells well on sunny side of the street

Feeling down? A little life insurance might be the pickup you need.

According to research by American International Group Inc. released Wednesday, 56% of life insurance policyholders are optimists, compared with only 48% of those without life insurance protection.

The researchers identified optimists by their level of agreement with a series of statements, including: “In uncertain times, I usually expect the best,” “I’m always optimistic about my future,” and “Overall, I expect more good things to happen to me than bad.”

The research, which was released ahead of Life Insurance Awareness Month in September, also found life insurance policyholders are older, with an average age of 43 vs. 39 for nonowners; and more affluent, with an average annual income of $88,000 compared with $70,000.

In addition, policyholders are more likely be in full-time work, 71% vs. 60%; homeowners, 76% vs. 64%; and married, 64% vs. 53%.

What came first — the life insurance policy or the cockeyed optimism, gray hairs, fatter paycheck, job, home and spouse — is not clear.