LIMRA: Insurers’ Financial Strength a Top Producer Priority
{September 30th, 2011} by N/A
WINDSOR, Conn., Sept. 27, 2011—A new LIMRA study finds that a more than a quarter of producers (26%) consider the financial strength of an insurer one of the two most important factors in 2011, compared to just 16 percent in 2008 and 2003 (when prior surveys were taken). “While awareness of insurers’ financial strength has […]
Nationwide and Harleysville Insurance Agree to Merger; Analysts Respond
{September 30th, 2011} by N/A
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. and Harleysville Insurance announced on Thursday, Sept. 29, that they have agreed to a merger. Nationwide Mutual will acquire Harleysville Group for $760 million. Nationwide Mutual will pay $60 a share in cash for Harleysville, nearly a 100 percent premium to the stock’s Wednesday close. Harleysville Mutual policyholders will become policyholders […]
Variable annuity players join the fixed indexed annuity fray
{September 30th, 2011} by Darla Mercado
John Hancock launches new product; Pac Life, Mass Mutual and Hartford file with regulators By Darla Mercado September 29, 2011 Carriers that have been stalwarts in the variable annuity industry are trying their hand at manufacturing and selling fixed indexed annuities. John Hancock Annuities earlier this month launched its Inflation Guard annuity, which credits a […]
Response from NAFA: Index Annuities: Complex, Aggressively Sold Investments
{September 30th, 2011} by Kim O’Brien
Click here to read NAFA’s Letter to the Editor of ABC News in response to Ted Schwartz’s “Index Annuities: Complex, Aggressively Sold Investments”: http://nafa.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Response_ABC_News_Ted_Schwartz_Article092611.pdf Read original article by Ted Schwartz : http://abcnews.go.com/Business/index-annuities-beware-greatest-investments-sold/story?id=14554506
Deciphering the Inequitable, Biased Coverage on Financial Services Products in the Media
{September 30th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl Moore Published September 29, 2011 The U.S. insurance industry is fighting to get equitable news coverage in a market where securities are king. Here’s what you need to know about the media, so that we can change it: Sensational, attention-grabbing headlines are the lifeblood of the newsmedia industry. If they don’t get their […]
New York: The Change Has (Started to) Come
{September 26th, 2011} by Elizabeth Festa
By ELIZABETH FESTA Published 9/23/2011 The fabled New York State Insurance Department will open its doors Oct. 3 as a part of a new New York State Department of Financial Services. Insurers shouldn’t expect to see too much disruption – yet.The change is the culmination of a directive from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D, issued early […]
California Department Eyes LTC Block
{September 26th, 2011} by Allison Bell
By NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE Published 9/23/2011 The California Department of Insurance has filed an administrative enforcement action against a life insurer in connection with allegations of problems with the handling of long term care (LTC) insurance claims and other claims. The California department says RiverSource Life Insurance Company, a unit of Ameriprise Financial […]
Personnel Changes: New York Life, Lincoln Financial, Ameritas, Symetra, Gen Re, Ebix
{September 26th, 2011} by Ashley Scudder
By ASHLEY SCUDDER Published 9/23/2011 New York Life Insurance Company has named Sue Ericksen chief information officer. Ericksen previously was a senior vice president at the company. She will succeed Eileen Slevin, who is retiring this month after 34 years at New York Life, New York. Ericksen has a bachelor’s degree from Mount Saint […]
OMG: A company that has been in the indexed annuity market just launched an IUL
{September 23rd, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
Apparently there is big talk in the industry this week about an email that was distributed by a certain individual acting on behalf of a marketing organization, speculating about the competitiveness of a new indexed UL. Here’s the deal. Yes, the company in question did recently launch an indexed UL. Is it any good? I’ll […]
LIMRA: One-third of retirees get income from annuities
{September 22nd, 2011} by Jenny Ivy
By Jenny Ivy More than a third (35 percent) of all retirees receive income from an annuity, according to new analysis from LIMRA. Most who draw income from an annuity are older retirees, those above the age of 75. Jafor Iqbal, a retirement researcher at the financial services consulting firm, says most retirees depend on […]
American General Life and Accident Insurance Company Launches Innovative New Product
{September 22nd, 2011} by N/A
Indexed Universal Life now part of the Quality of Life…Insurance® Product Suite Published Monday, Sep. 19, 2011 NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 19, 2011 — /PRNewswire/ — American General Life and Accident Insurance Company (AGLA), announces an innovative addition to its highly differentiated Quality of Life…Insurance® suite of products. AGLAchoice® Index Plus is permanent universal life […]
Zurich Names Wauthier CFO
{September 22nd, 2011} by N/A
September 15, 2011 | Subscribe NowBy Staff Writer NU Online News Service, Sept. 15, 10:47 a.m. EDT Pierre Wauthier, 51, was named Zurich Financial Services Group’s chief financial officer and member of the group executive committee. His appointment take effect Oct. 1. He will report to Chief Executive Officer Martin Senn. Wauthier replaces Dieter Wemmer, […]
Don’t Let Annuities Become A Commodity
{September 22nd, 2011} by Raymond J. Ohlson
Posted By: Editor On 9/21/2011 11:56:00 AM By Ray Ohlson AnnuityNews.com Everything seems to becoming a commodity today. In our insurance arena, it seems to be that way with property and casualty coverage since you can buy it online. When’s the last time you’ve been driving, listening to your Sirius or XM radio, that you […]
ACLI: Annuities Not So Fuddy-Duddy
{September 22nd, 2011} by Linda Koco
Posted By: Editor On 9/21/2011 11:09:00 AM By Linda Koco Contributing Editor, AnnuityNews Products that provide guaranteed lifetime income have changed so much in the past six years that American Council of Life Insurers is now reminding people that “This isn’t your father’s annuity.” The trade group made the point in a letter it recently […]
OMG- a Company That Has Been in the Indexed Annuity Market Just Launched an IUL
{September 22nd, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
Apparently there is big talk in the industry this week about an email that was distributed by a certain individual acting on behalf of a marketing organization, speculating about the competitiveness of a new indexed UL. Here’s the deal. Yes, Ameriprise did recently launch an indexed UL. Is it any good? I’ll let you be […]
Have you truly considered the effect of rider charges on a fixed or indexed annuity?
{September 22nd, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
You may be able to sell the sizzle of the roll up on that income or death benefit rider, but can you pass the test when it comes time to explain the ramifications for your client electing it? You need to. Get educated and ensure that you understand the products you are selling. “Zero is […]
Genworth Names Amy Corbin Chief Financial Officer of its Retirement and Protection Segment
{September 15th, 2011} by N/A
Copyright: unknown Source: unknown Wordcount: unknown RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 14, 2011/PRNewswire/ — Genworth Financial, Inc.(NYSE: GNW) announces that it has named Amy R. CorbinSenior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of its Retirement and Protection segment. Corbin, 44, joined Genworth in 2003 and has held a number of roles of increasing responsibility in financial management, […]
Allianz Life President and CEO Gary C. Bhojwani Named to U.S. Chamber of Commerce Board
{September 14th, 2011} by N/A
MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) President and CEO Gary C. Bhojwani was recently named to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, […]
AXA Equitable Launches Pass It On!(SM)
{September 14th, 2011} by N/A
Copyright: unknown Source: unknown Wordcount: unknown NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2011/PRNewswire/ — AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company announced today the launch of Pass It On!(SM), an online game of chance that distills the concept and value of life insurance into a series of choices. Pass It On! players create avatars and guide their virtual families […]
Introduction to Indexed Annuities
{September 14th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
A video about indexed annuities with Steve Savant, of Brokers Alliance, and Sheryl Moore. Introduction to Indexed Annuities
Indices and Crediting Methods Indexed Universal Life
{September 14th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
A video about indexed life crediting methods with Steve Savant, of Brokers Alliance, and Sheryl Moore. Indices and Crediting Methods Indexed Universal Life
Introduction to Indexed Universal Life
{September 14th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
A video about indexed life with Steve Savant, of Brokers Alliance, and Sheryl Moore. Introduction to Indexed Universal Life
Proposals, Illustrations, and Income Scenarios Indexed Universal Life
{September 14th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
A video about indexed life illustrations with Steve Savant, of Brokers Alliance, and Sheryl Moore. Proposals, Illustrations, and Income Scenarios Indexed Universal Life
Income and Death Benefit Riders with Indexed Annuities
{September 14th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
A video about indexed annuity GLWBs and GMDBs with Steve Savant, of Brokers Alliance, and Sheryl Moore. Income and Death Benefit Riders with Indexed Annuities
How Annuities Can Shine in Risky Markets
{September 12th, 2011} by Phil Moeller
September 9, 2011 In booming markets in which all investments seem to move upward, fixed annuities fall by the wayside. Fixed annuities promise modest returns and may have costly fees. The products offer guaranteed returns of principal, and thus function in part as a life insurance policy. But such guarantees can be cheaply secured with […]
Personnel Changes: Odgers Berndtson, ASPPA, Lincoln, MassMutual, Symetra, Amerigroup
{September 12th, 2011} by Ashley Scudder
By ASHLEY SCUDDER Published 9/9/2011 Odgers Berndtson, an executive search firm, says Pat Corey and Paul Hanson have become partners in its Chicago office. Corey, who will be head of the U.S. insurance practice at Odgers Berndtson, London, and Corey will handle high-level executive searches for organizations in the life, health and property-casualty markets. Corey […]
Ideas: Hancock, AHIP, Health Affairs
{September 12th, 2011} by Allison Bell
By NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE Published 9/9/2011 Hancock, Boston, a unit of Manulife Financial Corp., Toronto (TSX:MFC), says it believes fixed annuity buyers may be interested in interest rates that vary along with the Consumer Price Index-Urban. The insurer can protect itself against extreme inflation risk by setting a cap on how high the inflation-adjusted […]
NFI: Federal Regulation of Annuities ‘Conceivable’
{September 12th, 2011} by Linda Koco
By Linda Koco Contributing Editor, AnnuityNews A federal regulator could eventually become the principal regulator for life and annuities or reinsurance or monoline bond carriers, according to a report released today by Networks Financial Institute (NFI). It is “conceivable” that this could happen while states continue to regulate health, property and casualty insurance, the 60-page […]
Indexed Annuity Magic: How Do They Do It?
{September 7th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl J. Moore AnnuityNews.com One of the greatest mysteries in the indexed annuity market is how insurance companies are able to offer market-linked gains on an annuity with a principal protection feature. Many are familiar with the strong guarantees that fixed annuities offer, but it comes at the cost of low potential for gains. […]
John Hancock Annuities Launches Inflation-Adjusted Annuity
{September 7th, 2011} by N/A
BOSTON, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — John Hancock Annuities has launched ‘Inflation Guard,’ an innovative annuity that combines a principal guarantee with the ability to help protect the purchasing power of retirement assets from the impact of inflation. “We are pleased to bring Inflation Guard to the marketplace. This product offers client value […]
Pacific Life Completes Buy Out of Manulife’s Retrocession Business
{September 6th, 2011} by N/A
By NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE Published 9/2/2011 Pacific Life Insurance Company has announced that it has completed its purchase of Manulife Financial Corporation’s retrocession business with $106 billion in individual life reinsurance face amounts.Pacific Life, Newport Beach, Calif., announced the deal on July 18, 2011 with Manulife, Toronto (TSX:MFC). Reinsurance is a form of […]
Personnel Changes: Lockton, The Vitality Group, Symetra, Others
{September 6th, 2011} by Ashley Scudder
By NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE Published 9/2/2011 Lockton Companies, LLC, Washington, has hired Steve Conger to be vice president and producer of its brokerage team based in Washington, D.C. Conger previously was area vice president for Arthur J. Gallagher’s Maryland office. Conger has a bachelor’s degree in business management from North Carolina State University. The […]
The miracle of tax-deferred compound interest
{September 5th, 2011} by Van Mueller
BY Van Mueller Published 9/1/2011 This month we are going to review the financial “miracle” of tax-deferred compound interest. Tax deferral provides amazing results because it employs triple compounding: It pays interest on the principle, interest on the interest and interest on the taxes you that would have paid if you were in an investment […]
The 5 elements top producers possess
{September 5th, 2011} by Jack Marrion
BY Jack Marrion Published 9/1/2011 A recent study examined the performance, personality, skills and attributes of 79,747 salespeople from 4,317 organizations and found five elements that all top salespeople had in common. What I have done is taken the elements they identified and then interpreted how they each relate to top annuity producers. 1. Possess […]
Is the three-legged stool off-kilter?
{September 5th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
BY Sheryl J. Moore Published 9/1/2011 Be wary of annuity pricing that appears unequal. One of the parties to the deal may be benefiting at the expense of the other. Since entering the insurance business 13 years ago, I have attended many training sessions and scores of seminars. Often, speakers at these meetings will make […]
InsurMark Makes Inc. Magazine’s Exclusive List of America’s Fastest Growing Companies – the Inc. 500/5000
{September 4th, 2011} by Darieke Hemphill
Houston, Texas – September 2, 2011 – Inc. magazinehas ranked InsurMark number 36 in its insurance category on its fifth annual Inc. 500/5000 list, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. InsurMark, founded in 1983, is a leading independent insurance marketing organization that assists independent financial services professionals in growing their business. “This […]
Annuity Round Table
{September 2nd, 2011} by John Douglass & Richard Hellerich & Tipton W. Huffman & Ronald J. Lane, Sr. & Sheryl J. Moore
Selling To Boomer Clients John Douglass & Richard Hellerich & Tipton W. Huffman & Ronald J. Lane, Sr. & Sheryl J. Moore September 2011 Issue Q: This year the first baby boomers turn 65 and many are either retired or planning to retire within the next few years. What annuity product advice do you have for […]
Managing Client Risks And Expectations With Indexed UL
{September 2nd, 2011} by David Hayward
David Hayward September 2011 Issue Since the introduction of indexed universal life, sales of this product line have been rapidly growing while many other types of life insurance products have fallen or remained stable. Why is there such an interest in this type of product? The thought of upside potential with downside risk protection sounds good. […]
