January 8, 2014

• Your clients need a plan
  Don’t just check in with clients-give them something they can use.
• Why we need flexible design in estate planning
  As retirees continue to recover from the recession, enhanced estate liquidity is an important selling point.
• 10 common estate planning mistakes (and how to avoid them)
  Do your clients lack liquidity? Do they have the right executor? Ask these questions annually to ensure that their financial plan is in shape.
• Legacy planning for the uninsurable client
  Your estate planning client doesn’t qualify for life insurance. Now what?
• 10 reasons why this is the best time ever to be an advisor
  We can mend the broken promises of others – and guarantee client loyalty in the process.
• Go the extra mile
  If you do just enough, you just won’t excel.
• 10 reasons to expect a boom in life settlements in 2014
  Supply and demand, those two cornerstones of economics, are lining up heavily in favor of the life settlement industry.
• 10 great opening lines from top producers
  Elite producers share the best conversation-starting questions they use with prospects.
• 14 reasons why life insurance is the best
  Turns out life insurance does a lot of good – for families, the economy and even happiness.
• 5 ways life insurance agents are increasing sales in 2014
  A full 72 percent of life insurance producers plan to boost sales in the year ahead. Here’s how.
• 50 best ways to generate leads:
  • Tips 1-10
    Get savvy on social media. Go golfing alone. Ten more ideas that will boost your client base
• How to meet your clients’ needs in 2014
  What do your clients really want? Genuine information and great customer service.
• A tale of two advisors
  How you view the world is everything.
• Retirement income planning: The next frontier
  Accumulating assets is the easy part. But can you help your clients transition those holdings into an income stream during retirement?

• Minnesota Life:
  • Weekly 15-minute sales strategy calls – every Wednesday at 10:00 AM CST
    Hosted by expert life insurance case designers, you’ll learn actionable sales ideas in a short, easily digestible format. Each week, the sales idea call will create a valuable opportunity to add a new sales tool to your practice.
    Teleconference Number: 1.800.910.2399 Participant Pass Code: 224032
  • TODAY, January 8^th – Life Insurance New Years Resolutions
  • January 15^th – Utilizing Express Issue and Quick eApp to make the sale
  • January 22^nd – Psychology of Buying

• North American:
  • Upcoming webinars
    After registering for the webinars below, you will receive a personalized invite for the meeting with additional information.
    Event Password: (case sensitive) Webinar
    Teleconference Information: 877-937-0681 Passcode: 9264795#
    • TOMORROW, January 9^th – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CST– Policy Review
    • January 16^th – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CST – Path to Success with North American
    • January 23^rd – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CST – A Place to Call Home – North American

• Life insurance: 6 things to expect in 2014
• 20 women in insurance you need to know
  These dynamic women are redefining an industry that has always been run by men – and they’re changing lives in the process.
• 24 Social Security facts you need to know
  These are the answers your clients are seeking.
• Advisors brace for more exams, “game changer” on horizon
  Advisors anticipate the arrival of fiduciary advice rules, and will watch for user fees bill, money-market and target-date fund rules.

• American General:
  • AIG’s “We’re Here” Advertising Campaign
    American General has launched a new multi-media campaign to help you position AIG’s insurance and retirement solutions to your clients and prospects for brighter tomorrows and a world of possibilities.

• Mutual/United of Omaha:
  • 2014 Sales Director Changes

• American General:
  • Accelerated Access Solution now available in MT, NV & VA
  • Why should clients pay for more coverage they don’t need?
    Click here to learn how customizing clients’ needs with AG Select-a-Term can save them money. Don’t forget to play in the AG Select-a-Term sales contest and win BIG prizes. Contest ends February 2, 2014 so hurry now!
  • Tax Law Changes May Mean Higher Taxes for YOUR Clients
    American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 means higher-income taxpayers pay higher taxes. Details about ATRA and its impact on advanced markets can be found in the “Reference Library” section on www.agadvancedmarkets.com. Site also contains consumer and producer presentations, sample documents, training and video tour.

• Lincoln Financial:
  • GA Weekly Update

• Prudential:
  • New state approvals on re-priced PruLife ROP Term & Index Advantage UL
    PruLife Index Advantage UL is now available in California (without Enhanced Disability Benefit), Oregon and Wyoming. PruLife ROP Term is now available in New York. View the complete listing of approved states for each product. For California only: click here for some important information regarding the temporary suspension of Waiver of Premium Benefits.
  • Founders Plus UL
    This is a flexible premium permanent life insurance product that offers an Index feature and is designed to meet the changing needs of your clients, particularly those considering a Guaranteed Universal Life product. View state approvals. Go to the eKit. Founders Plus can give clients:
    • Cost-effective death benefit protection with the potential for cash value accumulation
    • Competitive premiums-especially when compared to other permanent life insurance products
    • Two interest crediting account options, a Fixed Account or a Plus Account with an index interest option for more upside potential
    • An extended No-Lapse Guarantee
    • Protection against the financial impact of chronic or terminal illness. Clients can choose, for an additional cost, to add the BenefitAccess Rider that advances up to 100% of the death benefit should they become chronically or terminally ill as certified by a licensed health care practitioner.

• 13 ways an annuity can benefit an estate plan
  As an estate planning tool, annuities can provide guaranteed income, as well as growth of principal and risk management benefits.
• Annuities: 4 predictions for 2014
  Will annuity sales continue their upward track in 2014? How will an uptick in interest rates impact insurers?
• FINRA to focus on senior suitability annuity sales
  FINRA may be issuing a report on firms’ practices on product-specific suitability guidelines for senior investors.
• How to market annuities to baby boomers
  Appealing to baby boomers requires looking at the whole picture: short-term and long-term needs, as well as their current portfolios. Offering financial stability in an uncertain economic environment can benefit insurance agents as marketers, and baby boomers as savvy investors

• American National:
  • ASIA PLUS now available in PA
  • View information about ASIA PLUS 7
  • Get information about ASIA PLUS 10
  • Why You Should Be Selling the Value-Lock 10 Annuity
    Do you have clients who are looking for opportunity to earn higher interest but want the protection of the premium paid not declining? The ANICO Value-Lock Annuity may be the answer. The Value-Lock 10 Annuity is a single premium indexed deferred annuity that credits interest based upon the performance of the S&P 500 Index.

• Genworth:
  • SecureLiving Index 10 Plus commission schedule change

• North American:
  • Increased rates for Guaranteed Choice Multi-Year Guarantee Annuity
    • 3.75% guaranteed 10 years – interest rate for initial premium of $200K or more
    • 3.55% guaranteed 10 years – interest rate for initial premium less than $200K
    • 2.50% guaranteed 5 years – interest rate for initial premium of $200 K or more
    • 2.30% guaranteed 5 years – interest rate for initial premium less than $200K

• 5 predictions for the LTC insurance industry in 2014
  As we look ahead to the New Year and ponder what changes lie in store for our beloved long-term care insurance industry, this author finds it easiest to place into five categories the major influences which impact whether 2014 will be sweet or sour.

• Transamerica:
  • New Point-of-Sale Requirements for Trendsetter LB in CA
    Producers selling Trendsetter LB in California must provide clients with a new Accelerated Death Benefit (ADB) Disclosure Form, along with a new ADB Replacement Question Form that the client is required to answer indicating whether he or she intends to replace any LTC insurance. If the ADB replacement question is answered “yes”, then the applicant must also be provided with a third form – an ADB Replacement Notice, which needs to be signed by the applicant and included with the final new business paperwork. These new forms apply to sales in California only.

• American General:
  • It’s Game Day (10/1/2013 – 2/2/2014)
    Submit Select-a-Term paid applications to win BIG prizes. Agents can win gift cards PLUS drawings for Sony 55-inch flat screen TVs. BGA’s win a staff recognition event.

• American National:
  • Cash is King 2014 (1/1/2014 – 4/30/2014) – NEW!
    Earn a CASH BONUS for annuity sales! Total of all fixed/ indexed annuities paid. Minimum of 3 applications.
  • $500,001 – $750,000 = $750 cash bonus
  • $750,001 – $1,000,000 = $1000 cash bonus
  • $1,000,000+ = $1500 cash bonus

• Genworth:
  • Index Universal Life incentive to Grow Your Business in 2014 (1/1/2014 – 6/30/2014)
    $100 producer incentive for each IUL policy received in the Genworth Home Office between January 1, 2014 and June 30, 2014 and placed no later than September 30, 2014.

• Minnesota Life:
  • Earn an extra $700 – NEW! (1/1/2014 – 3/31/2014)
    Beginning January 1, 2014, through March 31, 2014, you have the opportunity to receive up to $700 in Visa gift cards for the business you place with Minnesota Life.