Newsletter October 5, 2016

•  Marketing to millennials through the eyes of a millennial
  • October 5^th at 10:00 AM CT – Register here.
  • October 5^th at 1:00 PM CT – Register here.

• Business Owners RPS Series Part One: Getting Started
  In this three part series, you’ll learn how to build your practice and your bottom line with Business Owner Retirement Plans. You’ll cover topics like how to talk to business owners, who makes a good fit for a certain plan type, how to present illustrations to the client and how to set up a plan (and start making contributions!)
  • October 12^th at 12:00 PM CT – Register here.
  • October 19^th at 12:00 PM CT – Register here.

• Discover Proven Ways to Find Annuity Prospects
  • October 5^th at 3:00 PM CT – Register here.

• LTC Captivate 2.0 webinars
  This webinar is designed to familiarize you with everything you need to know about LTC Captivate 2.0, John Hancock’s online LTC insurance application. This hour-long live demonstration will get you up to speed in no time.
  • October 5^th at 10:00 AM CT – Register here.
  • October 12^th at 1:00 PM CT – Register here.
• Performance LTC Road Show – coming in October to a city near you
  Ignite your sales with Performance LTC – the best solution for your clients’ long-term care needs. John Hancock is on the road COMING TO YOU to provide the latest sales techniques on how to sell this innovative product. Hear about recent consumer research for insights into Long-Term Care Insurance.
  • See the October schedule and register here.

• BenefitSolutions Fixed Index Annuity Series
  Discover how flexibility within a fixed index annuity can help meet your clients’ changing retirement needs.
  • October 11^th at 3:00 PM CT – Register here.
• Optimizing the Client Appointment
  Sometimes a new appointment is your one and only chance to make an impression. Are your appointments turning prospects into clients?
  • October 25^th at 3:00 PM CT – Register here.

• Learn about the Quest Series of Annuities
  • This webinar is held every Monday and Wednesday at 2:00 PM CT.  Click here to register for a date that works best for you!
• Learn about the Wealth Builder Series of Annuities
  • This webinar is held every Tuesday at 1:00 PM CT.  Click here to register for a date that works best for you!

Life Happens is now accepting entries for the 2017 Real Life Stories Client Service Recognition Program. This annual program highlights compelling stories of the role insurance has played in helping families and businesses in times of great financial need-AND the important role that an agent or advisor has in helping them get that coverage.

Share your life, disability or long-term care insurance success story. If it is chosen (by an independent panel of judges) it will be featured in Life Happens’ national consumer educational awareness campaigns and you’ll be able to leverage the professionally produced promotional video and flyer that Life Happens will create.
See the 2016 winner!

To enter, complete the application at www.lifehappens.org/reallife. The deadline to submit an entry is October 31, 2016 at 4:00 PM ET. Please contact Julie Holsinger at jholsinger@lifehappens.org with any questions.

• How to improve your clients’ life underwriting odds
  People often take high risk ratings and coverage rejections personally. So how can you decrease the likelihood that an underwriter will penalize your client? Read more.
• 3 frequently asked questions about annuities
  Despite pending compliance challenges, annuities will continue to be essential to financial security in retirement. Read more.
• Marrying fixed index annuities with actively managed accounts
  Using fixed index annuities in retirement planning has many benefits for clients and advisors. Read more.

• Financial strength ratings reaffirmed – Read the announcement.
• Updated contacts lists – Banner and William Penn.
• Advertising Compliance – Read the reminder.
• “The Basics” has been updated
  This manual provides an overview of procedures for our defined business areas. Download it now.
• Sales territory map – View it now.

• New Advanced Markets Website
  Symetra’s new advanced markets website is packed with comprehensive solutions that can help boost your knowledge and sales in the advanced markets space. Increase your year-end life sales by downloading kits the kits available to help with comprehensive legacy planning strategies.

• Underwriting changes that work for you
  This new, one-page comprehensive guide will tell you where AIG is strongest, where they’ve improved and where they’re simply not the best – it doesn’t get any faster or more clear than this.
• Non-permanent chronic illness
  When the unforeseen chronic illness does occur, AIG makes life simple with their chronic illness rider – Accelerated Access Solution.
  • No need for Chronic Illness to be permanent
  • Premiums are waived during illness while AAS benefits are paid
  • As your client comes OFF claim, they can be completely certain there are no “gotchas” and no “catch-up” premiums
  • Learn more.

• IRS issues regulations affecting closely held business valuation discounts
  On August 2, 2016, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released new proposed regulations that if finalized will significantly reduce or eliminate valuation discounts for estate, gift and generation skipping transfer tax purposes on transfers of interests in family controlled businesses. Read more.
• Conversions to Signature GUL from Signature Term
  • Signature Term Conversion Table
  • Full & Partial Term Conversion Guide
  • Learn about Signature Guaranteed UL

• 3 underwriting niches
  • Add One Inch!
    LGA will automatically add one inch to the proposed insured’s height to potentially boost the rate class. Learn more.
  • Standard Plus Power
    LGA’s table rated cases are based on standard plus rates compared to other carriers’ standard. See a case study.
  • Underwriting guidelines that reflect new research to benefit customers
    LGA does not consider a family history of cancer as a factor preventing consideration from their preferred class. See a case study.

• Premier Accumulator UL – a crucial part of a financial portfolio
  The result of a 50 year-old male – Elite Non-Smoker – who puts either a one-time premium of $250,000 or $100,000 into a Premier Accumulator UL policy would be an initial death benefit of $711,915 or $284,460 respectively. Learn more.

• Advanced Perspectives Newsletter – Buy-Sell Issue
  In this issue:
  • Buy-sell arrangements: the basis of business succession
  • Tax pitfalls with buy-sell strategies
  • Sales strategy for multiple business owners
• CareShield is easy to understand…easy to sell…easy to get issued!
  • No LTC CE required
  • Continuous-pay premiums
  • Competitive first-year and renewal commissions
  • Simplified e-app process
  • Explaining CareShield takes 30 seconds
  • Learn more.

• Improvements to Underwriting Guidelines – Get details.
• New Product Portfolio and Underwriting Guide – Download them now.
• IUL Calculator available on IUL training site
  The IUL Training Site contains a calculator that can help you and your clients assess the indexed interest rate potential for an allocation to each of Income Advantage IUL’s available crediting options. Try it today!

• Per Stirpes is an acceptable beneficiary designation – Read the reminder.

• Custom Choice UL – lower rates, same great value
  Custom Choice UL is now even more competitive with a 1.5% premium decrease in level death benefit periods of 15, 20, 25 and 30 years for non-smoker risk classes. Get a quote. And don’t forget about the added value Protective Custom Choice UL offers clients, like flexibility to customize a payment schedule.

• Another way to help clients supplement retirement income – Download the ekit.

• The SROP Rider provides flexibility if insurance needs change
  Available on Symetra SUL-G for an additional cost, the optional Survivorship Return of Premium (SROP) Rider offers clients an “exit strategy” that can put money back in their pockets if their coverage needs end. Clients can elect to surrender the policy during any one of three 90-day windows at the end of either the 15^th, 20^th or 25^th policy years. View this new case study to see how the SROP rider worked for James and Susan.
• Sale to a Defective Grantor Trust – year-end sales idea
  Recent IRS proposed regulations would effectively eliminate the discounts commonly used in determining the value of family-owned entities for gift, estate and GST transfer tax purposes. The proposed regulations could become effective as early as January of 2017. Symetra’s Sale to a Grantor Trust tool kit can help demonstrate the potential value of transferring interests at currently available discounts and how to maximize the transfer of wealth using life insurance.
• Symetra Life Illustrator – COMING OCTOBER 17^TH
  Symetra Life Illustrator will be available with Symetra UL-G and CAUL products (more to follow).

• Power Series of Index Annuities product update – effective October 10^th
  Beginning on October 10, 2016, the Power Series of Index Annuities will reflect:
  • A streamlined choice of interest crediting options with the closing of the Monthly Point-to-Point Additive and Monthly Average Index Interest Accounts to new business
  • A competitive guaranteed rising income strategy with an Income Credit (roll-up rate) of 6.5% to the Income Base for Lifetime Income Plus in the first 10 contract years
  • Modified Maximum Annual Withdrawal Amount rates for various age bands under Lifetime Income Plus while keeping the 5.0% rate at age 65 (Single Life)
  • Potentially competitive rates and spreads in annuities with 10-year surrender charge schedules by adding premium bands to balance the removal of the premium enhancement feature from these products
  • Get details of the changes.
• Updates to American Pathway income annuities – effective October 10^th – Get details.
• We like rules
  The ML Strategic Balanced Index uses a rules-based approach to blend equity and fixed income indices. A strategy to help reduce volatility during changing market conditions and seeks to achieve stable returns and steady growth. Have your agents use the consumer brochure to talk to their clients about it.

• ASIA PLUS interest rates increased – effective October 1^st – View the rate sheet.
• Value-Lock 10 will be WITHDRAWN – effective November 1^st
  Effective November 1, 2016, the Value-Lock 10 Indexed Annuity will no longer be available for new sales. New Value-Lock applications must be dated by October 31, 2016 and received in the home office by November 3, 2016.

• Retirement Income Scoreboard – video
  This video helps you discuss the importance of retirement income with clients…and how annuities can help. Watch it now.
• DOL Q&A
  The Department of Labor (DOL) Fiduciary Rule seems to be on everyone’s minds. This new DOL Q&A helps reps – and clients.

• IncomeChoice 7 Fixed Index Annuity
  Offer clients competitive rates and top-tier potential income with NO ADDITIONAL RIDER CHARGE. Learn more.
• Annuity E-App
  Don’t be the only producer missing out on the e-app platform to help ensure faster issued business. Watch this quick tutorial for help getting started.

• New Policy Delivery Requirements, Policy Effective Dates and Payment Authorization Form – Get details.
• In-Force Rate Action announcements
  • Minnesota – Privileged Choice and Classic Select
  • Minnesota – Pre-PCS, PCS I, PCS II, and Choice 1
  • Pennsylvania: Privileged Choice and Classic Select

• A Step-By-Step Guide to lead you to LTCi sales – Download it now.

• Updated guidelines for DI Choice underwriting – Get details.
• Explaining the Need for Cancer, Heart Attack & Stoke Insurance – Learn more.

• Upcoming rate adjustments for IL, MO, MT, PA, TN & VT – Get details.
• Put down your pen!  6 time-saving e-App features
  • Producer and applicant sign once to cover all forms
  • Validates Medicare eligibility and GI information
  • Foolproof e-Apps are always complete and accurate
  • Upload proof of GI situation to the application
  • Select medications and dosages from list
  • Multiple signature options for any situation

2017 Marketing Conference in Los Cabos, Mexico
May 7-11, 2017

(Qualification period: January 1 – December 31, 2016)

Get complete details.

 iPad Pro Contest

(Qualification period: September 1 – December 31, 2016)

Qualify for as few as 9 life sales.  (Only policies sold through ExpertApp are eligible.)

Get complete rules and details.

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Leaders of Olympus in Prague

(Qualification period: January 1 – December 31, 2016)
Get details.

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Perfomance LTC 2016 Producer Bonus Program

(Qualification period: March 1 – December 31, 2016)  
Earn an additional 10% Bonus by selling

John Hancock’s Performance LTC product within the qualification period.

Get complete details.

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Earn up to $500 for selling CareShield!
(Qualificaton period: September 20 – December 31, 2016)

Within the qualification period, agents will receive a $300 Visa gift card for two paid CareShield applications or a $500 Visa gift card for three paid CareShield application.

Get complete details.

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2016 EPIC Reward – Elite Producer Club

(Qualification period: January 1 – December 31, 2016)

Receive a 1% commission bonus on your annuity business this year.

Learn how.

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2017 Independent Leaders Conference 

June 4-8, 2017 

(Qualification period: January 1 – December 31, 2016)

Discover the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, a luxury resort in the Cayman Islands where sparkling turquoise waters blend seamlessly with the cerulean sky to create your perfect Caribbean oasis. Learn more about the luxury that awaits you.

View the brochure. Get qualification details.

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Elect To Sell SIUL This Fall!

(Qualification period: September 15, 2016 – March 31, 2017)

Prudential is giving you the opportunity to earn an additional 20% compensation on new Survivorship Index UL business.

Get complete details.

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Illustrate UL-G and SUL-G’s ROP riders and win Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones! 

Symetra’s UL-G with ROP and SUL-G with SROP offer lower premiums, longer windows, higher caps and advance policyowner notifications. Be among the top 20 case designers who run the most ROP and SROP illustrations through WinFlex Web between September 1, 2016 and October 31, 2016 and win a set of Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones.
Get details.