800-377-4776
TMA logoTMA _enews_top
top

IN THIS WEEKS NEWS: December 23, 2014

 
webinarsUPCOMING WEBINARS
 
  • Genworth:
    • Index UL 101 LIVE webinars
      These short sessions are packed-with-information to give you an introduction to Index UL, tips to starting the conversation and closing the sale, the confidence and know-how to serve your clientele and insightful sales tips to improve your sales volume immediately. Register here!

      • January 8th -2:00 PM ET – Beyond the Death Benefit: Building Cash Value with Index UL Insurance
      • January 15th – 2:00 PM ET – Index UL Insurance Sales Concepts
  • Minnesota Life:
    • 15-minute sales strategy teleconference every Wednesday at 10:00 AM CT
      Dial-in Number: 1-800-910-2399 Passcode: 224032
  • North American Company:
    • California Accelerated Benefit Endorsement for Chronic Illness
      Reserve your spot now for a live training webinar for this new feature!
      • Click here to register and select a date and time from the drop down menu.

Back to Top

salesSALES ARTICLES
 
yearendIMPORTANT YEAR-END DATES
 
  • American National Annuities:
    • Applications must be received in good order in the home office by 4:30 PM CT on December 19th in order to guarantee processing for year-end.
    • Normal month-end rate lock procedures will apply. Applications must be signed and dated no later than December 31st and received in the home office by January 6, 2015.
    • Applications received after 4:30 PM CT on December 19th cannot be guaranteed to be processed by year-end.
  • John Hancock:
    • All requirements, including full modal premium, must be received in John Hancock’s New Business department by December 19th to ensure completion of underwriting , issue and case payment by December 31st.
  • Legal & General America:
  • Symetra:
    • Final issue requirements for Life new business to be placed and counted in 2014 should be received by December 19th, if commissions are paid weekly, and December 26th, if commissions are paid daily. If you are working toward contest and production bonus goals, we encourage you to submit applications through Symetra Express as soon as possible. Express will determine if premium can be collected from applications that qualify for temporary coverage or instant approval. Allow enough lead time on fully underwritten business for the applicant to complete the medical history interview and para-med exam. These take three weeks to complete, on average.
  • Voya Financial:

Back to Top

carrierCARRIER & INDUSTRY
 
  • AIG:
    • 4th Quarter 2014 Executive Summary Flyer
      This new one-page flyer provides highlights for life brokerage’s initiatives, expanded customer engagement, product updates, AIG financials, effective marketing programs and improved underwriting.

Back to Top

lifeLIFE INSURANCE
 
  • AIG:
    • Care coordination services available
      AIG has partnered with the nation’s largest administrator of long-term care insurance (LTCG) to arrange long-term care services at no cost. This free benefit is completely optional and available on all policies with the Accelerated Access Solution chronic illness rider.
  • MetLife:
    • MetLife’s top five stories of 2014
      This year featured some major initiatives at MetLife – all designed to help you strengthen client relationships and move business forward. Here are the top five:
      • Secure Flex UL – the newest addition to MetLife’s life insurance portfolio
    • New Enhanced Rate Plus underwriting programLAUNCHING January 5th
      It’s time to think about Promise Whole Life Select 10 as a client solution! It will soon come with more benefits for clients. On January 5, 2015, MetLife is launching its’ Enhanced Rate Plus Underwriting Program; which will offer qualifying Promise Whole Life Select 10 applicants the opportunity to move from Standard to best possible rating class and receive an underwriting decision within one week, with no paramedical exams or lab work required. Learn more!
  • Minnesota Life:
    • Life Insurance Policy Review
      Clients’ lives are constantly changing. Their life insurance policies may also perform differently than they expect. Annual policy reviews are essential to providing excellent service and exceeding your clients’ expectations. By reviewing your clients’ coverage you help further enhance the relationship with your client and also provide additional sales opportunities to meet their needs. Ensure that your clients’ Life Insurance policies are working for them. Learn the four C’s of policy review.
    • College Funding with Life Insurance
      Nearly two-thirds of college students graduate with debt, and according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, student debt has reached $1.2 trillion dollars. Combining student loan repayment programs and the benefits of a life insurance policy can help meet your clients’ current and long-term financial needs. Help clients prepare for their future and pay off student loans.
    • Estate Planning, Individually Centered (EPIC)
      Today’s tax landscape is characterized by significantly lower transfer tax costs and higher income tax rates than in the past. So your clients are more likely to pay income taxes rather than estate taxes. This new landscape provides more control and enables assets to stay inside the estate. EPIC (Estate Planning, Individually Centered) transcends traditional estate planning from just planning for what happens at death into planning for both life and death.
  • Mutual/United of Omaha:
    • Guaranteed Universal Life’s flexible features equal opportunities
      Whether clients are looking for an alternative to Return of Premium Term, a competitive product for 1035 exchanges or a product that can provide added flexibility, Guaranteed Universal Life may be your best bet. And don’t forget about GUL’s guarantees.
    • Do you have a large life case?
      Mutual of Omaha’s large-case team can help producers shine with their high net worth clients. Check out this case study that shows how their large-case team can meet your clients’ needs.
    • Why choose Mutual of Omaha?
      Take a look at what’s new in their full line of life insurance products; as well as a reminder of how they can help you meet the needs of your clients.
  • North American:
    • Accelerated Death Benefit for Chronic Illness coming to California
      Reserve your spot now for a live training webinar for this new feature! (See above webinar section.)
      • Accelerate up to 24% of the death benefit annually, $1M maximum benefit
      • No additional premium
      • Monthly deductions waived during chronic illness while on claim
      • Benefit is paid out upon qualification, not later as a reimbursement
      • Benefit amount may be used for any purpose
    • Custom Guarantee removed from SimpleSubmit in CA effective January 9th
      On January 9, 2015, due to system updates, Custom Guarantee will be temporarily removed from SimpleSubmit for cases written in California.
  • Prudential:
    • Top downloaded materials
      Curious what materials your peers are leveraging most? These are the top downloads from the last quarter for ideas to help you grow and manage your life insurance business.
    • Product improvements coming January 5th
      On January 5, 2015, Prudential will launch an improved PruLife Indexed Advantage UL & PruLife Founders Plus UL. Don’t miss the webinar on January 5, 2015 to learn more about how these products can help address the costs of longevity risk and volatility. (See webinar section above.)
    • BenefitAccess Rider replacement business in California update
      The restrictions that applied when a life insurance policy with the BenefitAccess Rider was purchased to replace an existing policy no longer apply. Prudential will now accept replacement cases of these products in the state of California.
    • New Secondary Addressee Notice in CT
      As a result of a new regulation in Connecticut that allows policyholders to identify a secondary addressee to receive a notice of cancellation for nonpayment of premium, a new form is required at point of sale.
    • Policy Review Kit revamped
      This newly updated kit offers valuable conversation points and action plans to help advisors of all levels get the life insurance conversation started. With a thought provoking Producer Quick Guide and internal Policy Review Request form, this kit will help ask the right questions and gather the necessary information they need to perform policy reviews.
    • Estate Planning for Foreign Nationals using life insurance
      Resident and non-resident foreign nationals have similar life insurance needs as U.S. citizens: wealth transfer, estate planning, income protection and business continuation. This new producer presentation highlights these issues, as well as opportunities for life insurance for both demographics.
  • Voya Financial:
    • The HEX Benefit – a new strategy for retaining & rewarding key employees
      This new article explains the HEX Benefit – a hybrid approach to executive benefits. In addition, this new consumer HEX benefit brochure explains how the Hybrid Executive Benefit combines features of a 162 Bonus and SERP plan to provide a new approach for business owner clients to retain and reward key employees.
    • Illustrations and projections on term products
      In the past, if a term rate re-projection request was made, a projection of 10 years or more was provided to the client. These re-projections were historically based on current, non-guaranteed rates. Going forward, projections will only show premiums for the current and next policy year at the current non-guaranteed rates.
    • Chronic Illness RiderNEW!
      The new Chronic Illness Rider can be added to Voya IUL – Global Choice, Voya IUL – Global or Voya IUL – Protector (except Orange Pass). Learn more about the Chronic Illness Rider:
    • New form to assist in gathering important client information
      Effective immediately, Voya must request sufficient information from our policyholders to ensure that all life insurance benefits are paid to the beneficiaries. To make it easier to gather this data from your clients, supplemental form #171063 has been created. The new form can be used in addition to the application when there is not sufficient space on the application to include all the data and even after submitting the application.
    • Good news on term conversions
      Effective immediately, term life insurance customers now have more options.
    • Life Insurance and the Reverse Rule of 72
      This new brochure shows clients how inflation impacts their life insurance coverage and suggests how to protect their death benefits’ purchasing power.

Back to Top

comboCOMBO PRODUCTS
 
No new bulletins this week.

Back to Top

annuitiesANNUITIES
 
  • AIG:
    • Rate decreases effective December 22nd
      The American Pathway Immediate Annuity and American Pathway Deferred Income Annuity rates decreased on December 22, 2014. You can run new quotes at www.retirementraise.com.
  • Voya Financial:
    • Monthly Average Index Strategy
      This strategy may smooth out the ups and downs throughout the year and has potential to earn interest credits even when the market ends flat or negative.
    • Now you get illustrations on the GO!
      Illustrations are now at your fingertips. You can now run Voya illustrations from your iPad or Android tablet. This new tool equips you with fresh and fast delivery of illustrations when and where you meet with clients.
    • Updated formsreminder
      ING forms will be accepted until year end. Effective January 1, 2015 all forms received must be Voya Financial.
    • Going Broke Safely
      A new and equally troubling pattern has emerged. While it’s not an active strategy – it’s more the result of an investment pattern. “Going Broke Safely” refers to keeping most or all of your money “safely” in the bank in CD’s, savings accounts, or money markets often earning returns lower than 1%.
    • Voya Envoy Fixed Index Annuity closure
      Effective immediately, the Voya Envoy Nine Fixed Index Annuity is closed to new business.

Back to Top

ltcLONG TERM CARE
 
  • Mutual of Omaha:
    • LTC Sales Ideas Booklet
      The Sales Ideas booklet gives you tips and ideas to tackle these issues head on so you can turn your clients’ needs and concerns into sales. Here are the topics you’ll find:
      • Become an LTC Educator
      • Uncover the Problem
      • How to Begin the Conversation
      • How to Find Prospective Clients
      • How the Cash Benefit Keeps People at Home
      • Security for an Uninsured Partner
      • Look for People with a Common Employer
      • How the Buy-Up Option Works
      • The Benefit of Partnership-Qualified Policies
      • How to Get Maximum Benefits for Professional Care at Home
  • Transamerica:
    • LTC News December 18th edition
      In this issue:
      • Transamerica LTC year in review
      • Easy access to prequalification forms
      • AALTCi publishes 2015 Tax Guide
      • End of year office closings

Back to Top

disabilityDISABILITY & CRITICAL ILLNESS
 
  • Mutual/United of Omaha:
    • DI Underwriting Case Study
      View this underwriting case study to see how underwriters handle a case involving ADD/ADHD.

Back to Top

medsuppMEDICARE SUPPLEMENTS
 
  • Mutual/United of Omaha:

Back to Top

Back to Top

agentcontestsAGENT CONTESTS
 
  • AIG:
    • AIG Better Ride Contest (8/1/2014 – 1/31/2015)
      Now is your chance to rev it up, get in gear, and gain some traction! Producers will receive points based upon the sale of our permanent products, and additional points for selling AG Asset Protector on Secure Lifetime (AAS Rider & LIS Rider), and the AAS Rider on Elite Index II. For every 5 points a producer earns they will get a raffle ticket towards the drawing of a 2 year lease on a BMW 528i. Get complete details.
  • American National:
    • 2015 Marketing Conference (qualification period ENDS DECEMBER 31st)
      You and your guest will enjoy five days and four nights at The Cove Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas from May 17-21, 2015 if you are one of American National’s top 80 qualifiers. Click here for details.
  • Athene:
    • Top Producers Dublin 2015 (ENDS DECEMBER 31st)
      Produce $3.5 Million or more (received during the qualification period of January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2014) with Aviva or Athene products and then get ready to pack your bags for Ireland. Click here for details.
    • Take the Athene Benefit 10 Challenge (ENDS DECEMBER 31st)
      Where will Athene Benefit 10 take you? Introducing an incentive with flexibility – the Athene Benefit 10 Challenge – where winners create their own custom travel experience! Learn how to qualify here.
  • Lincoln National:
    • Double Your Credit (ENDS DECEMBER 31st)
      Help your clients prepare for the future and earn double PAP credit on all Lincoln MoneyGuard Solutions cases placed in force between July 1 and December 31, 2014. Click here for complete details.
  • Mutual of Omaha:
    • LTCI Marketing Credits Program
      Mutual of Omaha’s LTCI Marketing Credits Program gives you the opportunity to score marketing credits that can be used to help build your LTCi business. Start earning credits on your fifth LTCi app placed after November 1, 2014.
      • Earn 1% of ANBP
      • 1 credit = $1
      • Credits must be redeemed by March 31, 2016
  • Transamerica:
    • Leading Distributors Convention in Barcelona (1/1/2014 – 12/31/2015)
      This is your opportunity to experience one of the world’s top destinations in an entirely unique way-the Transamerica way! Sun-filled days, exciting nightlife, and the breathtaking beauty of Barcelona await, when you qualify for the 2016 convention – held May 11-15, 2016. Click here for details. View the producer flyer.