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• Charitable planning in 2015: Weighing the pros and the cons
  What’s the outlook for life insurance-funded planned giving in 2015? In a word: mixed.
• Are you ready for the 4 biggest changes to IRAs in 2015?
  If you’re working in the IRA space, you need to know the four most important changes that will take place in 2015.
• 12 types of millennials you should know
  These categories will help you get to know your millennial clients or prospects better.
• Sales tip 101: Never give up
  Just because a sales tactic failed once, doesn’t mean you should quit trying. Fall down seven times, get up eight.

• AIG:
  • These AIG year-end processing cut-off dates represent deadlines that must be met for cases to have the best chance of being put in force in 2014.

• American National Annuities:
  • Applications must be received in good order in the home office by 4:30 PM CT on December 19^th 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 31^st and received in the home office by January 6, 2015.
  • Applications received after 4:30 PM CT on December 19^th cannot be guaranteed to be processed by year-end.

• Genworth Financial:
  • December 5^th – Life New Business Deadline for 2014 Commission
  • December 12^th – Deadline for LTC New Business Requirements
  • December 19^th – Deadline for Annuity New Business Requirements
  • December 19^th – Deadline for TLC Delivery Requirements
  • Genworth’s 2014 Commission Year-End Pay Schedule
  • Commissions – 1099-MISC 2014 Tax Information

• John Hancock:
  • All requirements, including full modal premium, must be received in John Hancock’s New Business department by December 19^th to ensure completion of underwriting , issue and case payment by December 31^st.

• Legal & General America:
  • These LGA year-end closing dates explain the closing/cut-off dates for New Business processing, 1099 income reporting and General Agent Bonus.

• Lincoln National:
  • Here are the GA Channel 2014 End of Year Commitment & Guidelines for Underwriting and New Business.

• MetLife:
  • Here are the 2014 year-end life new business deadlines for Independent Agencies & National Accounts in order to meet the cut-off dates to place cases and credit them to 2014 business.

• Minnesota Life:
  • These Minnesota Life 2014 Year-end guidelines for business processing should be kept in mind to ensure that all your life business is processed in a timely manner.

• Mutual/United of Omaha:
  • This end-of-year schedule shows Mutual’s holiday closings and year-end cut-off dates.

• North American Company:
  • These North American year-end dates are to help you focus on getting your pending cases paid and delivered to finish out 2014 successfully.

• Protective Life:
  • Protective’s 2014 Holiday Schedule and Year End Processing Guidelines will help ensure a case is paid and producers receive their compensation and/or production credit for 2014.

• Prudential:
  • As you prepare for year-end, use these helpful tips and reminders to make submitting Prudential life cases easier.

• SBLI:
  • Here are SBLI’s 2014 year-end processing guidelines.

• Symetra:
  • Final issue requirements for Life new business to be placed and counted in 2014 should be received by December 19^th, if commissions are paid weekly, and December 26^th, 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.

• Transamerica:
  • View Transamerica’s important 2014 year-end dates; as well as 2015 commission closing and statement mailing dates. For tips on New Business processing, click here.

• Voya Financial:
  • Be sure to send in requirements to have your 2014 new business placed and commissions paid in advance of these Voya year-end deadlines.

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• MetLife objects to SIFI designation by FSOC
  The life insurer contends that it is not systemically important under the Dodd-Frank Act’s criteria.

• AIG:
  • 4^th 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.

• Voya Financial:
  • Marketing material approval requirements

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• 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.

• Genworth Financial:
  • 2015 Participating Loan Rate declared for Asset Builder Index UL & Foundation Builder Index UL

• 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:
  • MetLife QuickPredict – mobile field underwriting tool
  • Underwriting in Sync – online hub for individual insurance underwriting
  • Guaranteed Level Term – featuring some of the lowest rates in the industry
  • Secure Flex UL – the newest addition to MetLife’s life insurance portfolio
  • The Voice on Life – one-stop-shop for insights & new ideas
  • New Enhanced Rate Plus underwriting program – LAUNCHING January 5^th
    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.
  • Living Promise iGO e-App update
    The Accelerated Death Benefit for Terminal Illness has been added to the Living Promise e-App on iGO.
  • Help your clients get their ‘stache back
    Learn more about the new Guaranteed Refund Option.

• 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 9^th
    On January 9, 2015, due to system updates, Custom Guarantee will be temporarily removed from SimpleSubmit for cases written in California.
  • A Policy Delivery Receipt is now included with every policy issued

• Protective Life:
  • ExtendCare Rider now available for new UL policies in Florida
  • Build a better solution with the Choice Series
    This diverse suite of life insurance solutions is designed for maximum protection, value and the flexibility to meet multiple needs.

• 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.
  • Underwriting Overview
  • Product Portfolio Overview
  • Life Insurance Quick Estimator
  • Benefit Access Rider Fast Fact
  • Product improvements – coming January 5^th
    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.

• Transamerica:
  • Tools to help you increase your Foreign National business
  • Quick tip flyers to help you develop your business in the Foreign Nationals Market
  • 5 Quick Tips to Recruit/Develop Producers
  • 7 Sources for Potential Foreign National Clients
  • 10 Reasons to Place Foreign National Business with Transamerica
  • Case studies to illustrate life insurance strategies
    Read about specific cases and how life insurance proved a valuable solution for family legacy planning, business planning, and estate tax planning for foreign national clients.
  • Online toolkits to help navigate the complexities
    All materials have been exclusively designed to train and educate producers and help increase your sales.
  • Foreign Nationals Producer Toolkit
  • Foreign Nationals Consumer Toolkit
  • 2015 Tax Facts At-A-Glance
  • Chronic Illness ADB Rider now included in California
    The Chronic Illness ADB Rider is now included, at no additional charge, with all new Trendsetter LB polices in California. Also, the Critical Illness ADB Rider will have some changes for California. Click here for more information on the ADB Riders in California.
  • Waiver of Premium Rider temporarily suspended in CA – effective December 19^th
    Transamerica has temporarily suspending sales of the Waiver of Premium Rider on Trendsetter LB and Trendsetter Express in California.

• 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 Rider – NEW!
    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:
  • Producer Guide
  • Producer E-mail (available on the PromoCenter)
  • Consumer Flyer
  • Consumer Brochure
  • Consumer video!
  • 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.

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• Annuity owners: Well-informed and secure
  If your retired clients say that financial peace of mind is a top priority, they could be good candidates for annuities.
• The New Buzz with Indexed Annuities: Hybrid Indices
  We have been shouting this from the roof-tops, and see you posting and tweeting about it too: Indexed annuity sales were off the charts for the first half of 2014!

• AIG:
  • Rate decreases – effective December 22^nd
    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.

• Genworth Financial:
  • SecureLiving Fixed Annuities application enhancements
  • Online client access to SecureLiving Income Provider contract information – now available
  • NAIC Suitability Model Regulation Requirements of Producers – update

• Lincoln National:
  • Lincoln Leader for fixed annuities – December 15^th edition

• Mutual/United of Omaha:
  • New SPIA Disclosure Forms for New York

• North American:
  • Commission special still available on NAC IncomeChoice 10
  • NAC BenefitSolutions Fixed Index Annuity – COMING January 2015
  • NAC Guarantee Choice Annuity
    The Guarantee Choice Annuity currently offers guarantee/surrender charge periods from 4 to 10 Years and issue ages up to age 90 (may vary by state). Use the Cost of Waiting flyer to help with your sales.
  • Suitability Questionnaire & Disclosure and Comparison forms required in FL

• Voya Financial:
  • Wealth Builder Series Annuities with Caps up to 6%
    An industry leading rate built for accumulation and optimal growth potential. Learn more. View the Wealth Builder Product Specific Training. View current rates.
  • 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 forms – reminder
    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.

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• Genworth Financial:
  • Changes in benefit period options for Privileged Choice Flex & Privileged Choice Flex 2
  • 2015 Partnership Minimum Benefit requirements for CA, CT, IN & NY

• 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 18^th edition
    In this issue:
  • Transamerica LTC year in review
  • Easy access to prequalification forms
  • AALTCi publishes 2015 Tax Guide
  • End of year office closings

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

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• Mutual/United of Omaha:
  • Med Supp e-App now available in Hawaii & Minnesota

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• 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 31^st)
    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 31^st)
    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 31^st)
    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.

• Genworth:
  • 2015 Distribution Leaders Summit (ENDS DECEMBER 31^st)
    Discover South Africa – April 15 – 24, 2015! Click here for details.
  • The 2015 Masters Tournament – April 6-12, 2015 (ENDS DECEMBER 31^st)
    Click here for official rules, award information and qualification details!

• Lincoln National:
  • Double Your Credit (ENDS DECEMBER 31^st)
    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

• North American:
  • Elite Agent Bonus Program (ENDS DECEMBER 31^st)
  • Click here for details on the Elite Silver Level Agent Bonus Program.
  • Click here for details on the Elite Gold Level Agent Bonus Program.

• 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.