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IN THIS WEEKS NEWS: November 19, 2014

 
webinarsUPCOMING WEBINARS
 
  • Genworth:
    • Index UL 101 LIVE webinar series
      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!

      • November 20th – 2:00 PM ET – Index UL Insurance Sales Concepts
      • December 4th – 2:00 PM ET – Introduction to Index UL Insurance: A Flexible Soultion for Protection, Accumulation and Retirement Solution
    • Choosing a Long Term Care solution
      Learn to identify a client’s need for an LTCI solution. Gain a better understanding of client attitudes, beliefs and behaviors about LTCI, Learn how to recommend a solution for each client, from traditional LTCI to linked benefits, life insurance with a qualified long term care (LTC) Accelerated Benefit Rider (ABR), and life insurance with a chronic illness rider
  • 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:
    • A Place to Call Home
      Looking for a carrier that can offer a broad portfolio to meet your diverse list of client needs, competitive compensation for you, and the support and training to help you succeed? Then North American is the place to call home for your business. Attend this webinar to learn more.

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salesSALES ARTICLES
 
yearendIMPORTANT YEAR-END DATES
 
  • AIG:
    • 2014 year-end Life processing dates
      American General’s 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. Timeline information is detailed in this bulletin.
  • American National:
    • End of year procedures for annuity business
      • 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:
    • Year-End deadlines
      As year-end approaches, key submission deadlines for cases you are targeting for completion in 2014 are noted in this flyer.
  • MetLife:
    • 2014 year-end life new business deadlines for Independent Agencies & National Accounts
      Here are the deadlines to meet the cut-off dates to place cases and credit them to 2014 business.
  • Prudential:
    • Year-End Dates & Reminders
      As you prepare for year-end, use these helpful tips and reminders to make submitting Life cases easier.
  • Symetra:
    • Deadlines for year-end business are approaching
      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:
    • Year-End deadlines
      Be sure to send in requirements to have your new business placed and commissions paid in advance of these deadlines.

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carrierCARRIER & INDUSTRY
 
  • MetLife
    • MetLife to Pay $1.28 Billion in Policy Dividends in 2015
      This payment demonstrates our continued commitment to providing policyholders with value, now and in the long term.
    • Restructuring of MetLife Companies
      Effective immediately, please discard all applications, New Business and Post Issue forms with the name of MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company or MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut, and instead use the ones with the new name of the surviving company (MetLife Insurance Company USA). Click here for details and transition rules.

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lifeLIFE INSURANCE
 
  • AIG:
    • New modular training program for Retire Stronger
      The Making the Sale page of RetireStronger.com (formally “Telling the Story”, now features a modular approach to training with materials, key talking points and action items for producers. There are even downloadable scripts to use when emailing clients.
    • Increase in home office pre-approval limit
      Effective immediately, home office official pre-approval is only required for premiums of more than $1.5M (the previous limit was $1M) for the following products: Elite Index II, Elite Survivor Index II, and Elite Global Plus II.
  • Genworth Financial:
    • Foundation Builder & Asset Builder Index UL enhancements in CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, ND & SD
  • Legal & General America
    • Change in current crediting rates for discontinued UL products
  • MetLife:
    • Demystifying Indexed Universal Life (IUL) video
      This video discusses the topic of Demystifying Indexed Universal Life and talks in-depth about how IUL products are built, positioned, and sold in the marketplace today. It then compares IULs to whole life to show the benefits that whole life can provide clients.
    • A new twist on Survivorship Universal Life (SUL)
      Survivorship life insurance is designed to protect against the financial consequences of the death of both insureds – typically a husband and a wife – and is most commonly used to provide liquidity for their potential estate tax liability. The product can be designed to match the estate tax liability in a case where the estate tax marital deduction is utilized to defer estate tax consequences until the death of the surviving spouse. Since survivorship life insurance pays its death benefit only when both spouses are deceased and the estate tax liability arises, survivorship life insurance is the only life insurance policy that specifically matches the estate tax liability incurred by a married couple in these circumstances.
    • Planning for State Estate and Inheritance Taxes
      While many clients may have significantly lower exposure to federal estate taxes today as a result of permanently higher exclusion amounts, they should consider whether they may be subject to state estate and/or inheritance taxes.
    • Dynasty Trust Funded with Life Insurance
      Typically high net worth clients. These clients are usually at the wealth transfer stage of planning. These clients are concerned about multiple taxes over multiple generations. They would like to help maximize the inheritance for their beneficiaries in a tax efficient manner. Click here for the solution.
    • Whole Life Words that Work flyer
      Whole life insurance has many nuances that are difficult for clients to understand. And its higher premiums can also cause concerns and objections. MetLife’s research has enabled them to provide insights that can help you find the right language to effectively explain to consumers how whole life insurance works. You will also be able to support its higher premiums by demonstrating how its unique, long-term benefits provide value and flexibility that can help clients meet a number of financial objectives throughout their lives.
    • Term product updates
      Guaranteed Level Term 14 approved in PR and One Year Term approved in ME. Get details here.
  • Minnesota Life:
    • Conquering the competition with Omega Builder IUL
      Omega Builder IUL includes the Income Protection Agreement. This feature, which no other competitor offers, combined with the index crediting bonus form a competitive life insurance solution for your clients. Omega Builder highlights:
      • Cost of insurance charges may be decreased up to 50%
      • Policy distributions may be enhanced up to 30%
      • Index crediting bonus to help increase cash accumulation
      • Fixed, indexed4 and variable loan options
    • Underwriting updates
      • Metric improvements
        Key improvements in 2014 include:
        • 2.7-day reduction in service time.
        • 25% less Attending Physician Statements ordered for applicants under 55.
        • 50% reduction in Table B to Standard.
        • Updated guidelines reduced requirements.
        • New tele-interview script.
      • Build enhancements
        Build guidelines have been improved to offer more competitive rates on build, including:
        • A generous approach for Build to help reach a better rating.
        • Build chart now to Table L (previously limited to Table F).
        • A generous approach for low BMI to help reach a better rating.
      • No more Treadmill Stress Test (TST)
        We recently removed TST requirements for all age and dollar amounts. An EKG will be required for amounts over $10 million at ages 51-69.
  • North American:
    • Illustrating the Reality of Retirement – how to upsell retirement planning
      This article teaches you how to improve on your Retirement Planning sales by using a more realistic method of illustration.
  • Protective Life:
      • Lower rates for face amounts of $500,000 and up
      • Continued coverage at the same premium, even after the initial benefit period¹
      • Evidence-free exchanges available for the first 20 policy years, up to age 70
      • A longer grace period of 61 days, when compared to traditional term insurance
      • Access to flexible features and riders
      • And, Protective Custom Choice UL offers the opportunity for higher compensation with a fully commissionable policy fee!
  • Prudential:
  • Symetra:
    • Symetra Classic performs even better with LPB Premier pricing
      Symetra Classic with Lapse Protection Benefit was already a top performer in the GUL marketplace. With the LPB Premier pricing, it performs even better. Designed to provide lower premiums on your larger cases, LPB Premier premiums average 6-10% less than the No. 2 ranked guaranteed universal life insurance carrier.
  • Voya Financial:
    • The HEX Benefit consumer brochureNEW!
      The Hybrid Executive (HEX) 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.
    • Requirement for Third Party Addressee Designation in CT effective January 1st
      Starting January 1, 2015, form #170508 will be required at the time of solicitation in Connecticut. The form allows a policy owner to designate a third party to receive notices of policy cancellation.

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comboCOMBO PRODUCTS
 
  • Genworth Financial:
    • Total Living Coverage (TLC) videoNEW!
      One of our most popular brochures introduces Helen and how TLC could work for her in multiple situations. This new producer-facing video is meant to bring this “Helen brochure” to life. In the video, TLC is positioned as a solution to the common objections of “What if I never need long term care?” & “What if I change my mind?”
    • Positioning TLC
      There are many options out there to help solve the long term care need. Genworth recognizes the difficulty of determining the most appropriate solution for each of your clients’ unique situations. That’s why they’ve put together these materials to help you understand the differences.

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annuitiesANNUITIES
 
  • AIG:
    • A Closer Look at the Income Generation
      If you’re looking for more ways to help you meet the needs of today’s “Income Generation,” find out more about how the Power Series of Index Annuities, along with the Lifetime Income Plus guaranteed living benefit rider, can help provide clients the flexibility to design an income solution customized to their specific needs. Learn more about the Income Generation.
    • Put Your Clients’ Money in Motion
      Want to find out how you can help your clients increase their income and make their assets more productive? Then check out the link below to find out how an American Pathway Immediate Annuity (SPIA) can offer clients higher payments than other products because they permanently convert a single premium into a guaranteed stream that can last a lifetime. Learn more about helping your clients.
    • Feel the power of the Power Series of Index Annuities
      Want new power hitters on your Index Annuity roster? Consider Power 7 Protector and Power 10 Protector. These asset accumulation solutions combine the power of tax deferral with three index interest accounts offering principal protection from market downturns and growth potential. Plus, Power 10 Protector also includes up to a 4% premium enhancement to help clients accumulate more assets for retirement. Note: Premium enhancements may vary by state or may not be available in all states. No guaranteed living benefit rider is available in either product.
    • Deferred Income Annuities now qualify as Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts
      Did you know that the American Pathway Deferred Income Annuity (DIA) is now available as a Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract (QLAC)? That’s due to new federal income tax regulations that permit the exclusion of the DIA from required minimum distribution calculations when certain conditions are met.
    • Product snapshots
    • Learning About Fixed Annuities
      This brochure has been updated. It’s great for use with new clients. It offers an easy-to-understand overview of how fixed annuities work and what they offer.
  • American National:
    • ASIA PLUS Lifetime Income Rider with 4% Fixed Rate + Index Credit
      If you have a client looking to retire after the 10 year accumulation period has ended, this could be a great tool to allow them to continue to earn interest based on the performance of an index. The 4% fixed rate compounds interest for ten years, and any interest earnings based on the performance of the index continue to be credited to the LIR Income base after the ten year period and continue until income withdrawal begins. Learn more.
  • Athene:
    • Athene Annuity (DE) version of Benefit 10 discontinued in 4 states effective November 24th
      On November 24th, sales will be discontinued for the “current” version of Athene Benefit 10 in Delaware, New Jersey, New Mexico and Wyoming. Click here for application deadlines and product training for the new Athene Benefit 10.

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ltcLONG TERM CARE
 
  • Mutual of Omaha:
    • LTC – Next steps in the application process
      Use this Next Steps flyer to review with your clients what happens in the LTCi application process.
    • Want your LTCi business issued quickly?
      Here’s what you can do to help.
    • 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:
    • LTC News November 13th edition
      In this issue:
      • TransBuilder customizable multi-life materials
      • Family Matters brochure
      • New easy access to LTCi consumer videos
      • LTC eApp use growing

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disabilityDISABILITY & CRITICAL ILLNESS
 
  • Mutual/United of Omaha:
    • Real-life disability story
      When Kerry Ann was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), she was thankful her co-worker had mentioned disability insurance and referred her to an agent. Kerry Ann has been given security knowing she has money coming in that she can count on. Watch Kerry Ann’s story here.

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medsuppMEDICARE SUPPLEMENTS
 
  • Mutual/United of Omaha:
    • Plan G – A Money Saver
      Could a Plan G offer savings to your client on their annual premium? You can be the hero and save your client money with a Plan G. Compare the cost of Plans F and G, it’s quick and easy. Side by side, Plans F and G include the same benefits, except Plan G doesn’t pay the Part B deductible ($147). Ask your client if they can afford $147 out of pocket in exchange for a greater savings on their annual premium. Here’s how it works.

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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 1/1/2014 – 12/31/2014)
      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 (1/1/2014 – 12/31/2014)
      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 (10/1/2014 – 12/31/2014)
      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 (7/1/2014 – 12/31/2014)
      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:
    • Break Away and Travel with Transamerica (4/1/2014 – 12/19/2014)
      • Agents who place $25,000 of premium (minimum 3 TLIC life applications) will earn a 3-day vacation package valued up to $1,400 for yourself and a guest.
      • Agents who place $75,000 of premium (minimum 5 TLIC life applications) will earn a 5-day vacation package valued up to $5,000 for yourself and up to 3 guests.
      • Click here for complete details.
      • Long Term Care production can help you win the above trip!
        Now earning your Break Away is even easier. Long Term Care production is being included towards qualifying! View the Break Away travel site for complete details.
      • Break Away and Hit the Links!
        Transamerica is excited to announce new destination options for Break Away. By popular demand, singles golf outings are now available! That’s right, by qualifying for a three-day Break Away prize package, you could find yourself teeing off under the blue skies of Palm Springs, California or enjoying the sea breeze on Amelia Island, Florida. Sell more, go farther! By qualifying for the second level Break Away prize package you can take your pick from the world famous courses of Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, and six TPC courses including Sawgrass and Scottsdale! All golf packages are for one person. Challenge your friends to qualify for their own trip and meet you on the greens! Start planning your outing today! View the new golf packages here.
    • 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.