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November 6, 2013

 
 
SALES ARTICLES
 
UPCOMING WEBINARS
 
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YEAR-END PREPARATION
 
CARRIER & INDUSTRY NEWS
 
  • 2014 realLIFEstories – call for entries
    Each year, the LIFE Foundation sponsors the realLIFEstories Client Service Recognition Program; which honors the work that agents and advisors do by collecting and publicizing compelling examples of how insurance helped provide for families and businesses at times of great financial need. If you’d like the opportunity to see your work honored nationally, please take a minute to learn more about the program at www.lifehappens.org/reallife. Then, submit your own success story and be part of this important public educational effort.
  • American National:
    • Contracting guidelines for transfers/dual requests
  • ING:
    • HIPAA regulations lead to changes in new agent contracts – reminder
  • Legal & General:
    • State license vs carrier appointment rules
      In recent months, there has been an alarming increase in the number of applications where the writing broker was not licensed in the state where the insurance was solicited and/or intended to be issued. There have also been a number of AppAssist Request for Life Insurance Interviews (RLIs) where the writing broker was not licensed in the state where the applicant resides. While some states do not require an appointment with a carrier before an application is solicited from the public, an active producer or agent life insurance license with the state is mandatory in all states. In states that require everyone in the writing broker’s upline to be licensed to receive commission and override commission (FL, GA, KY, MA, MT, NC, NM, NY, PA, SC, VA, WI and WV), each upline agency must also have an active license in the state prior to the application being solicited.
    • Advertising compliance
  • MetLife:
    • Address and contact changes
      MetLife has transitioned U.S. Life New Business & Underwriting Retail Operations to Charlotte, North Carolina and Retail Life & DI Operations to Tampa, Florida.
  • North American:
    • Past. Present. Future.video
      North American has been providing financial strength and stability throughout our history. For over 125 years, they have maintained steady growth and ratings, and today they rank among the best in the industry.
  • Prudential:
  • Transamerica:
LIFE INSURANCE NEWS
 
  • American General:
    • Increased state capital gains tax rates
      Did you know that the average state capital gains tax rates increased from 4.1% to 4.7% in 2013? Check out the latest sales concept on minimizing potential tax on capital appreciation.
  • Aviva:
    • Producer bonusreminder
      There’s never been a better time to sell Aviva’s cash accumulation products! Producers earn a 10% bonus on sales of Lifetime Builder IUL, Advantage Builder IUL, LifeStage UL and Survivorship IUL.
    • Update on life insurance in Employer Sponsored Qualified Plans
      Due to low usage, Aviva no longer allows any life insurance policies to be used in any type of qualified plans. This is an update to a decision earlier this year which allowed new participants to be added to existing plans. This change was effective November 1, 2013.
  • Genworth:
    • Index Institutewebsite
      Whether you’re a proven pro or you’re just starting to learn about Index Universal Life (Index UL) insurance and Fixed Index Annuities, the Index Institute can help boost your index UL sales.
    • Watch, Learn, Sell: The Perfect Stormvideo
      Build your competitive edge to help turn your index universal life insurance opportunities into sales.
    • Mayo Clinic Live+Well customer newsletter
      This issue provides your customers with information on emotional resilience, cancer prevention, diabetes, making fitness fun, and much more!
  • ING:
    • Life insurance policy collateral assignments
      This flyer provides an overview of this tool used in a number of strategies for both individual and business clients.
  • Legal & General:
    • A-List Term now available for groups of 10-24 and 25 or more
  • Lincoln Financial:
  • MetLife:
    • Enhanced Care Benefit approved in 6 new stateseffective November 15th
    • Guaranteed Level Term updates approved in NY, OH & VA
      Updates include rate class name changes in New York, Ohio and Virginia and the issuing company change to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York only.
    • Underwriting solution for NT-proBNP
      This new article focuses on how NT-proBNP can affect underwriting.
  • Minnesota Life:
    • More Securian products launching in November
      Securian Life is expanding their presence in New York. New products launching November 18th are:
      • Eclipse Indexed Universal Life (refresh)
      • Eclipse Protector Indexed
      • Eclipse Survivor Indexed Universal Life
      • Eclipse Survivor Pro Indexed Universal Life
  • Prudential:
    • Automation of older age underwriting requirements
  • United of Omaha:
    • Now is the time for prospecting new Guaranteed ADvantage clients
      With the likelihood of a fatal accident occurring every four minutes, make sure your clients and prospects are covered with our accidental death product.
    • New GUL rates
      New and improved Preferred and Standard rates!
    • Thumbs up for age last birthday
      The ‘age last birthday’ advantage is two-fold: it saves your client’s money on premiums, and it may result in fewer underwriting exams since the requirements are based on age. Less underwriting requirements for clients equals faster processing times for you! Age last birthday, along with the Fit Credit program, give you a competitive advantage when it comes to underwriting.
    • Go for the conversion with Term Life Answers
      Recent pricing improvements on Term Life Answers have put United of Omaha in the game, especially on preferred and standard rates. Plus, you can score extra points with the strong conversion privileges. Clients have the opportunity to convert to any permanent life product available from United of Omaha at the time, and agents can get full commission on the conversion.
ANNUITY NEWS
 
LONG TERM CARE
 
November is Long Term Care Awareness Month! Take a look at these tools from Genworth:

Resource Guide
Let’s Talk materials
Multimedia news release
Beyond Dollars 2013 Producer Report
Cost of Care
LTC Sales Center

  • The real cost of (not having) LTCI
  • How to transfer IRAs to LTC insurance
    An IRA-based annuity could help your clients boost their long-term care protection.
  • What LTCI can learn from life insurance
    It’s common to urge younger people to buy life insurance. Why not LTCI, too?
  • Genworth:
    • In-Force Rate Action implementation for AR & NV
  • John Hancock:
    • DRA Partnership “Like for Like” exchange mailings for OH & WV
      Ohio and West Virginia allow certain existing policyholders the opportunity to exchange their policies for those that qualify for Partnership status.
    • New version of Hansel Illustrator desktop software
      Version 16.1.1 expired on November 4th. An updated version with an extended expiration date of January 6, 2014 is available for download on www.jhltc.com.
    • Partnership Guideupdated
      This guide includes an easy-to-reference table of new and existing training requirements, deadlines, training resources and information on how to submit the course completion certificate.
    • Benefit Builder selling strategy with Additional Cash Benefit
      With the affordable premium provided by Benefit Builder, you have to ability to enhance the coverage you offer your clients with the Additional Cash Benefit, providing them with financial flexibility while helping to alleviate potential concerns about the time it takes to grow their benefit.
    • Brand brochureupdated
      Highlights how our powerful brand can be your most valuable selling tool. The brochure also highlights John Hancock’s commitment to the LTC industry and provides a timeline of key events over our 150 year history.
    • Leadership and Responsibility brochureupdated
      Provides helpful information on John Hancock’s commitment to the LTC market, in-depth experience, and dedication to building innovative products for the future.
  • Mutual of Omaha:
  • Transamerica:
    • Notice of product changes
      • New York
        TransCare II 2013 will be launched in New York in early December. This will bring the NY TransCare II product in line with the benefits, features and rates of TransCare II in other states. Applications and material updates will be announced as the launch date approaches. Please look for future announcements and information.
      • Arkansas and Nevada
        Agents in Arkansas and Nevada will soon be eligible for the TransCare III sales contest! These two states have become Interstate Compact states and will be launching TransCare III for individual sales in Arkansas and Nevada on November 9, 2013. You can now begin ordering TransCare III materials. This will be an immediate change. You will not be able to access TransCare II for individual sales after November 8, 2013.
      • Louisiana and Virginia
        Previously, in Louisiana and Virginia, domestic partnerships did not qualify for the Couples Discount. That is no longer the case! Domestic partners and civil union partners will now be eligible for the TransCare III 30% Couples Discount in Louisiana and Virginia beginning November 9, 2013. This change is not retroactive and is only available with TransCare III.
    • FREE DRA Continuing Education
      To help you meet your licensing requirements in 2013, Transamerica LTC will be offering FREE DRA Partnership Training during Long Term Care Awareness month. From November 1st – 30th, you can take your DRA Partnership Training free of charge through the Transamerica LTC DRA Partnership Training Website (www.TALTCDRA.com). This website makes it easy for you to track and stay compliant with the mandatory DRA Partnership training requirements in your state. Your training certificate will also be sent directly to Transamerica. As a reminder, if you choose to take your LTC CE training through another company, remember to send Transamerica a copy of your certificate to avoid a delay in updating your licensing information.
DISABILITY
 
 
AGENT CONTESTS
 
  • American General:
    • It’s Game Day (October 1, 2013 – February 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:
    • Annuity Cash is King (June 1 – November 30, 2013)
      Receive a cash bonus for Strategy Indexed Annuity (ASIA) PLUS sales.
  • Lincoln Financial:
    • Flex-Pay MoneyGuard Incentive Programs (May 1 – December 31, 2013)
      Earn an extra 20 points on paid first year target premium AND double PAP credit on all Flex-Pay MoneyGuard cases placed between May 1st and December 31st. Learn more about this and the Double Your Credit incentive.
  • Protective Life:
    • Custom Choice UL sales promotion (September 23 – November 22, 2013)
      Any agent who has never submitted a Custom Choice UL application and does so during the promotion period can receive a $50 American Express gift card.
  • SBLI:
    • iGo for an iPad Sales Contest (October 1 – December 31, 2013)
      SBLI will award an iPad to agents and case managers who meet specific criteria by using iGO eApp.
  • Transamerica:
    • Bonus Program (EXTENDED to December 31, 2013)
      Transamerica is offering this limited-time incentive bonus program on TransACE and TransACE Survivor life insurance policies.
    • 2013 Finish Strong Multi-Life Sales Contest (September 1 – December 15, 2013)
      Heat things up this fall with this special Executive Advantage Program sales contest. It focuses exclusively on Employer Pay All (EPA) sales. You will receive entries just by submitting your EPA cases through the Executive Advantage Program. You can receive entries based on cases and applications generated. There will be a new prize and winner every month and a grand prize at the end. You can win multiple times!
    • TransCare III Sales Contest (October 1 – December 20, 2013)
      Transamerica LTC would like to help your agents kick off their sales of TransCare III (TCIII) with their largest, most exciting sales contest ever! But this contest is a little different. Prize Levels do not depend on how much an individual agent sells, they depend on how much EVERY agent sells – combined!