Tuesday, October 31, 2006

 

US: Aviva to Market Retirement Income Program

Following the recent launch of Aviva For Life, its innovative retirement income solution aimed at the Boomer market, Aviva (Aviva Life Insurance Company) announced that it will equip its agents with leading-edge websites capable of streaming a multimedia educational presentation over the Internet. Offered at no cost to the agents, these websites will strengthen agents’ ability to objectively convey the benefits of Aviva For Life including how the strategy ladders fixed annuities to generate durable retirement income.

US: Aviva to Market Retirement Income Program
Source: TheMatureMarket.com

 

LIMRA's 2006 Annual Meeting Puts Focus On Baby Boomers' Retirement

LIMRA President and CEO Bob Kerzner today urged leaders of life insurance and financial companies to make necessary investments in consumer education, distribution, training and technology to ensure long-term growth and prosperity.

LIMRA's 2006 Annual Meeting Puts Focus On Baby Boomers' Retirement
Source: Insurance News Net

 

Bankers Life and Casualty Company and Coventry Health Care Announce Expansion of Strategic Alliance..

Bankers Life and Casualty Company and Coventry Health Care today announced the expansion of their strategic alliance under which Bankers Life will offer Coventry's Advantra Freedom Plans to its policyholders and consumers.

Bankers Life and Casualty Company and Coventry Health Care Announce Expansion of Strategic
Alliance..

Source: PR Newswire

 

Prudential Wins Network World All-Star Award

Prudential Financial, Inc. has won the Network World Enterprise All Star Award which recognizes companies for utilizing innovative network technologies to address enterprise business objectives.

Prudential Wins Network World All-Star Award
Source: Yahoo! Finance

Monday, October 30, 2006

 

Allianz Seeks Remaining Stake In Taiwan Life Insurance Joint Venture

Germany-based Allianz S.E. said it is seeking to buy the 50% stake it doesn't already own in a Taiwan life insurance joint venture from its Taiwanese partner, Uni-President Enterprises Corp.

Allianz owns 50% of Allianz President Life Insurance Co. Ltd. and said it is in substantive discussions with Uni-President to buy the rest. "We are currently in advanced talks with our joint-venture partner to acquire an additional stake in Allianz President Life," said Christoph John, a spokesman for Allianz Asia Pacific. "So far, both partners hold a stake of 50%."

Allianz Seeks Remaining Stake In Taiwan Life Insurance Joint Venture
Source: A.M. Best (subscription required)

 

Assisted Living Rates Increase Slightly in 2006 According to MetLife Market Survey

Assisted living costs in the U.S. continue to rise, though moderately, according to a new report by the MetLife Mature Market Institute.

The private pay rate for an individual at an assisted living facility, according to the 2006 MetLife Market Survey of Assisted Living Costs, averaged $2,968 per month, or $35,616 yearly. That's up 2.2% or $63 from 2005 and 17.6% from 2004.

Assisted Living Rates Increase Slightly in 2006 According to MetLife Market Survey
Source: Yahoo! Finance

 

Make Your Pot Of Gold Last For Years

Tom Rowan is five years away from retiring and struggling with the same question that arises for most Americans as they approach retirement: How much can retirees pull out of their savings each year, and still have enough to last a lifetime?

Make Your Pot Of Gold Last For Years
Source: Orlando Sentinel/Chicago Tribune

 

MassMutual Offers Free Life Insurance To Working Parents In Florida

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) is bringing the company's LifeBridge(SM) Free Life Insurance Program to the Sarasota, Florida area.

MassMutual Offers Free Life Insurance To Working Parents In Florida
Source: PR Newswire

Friday, October 27, 2006

 

Conning Research Projects Accelerating Life Industry Premium Growth, Record Operating Gains, and Continued Surplus Growth Through 2008

The life insurance industry accelerated its rapid profit growth in 2005 with statutory net operating gains of $32.8 billion in 2005, according to the latest analysis for the life-health insurance industry from Conning Research and Consulting, Inc.

"Our analysis of life insurance profitability in 2005 shows a $1.7
billion increase from the record level achieved in 2004 and there appears
to be more good news to come," said Stephan Christiansen, director of
research at Conning Research & Consulting, Inc. "We forecast continuing
statutory net gain increases for the period 2006 through 2008."

Conning Research Projects Accelerating Life Industry Premium Growth, Record Operating Gains, and Continued Surplus Growth Through 2008
Source: PR Newswire

 

Phoenix Shows Signs Of A Revival

Investors saw glimmers of hope Thursday in The Phoenix Cos. Inc., sending the stock up 8.8 percent after the company reported a 42 percent rise in net income and continued growth in life insurance sales.

Still in turnaround mode, Hartford-based Phoenix posted $37.4 million, or 32 cents a share, of third-quarter net income, compared with $26.4 million, or 26 cents a share, in the 2005 quarter.

Phoenix Shows Signs Of A Revival
Source: Hartford Courant

 

A.M. Best Co. Announces E-Fusion Award Recipients

A.M. Best Co. has named Vantis Life Insurance Co., Royal & SunAlliance Insurance Company of Canada, E-Claim.comLLC, Oceanwide Inc., Selective Insurance and Homesite Group Inc. recipients of the 2006 E-Fusion awards.

The awards, covering six categories of technology development, were presented at A.M. Best's Insurance & Technology Conference, E-Fusion, in Boston on October 24. The awards recognize innovative, business-focused uses of technology in actual use by insurers. The emphasis was on the business reasoning that gave birth to each project and results that were generated.

A.M. Best Co. Announces E-Fusion Award Recipients
Source: Insurance News Net

 

Eliot Spitzer Sues Coventry First in Probe of 'Life Settlement' Cases

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer sued a major player in the "life settlement" industry, alleging that the company engaged in a plan to defraud owners of life-insurance policies.

In a life settlement, individuals sell to investors the right to death benefits from their life-insurance policies. In exchange, the sellers get cash while they are still alive.

Eliot Spitzer Sues Coventry First in Probe of 'Life Settlement' Cases
Source: Wall Street Journal (subscription required)

 

Life Insurance Gift Offers Host of Benefits

Cars, vacation homes and diamonds can all be welcomed and well- intentioned gifts. But another, perhaps less sexy, gift - life insurance - can have a longer-lasting and more positive impact on individuals and their families.

There are many financial and estate planning benefits to gifting away life insurance policies.

Life Insurance Gift Offers Host of Benefits
Source: Insurance News Net

Thursday, October 26, 2006

 

Northwestern Mutual Unveils New Website for the Media

Northwestern Mutual has successfully launched its new media and news resources section of its website, (http://www.northwesternmutualnews.com ).

Journalists seeking background information or sources for stories can access the information easily in the new section, titled the Northwestern Mutual Newsroom, which was designed to meet their needs quickly and efficiently.

Northwestern Mutual Unveils New Website for the Media
Source: PR Newswire

 

Sun Life Financial and M Financial Extend Partnership to Include Group Products

The U.S. division of Sun Life Financial and M Financial Group ("M Financial") today announced they are extending their relationship to include Sun Life Financial's complete group product portfolio. Last February, the two organizations announced an agreement to offer Sun Life Financial's life insurance and annuity products and services to M Financial's Member Firms.

Sun Life Financial and M Financial Extend Partnership to Include Group Products
Source: Yahoo! Finance

 

Ohio Enters into $7M Settlement Agreement with Zurich

Attorney General Jim Petro and Ohio Department of Insurance Director Ann Womer Benjamin announced that they have reached a settlement with Zurich American Insurance Co., resolving allegations that the company conspired with other insurers and insurance broker Marsh & McLennan to eliminate competition, mislead customers and inflate premiums paid for commercial casualty insurance policies in Ohio, all violations of Ohio's antitrust and insurance laws.

Ohio Enters into $7M Settlement Agreement with Zurich
Source: Insurance Journal

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

 

John Hancock Annuities Launches New Versions of Popular Principal Plus For Life Optional Rider

John Hancock Annuities recently expanded its range of retirement income solutions by introducing two new versions of its popular Principal Plus For Life (PPFL) optional rider.

Principal Plus For Life, an optional benefit available with Venture Variable Annuities, provides guaranteed retirement income for life, and also offers the potential for income to increase through favorable market performance and bonus opportunities.

John Hancock Annuities Launches New Versions of Popular Principal Plus For Life Optional Rider
Source: Yahoo! Finance

 

Former CEO of Jefferson-Pilot Expects Consolidation to Continue in Life Insurance Industry

Six months after the multibillion-dollar merger of life insurers Lincoln National Corp. and Jefferson-Pilot Corp., the latter company's former chief says consolidation is likely to continue in the industry.

Former CEO of Jefferson-Pilot Expects Consolidation to Continue in Life Insurance Industry
Source: A.M. Best (subscription required)

 

New York Life Launches Web Site That Provides Information on Job Opportunities for Women

New York Life Insurance Company today announced it has launched a new career Web site for women, www.nylcareersforwomen.com, that provides easy access to information about the benefits of a career in life insurance for women at all stages of their professional development.

New York Life Launches Web Site That Provides Information on Job Opportunities for Women
Source: Insurance News Net

 

Protect Love Ones - Review Your Life Insurance

Research by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners shows that nearly two-thirds of young families believe it is "very important" for both spouses to have life insurance, but most of the time neither one does.

Protect Love Ones - Review Your Life Insurance
Source: Sun-Sentinel

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

 

Advisors Like Annuities for Rollovers

Many financial professionals like the idea of insuring the assets that clients shift out of employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Although the majority of financial advisors say they are most likely to recommend that clients put retirement account rollover assets into ordinary mutual funds, many advisors say they also help clients roll assets into fixed and variable annuities.

Advisors Like Annuities for Rollovers
Source: National Underwriter (subscription required)

 

John Hancock Introduces New Business Continuation Concept: Cross-Endorsement Buy-Sell Plans

The Advanced Markets unit of John Hancock Life Insurance Company has released a new business continuation concept -- the Cross-Endorsement Buy-Sell plan -- which combines two well-known concepts, Split Dollar and Buy-Sell planning, to provide all the benefits of a cross-purchase plan, but allows each owner to own the life insurance policy (and its cash value) on his or her life.

John Hancock Introduces New Business Continuation Concept: Cross-Endorsement Buy-Sell Plans
Source: Yahoo! Finance

 

MassMutual Offers Comprehensive Education Resources in Response to Pension Protection Act

In response to the recent Pension Protection Act (PPA) legislation, MassMutual Retirement Services has developed a comprehensive education program to help plan sponsors, financial professionals and participants understand the impact of the legislation on defined contribution and defined benefit plans and to provide tools and resources to help them address the resulting challenges and opportunities.

MassMutual Offers Comprehensive Education Resources in Response to Pension Protection Act
Source: PR Newswire

 

New Poll Shows Hispanic Americans Vulnerable in Retirement: Lack Savings, Employer Benefits

Americans for Secure Retirement (ASR) and the Latino Coalition today released a poll whose results show that America's Hispanic community faces significant challenges in preparing for a financially secure retirement because of low level of savings and limited access to employer retirement plans such as 401(k)s.

New Poll Shows Hispanic Americans Vulnerable in Retirement: Lack Savings, Employer Benefits
Source: Insurance News Net

 

The Hartford Finds Families Are Fretting About College Savings, Yet Failing To Act.

45% actually own one; firm launches "Just Ask" educational initiative to encourage college savings through 529 plans. As education costs continue to climb, many Americans are not using one of the most powerful tools available - 529 college savings plans - to whittle down the sizeable bite tuition can take out of a family's nest egg. Congress just passed the Pension Protection Act, which makes permanent certain tax advantages of 529 plans that were set to expire after 2010, but the remaining step, as noted in a new survey by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. is for families and their financial advisors to talk openly about college savings aspirations.

The Hartford Finds Families Are Fretting About College Savings, Yet Failing To Act.
Source: Insurance News Net

Monday, October 23, 2006

 

MetLife's Customer Response Center Again Recognize for World-Class Customer Service

MetLife, Inc. announced today that its Customer Response Center has, for the second straight year, earned the prestigious designation of "Certified Center of Excellence" by Purdue University's Center for Customer-Driven Quality in conjunction with BenchmarkPortal, a national benchmarking firm. Only the top ten percent of contact centers that apply for certification earn the designation, and only 25 percent of those winning centers earn certification two years in a row.

MetLife's Customer Response Center Again Recognize for World-Class Customer Service
Source: Yahoo! Finance

 

TIAA-CREF Set To Build Life Insurance Business

TIAA-CREF, already a giant in retirement savings for teachers and professors, wants to become a much bigger force in the life insurance and annuity business.

The company, which has 3,400 employees in the University area, thinks a new life insurance product can spark dramatic growth, putting TIAA-CREF among the nation's 10 largest insurers, says Bret Benham, the Charlotte-based chief executive of its life insurance company.

TIAA-CREF Set To Build Life Insurance Business
Source: Charlotte Business Journal (subscription required)

 

Arbitrators Rule for Ex-MassMutual CEO

The former chief executive of MassMutual Financial Group was wrongfully fired a year and a half ago and is entitled to financial compensation that could be worth as much as $50 million, according to an arbitration decision.

Arbitrators Rule for Ex-MassMutual CEO
Source: Insurance News Net

 

Long Term Care Could Surpass Childcare as Challenge for American Business

Long term care is starting to rival childcare as a problem affecting the business focus of American employees, according to LTC Financial Partners LLC, the nation's most experienced long term care insurance brokerage. As the American workforce ages, more employees may be called away to tend to an incapacitated adult than a needy child.

Long Term Care Could Surpass Childcare as Challenge for American Business
Source: PR Newswire

 

Hybrid Annuity/LTC Products May Be Stymied By Silos

Policies that combine annuities and long-term-care insurance won't fly unless insurers overcome the inability of their computer systems to handle hybrid products, according to an information technology expert.

Such hybrids will be permitted after 2009 by the recently passed Pension Reform Act, but insurers will have to break down their departmental silos before the products can become viable, said Stephen Kendrick, head of North American insurance operations for MajescoMastek, an Edison, N.J., IT firm.

Hybrid Annuity/LTC Products May Be Stymied By Silos
Source: Investment News (subscription required)

Friday, October 20, 2006

 

What's Your R-Score?

In response to the growing need for a different kind of retirement preparedness resource, Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. today announced the launch of RetirAbility Check(SM). RetirAbility Check(SM), available at http://www.nationwide.com, is a free, innovative and customized financial resource that enables users to generate a single number -- their R-Score(SM), similar to a credit score -- that measures their retirement readiness.

What's Your R-Score?
Source: PR Newswire

 

TopRatedTerm.com Launches Instant Quote Portal for Term Life Insurance

TopRatedTerm.com, a new web portal which provides free price quotes on term life insurance from America’s leading insurance providers, has been officially launched. Visitors to www.TopRatedTerm.com may receive instant, real-time term life insurance quotes via an easy three-step process that takes approximately one minute.

TopRatedTerm.com Launches Instant Quote Portal for Term Life Insurance
Source: eMediaWire

 

Variable Annuities Boost Jackson National Sales

Rising sales of variable annuities helped sales at Jackson National Life Insurance Co. to nearly $8.3 billion through the first nine months of the year, the Okemos area company said Thursday.

Total sales were up 14.5 percent from more than $7.2 billion during the first nine months of 2005, the company said.

Variable Annuities Boost Jackson National Sales
Source: LSJ.com

 

African-American Community Leaders Address Retirement Income Needs Of Minorities

The National Caucus and Center on Black Aged (NCBA) has joined forces with Americans for Secure Retirement in an effort to promote policies to help all Americans maintain a steady income in retirement, especially at-risk groups such as minorities. The NCBA will become the coalition's 38th member in its mission to provide Americans with retirement planning options that guarantee a steady paycheck for life.

African-American Community Leaders Address Retirement Income Needs Of Minorities
Source: PR Newswire

Thursday, October 19, 2006

 

Variable Annuities Can Offer a Range of Options

Many investing pundits criticize variable annuities as the ugly ducklings of the investing world.

Critics often claim that the tax benefits may not be to your advantage, and that fees are expensive. However, for long-term investors who have taken advantage of their employer-sponsored retirement plans and are planning for retirement income, variable annuities remain a viable option.

Variable Annuities Can Offer a Range of Options
Source: MLive.com

 

MIB Life Index Reports North American Life Insurance Activity

North American application activity for individually underwritten life insurance declined modestly in September, down -0.9% year-over-year according to the MIB Life Index(SM). Third quarter application activity lagged that of Q3 2005 by -3.8%. Year-to-date (YTD), U.S. and Canadian application activity is off -3.1%, compared to the same nine months in 2005.

MIB Life Index Reports North American Life Insurance Activity
Source: PR Newswire

 

Nationwide Financial Network Launches Recruiting Initiative

As part of a plan to build its ever-expanding retail distribution network, Nationwide Financial Network(SM) (NFN) today launched a recruiting campaign to increase its staff of financial services professionals during the next 12 to 15 months. NFN is an affiliated retail distribution business of Nationwide Financial Services, Inc.

Nationwide Financial Network Launches Recruiting Initiative
Source: PR Newswire

 

ING's New Bank Survey Identifies Ideal Attributes of Annuity Providers

Nearly half of U.S. banks that offer annuity products to clients are planning to 'right size' the number of annuity providers they actively sell, and 'financial strength' of the annuity providers is the most important criteria for determining which are retained or added in the banks offerings, according to a new Kehrer-LIMRA survey commissioned by ING. The survey confirms that annuity providers like ING, which is ranked number 13 in the recently published Forbes 2000, should be top-of-mind as a high-potential annuity provider for large and regional U.S. banks.

ING's New Bank Survey Identifies Ideal Attributes of Annuity Providers
Source: Insurance News Net

 

AmerUs Group Holders Approve Acquisition

Life insurance company AmerUs Group Co. said Thursday that its shareholders approved its $2.9 billion acquisition by Aviva PLC, Britain's largest insurance company.

London-based Aviva will pay $69 in cash per AmerUs share, a 10 percent premium to the closing price of July 6 -- the day before Aviva confirmed they were in talks.

AmerUs Group Holders Approve Acquisition
Source: Yahoo! Finance

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

 

Lincoln Long Life Survey Shows That Many Affluent Baby Boomers Elevate Themselves To Superhero Status When It Comes To Retirement Planning

Can too much confidence ever be a bad thing? According to the third annual Lincoln Long Life(SM) Survey released today by the Lincoln Retirement(SM) Institute, the majority of affluent baby boomers (60 percent) equate themselves with superheroes when it comes to their retirement planning abilities. Superman Returns might not have been the biggest box office draw this past summer, but 33 percent of affluent baby boomers say the movie best describes their retirement skills, indicating they are in great shape for retirement. Additionally, 27 percent of affluent boomers said they relate the most to X-Men: The Last Stand, relying on a team of experts to help them plan for their golden years. Far fewer boomers cast themselves in a retirement scenario that is a treasure hunt like Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (12 percent), a mystery such as The Da Vinci Code (9 percent), or an unfeasible task a la Mission Impossible III (5 percent).

Lincoln Long Life Survey Shows That Many Affluent Baby Boomers Elevate Themselves To Superhero Status When It Comes To Retirement Planning
Source: Yahoo! Finance

 

Older Americans Increasingly Being Targeted By Speculators Benefitting From Life Insurance Purchases

Indiana University issued the following news release: Eight years ago Joseph Belth learned of an amazing offer. A certified public accountant in Florida wrote to a 79-year-old widow in Pennsylvania and asked her to take out a life insurance policy with a $1 million death benefit. She would sell the policy immediately to investors, who in exchange would pay her $50,000 in cash. No money would ever come out of her pocket because all premiums would be paid by the investors.

Older Americans Increasingly Being Targeted By Speculators Benefitting From Life Insurance Purchases
Source: Insurance News Net

 

Phoenix Named to Working Mother Magazine's Hall of Fame of "100 Best Companies"

The Phoenix Companies, Inc. was named today to the Hall of Fame for Working Mother magazine’ s 100 Best Companies. Phoenix received this honor as a result of being named a top 100 company for 15 years and displaying a commitment to providing innovative work/life benefits and programs.

Phoenix Named to Working Mother Magazine's Hall of Fame of "100 Best Companies"
Source: Business Wire

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

 

Sun Life Takeover Rumors Boost Unum Shares

UnumProvident Corp. shares rose almost 10 percent Friday on speculation the Chattanooga-based disability insurer may be acquired.

The company's stock soared more than 13 percent at one time during the day. But after a retreat shares closed up 9.3 percent Friday at $21.72, up $1.84, on heavy trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Sun Life Takeover Rumors Boost Unum Shares
Source: Insurance News Net

 

The Bank of New York Company, Inc's Pershing Unit Adds Lincoln Financial Group's Annuities to Subscribe(R) Annuity Platform.

Pershing LLC, a subsidiary of The Bank of New York Company, Inc., has begun providing its introducing broker-dealer customers with access to Lincoln Financial Group's annuity products. The products will be accessible through Subscribe(R), Pershing's annuity platform.

Lincoln Financial Group's annuities can be viewed on Pershing's
NetExchange Pro(R) online brokerage platform and on monthly statements,
allowing investment professionals to efficiently service and maintain
annuity contracts.

The Bank of New York Company, Inc's Pershing Unit Adds Lincoln Financial Group's Annuities to Subscribe(R) Annuity Platform.
Source: PR Newswire

 

Planning For Long-Term Care

The generation that grew up listening to The Beatles sing "Will you still need me, will you still feed me..." is now closing in on 64. If retirement is to be the most glorious of ages, it's imperative to plan ahead.

Baby boomers will be generally healthier than previous generations of retirees. But it's beyond dispute that the older people get, the more care they need. Today's retiring Americans will likely outlive their finances, according to the American Assn. of Retired Persons (AARP) and the National Assn. of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Those who don't prepare may find that living well into their 80s or 90s may not be such a great experience.

Planning For Long-Term Care
Source: BusinessWeek

Monday, October 16, 2006

 

Women See the Reality of Retirement Years Spent Alone

Women clearly have gotten the message that they are likely to spend at least some of their retirement years alone because of divorce or the high probability of outliving their husbands. The U.S. Department of Labor has estimated that nearly 90 percent of women will end up managing their finances alone. Unfortunately, this realization has not translated into concrete steps—including frank financial discussions with their husbands or partners, according to the sixth annual Allstate “Retirement Reality Check” survey.

Women See the Reality of Retirement Years Spent Alone
Source: Business Wire

 

One-Size-Fits-All Idea Doesn't Fit Retirement

The conventional wisdom that you can have a comfortable retirement with 75 percent to 85 percent of your pre-retirement income has been exposed for what it is.

It is an overgeneralization that may work for some, but can leave other retirees woefully short of cash, if not broke, in old age.

One-Size-Fits-All Idea Doesn't Fit Retirement
Source: Hartford Courant

 

What Does the Future Hold for Insurance Agents' E&O?

David Duncan of David C. Duncan Insurance Services in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., is worried about whether and how much the cost of his agency errors and omissions insurance might go up next year. Duncan started his agency in July 2006 after having worked professionally in the insurance business for 12 years, and was a partner in another agency before splitting off to create his own business. Duncan, who now pays around $2,500 a year in premium for an excess and surplus policy for his small agency, says "next to the cost of my agency management system, my E&O was probably my first or second highest start up cost."

What Does the Future Hold for Insurance Agents' E&O?
Source: Insurance Journal

 

LifeSecure Introduces Innovative, New to Market Long Term Care Insurance Coverage

LifeSecure Insurance has introduced an innovative new generation of long term care insurance which enables consumers to better understand and access this type of coverage. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, has developed long term care coverage that emphasizes simplicity and addresses affordability concerns. The insurance coverage will be initially available throughout Michigan. LifeSecure will expand into other states by late 2007.

LifeSecure Introduces Innovative, New to Market Long Term
Source: PR Newswire

Friday, October 13, 2006

 

New Baby Boomer "Retirementality" Creates New Opportunities for Annuities

Recent reports from Mintel indicate that there are both challenges and opportunities remaining for the annuities industry. Less than half (48 percent) of all respondents to a Mintel consumer survey conducted this year were familiar with annuities, and only 46 percent of those were 65 and over. Of the respondents who were familiar with annuities, more than 60 percent expressed concern with being "locked in"-- a significantly higher number than those who cited fees and expenses as a major issue (32 percent).

New Baby Boomer "Retirementality" Creates New Opportunities for Annuities
Source: Insurance News Net

 

Will The 'For Life' Concept In Annuities Last?

The concept of offering annuities “for life” is getting a lot of buzz right now. But is the for life concept really for life? That is, is the use of annuities for lifetime income planning purposes here to stay?

Will The 'For Life' Concept In Annuities Last?
Source: National Underwriter (subscription required)

 

LifetimePay, A Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit Rider From Amerus Life

MultiChoice Marketing Group, a national leader in annuity product development and marketing, has unveiled LifetimePay(SM), a benefit available on its popular MultiChoice Annuity Income Series that guarantees clients lifelong income without limiting access to principal. LifetimePay(SM), designed in partnership with AmerUs Life, a subsidiary of AmerUs Group Co., was built for customers planning their retirement who seek the guarantees and benefits offered by fixed indexed annuities and guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit riders.

LifetimePay, A Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit Rider From Amerus Life
Source: Insurance News Net

 

New York Life Introduces New Life Insurance Product With Instant Legacy Feature

New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation today announced the introduction of NYLIAC Instant Legacy, a single premium universal life insurance policy which gives customers the flexibility to easily convert and transfer their “rainy day” assets, from various savings, money market accounts and Certificates of Deposit, into a life insurance policy that leverages these funds in the form of a death benefit easily passed on to their heirs.

New York Life Introduces New Life Insurance Product With Instant Legacy Feature
Source: Business Wire

Thursday, October 12, 2006

 

More People Now Protecting Assets With Long-Term Care Insurance

With people living longer today, the continually rising cost of health care and the rate of inflation, long-term care is quickly becoming a national concern.

"Failure to understand the options that are available can place undue financial, physical and emotional burden on individuals and their families," said René McKee, vice president of marketing for California Coast Credit Union, explaining how long-term care insurance is one financial product that is receiving more and more attention these days.

More People Now Protecting Assets With Long-Term Care Insurance
Source: San Diego Source

 

Insure.com, Inc. Names As A 'Best Site' For Life Insurance Quotes By Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine

Insure.com, Inc. today announced that it has been named as a "best site" for life insurance quotes by Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine in its November 2006 issue, which contains a first-ever special report entitled "The Best List."

Insure.com, Inc. Names As A 'Best Site' For Life Insurance Quotes By Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine
Source: PR Newswire

 

Securian Continues Growth With Seven New Annuity Wholesalers

Four months after joining Securian Financial Group as national annuity sales vice president and head of Minnesota Life Distributors (MLD), Hal Harris has made several changes to drive growth of the business line.

Since June 1, compensation plans for internal and external wholesalers have been changed, territories redrawn, and several seasoned wholesalers have joined the MLD staff.

Securian Continues Growth With Seven New Annuity Wholesalers
Source: PR Newswire

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

 

With Life Insurance Rates At An All-Time Low, Now Is The Time To Purchase Life Insurance

With term life insurance policy premiums continuing to drop, there has never been a better time to consider purchasing life insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

A study by Dr. Steven Weisbart, an economist specializing in life insurance and annuities for the I.I.I., predicts that life insurance premiums will decline by 4 percent in 2007, making them lower than they were over a decade ago.

With Life Insurance Rates At An All-Time Low, Now Is The Time To Purchase Life Insurance
Source: PR Newswire

 

ING Settles Two Probes

As many as 66,000 teachers in New York state and about 5,000 state workers in New Hampshire will get an average of $450 apiece from a settlement with investment company ING, which paid fees to unions to steer business its way.

ING Settles Two Probes
Source: Hartford Courant

 

Bolstering U.S. Retirement Security Through Annuities

A looming problem facing over 70 million aging Baby Boomers -- how to manage their savings during retirement and not outlive their assets -- could be addressed by offering tax incentives to annuitize savings held in 401ks, IRAs and other sources of retirement income.

Increased use of annuities by retirees can also boost U.S. GDP levels, employment and the S&P 500. (Annuities are financial products that provide insurance against outliving one's financial assets by allowing a lump sum of wealth to be converted into a stream of future payments that typically continues as long as someone is living.)

Bolstering U.S. Retirement Security Through Annuities
Source: Insurance News Net

 

Pacific Life Forms Retirement Resource Group

Pacific Life Insurance Company’s Annuities & Mutual Funds Division today announced the formation of its Retirement Resource GroupSM (RRG) which assists financial professionals with advanced financial planning techniques for the estimated 77 million American baby boomers nearing retirement.

Pacific Life Forms Retirement Resource Group
Source: Business Wire

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

 

Nationwide Financial Continues Educational Offerings With Advanced Income Planning Strategies Meetings

Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. is continuing its income planning educational push for independent broker-dealers with more than 40 Advanced Income Planning Strategies meetings that will take place throughout the country between Oct. 3 and Nov. 15.

Nationwide Financial Continues Educational Offerings With Advanced Income Planning Strategies Meetings
Source: Yahoo! Finance

 

American General Life Launches Index Annuity With Five-Year, Seven-Year and Nine- Year Terms

American General Life Insurance Company (American General Life), a member company of American International Group, Inc. (AIG), today introduced VisionAdvantage Annuity, an index single-premium deferred annuity that combines duration flexibility with potential for market growth.

“Financial needs change,” said Michael Harrison, Vice President of Annuity Sales and Marketing, AIG American General. “That’s why VisionAdvantage offers a choice of three duration options – five-, seven- and nine-year terms – to give clients the opportunity to benefit from potential market growth and the freedom to re-evaluate their financial situations in the not-too-distant future.”

American General Life Launches Index Annuity With Five-Year, Seven-Year and Nine- Year Terms
Source: Business Wire

 

Don't Take Annuities Lightly

Annuities come in many styles, but they share a common trait: The mere mention of them brings worried frowns to financial planners. That's because many of these investment-cum-insurance products come with steep fees and confusing restrictions, detailed in contracts that are inches thick and difficult to understand.

Don't take Annuities Lightly
Source: Insurance News Net

 

Bad News, Good News: Millions Need Life Insurance; It's Getting Cheaper

The next time your party guests linger past your bedtime, ask them how they feel about life insurance. Watch that they don't trip over your cat as they sprint to the door.

Nobody wants to talk about life insurance. But if you have young children or others who depend on you, you should have it.

Bad News, Good News: Millions Need Life Insurance; It's Getting Cheaper
Source: USA Today

Thursday, October 05, 2006

 

Special-Needs Children Require Special Financial Plans For The Future

Experts agree: Parents with special-needs children need to take care when planning for their child’s financial future.

“Financial planners need to get families in touch with trust and estate attorneys or an attorney who specifically deals with special-needs children,” said certified financial planner Thomas Campi, a principal with Bay Wealth Retirement and Family Advisory in Easton. “It really involves coordination between financial advisers and planners, a very specialized attorney and the family to understand what resources are available.”

Special-Needs Children Require Special Financial Plans For The Future
Source: Examiner

 

Annuities Angle For Shelf Space In 401(k) Plans

Sensing a new interest in guaranteed income products on the part of Baby Boomers, retirement plan sponsors and even members of Congress, a few insurers are now promoting annuities as investment options in 401(k) plans.

Three issuers-MetLife, Genworth Financial and The Hartford have begun shopping deferred income annuities to defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors this year, as well as to companies about to freeze or terminate defined benefit (DB) plans. Prudential Retirement expects to introduce a similar product later this year.


Annuities Angle For Shelf Space In 401(k) Plans
Source: Insurance News Net

 

Fort Dearborn Life Merges With Member Service Life

Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, has successfully completed its merge with Oklahoma-based Member Service Life Insurance Company, also a subsidiary of HCSC.

Member Service Life voluntary worksite products, including worksite
life, short-term and long-term disability and accident insurance, will now
be marketed in Oklahoma and Texas. These products will be offered in
addition to the existing Fort Dearborn Life group benefits portfolio.

Fort Dearborn Life Merges With Member Service Life
Source: PR Newswire

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

 

Avian Flu: The Effect Of A Pandemic On Health And Life Insurers

Worldwide epidemics (termed 'pandemics') of the respiratory disease known as influenza or 'flu' occur on a regular basis, generally two to three times per century. The last three flu pandemics occurred in 1918, 1957 and 1968. The mortality toll from such a pandemic depends on whether the particular strain of flu involved is relatively mild (as in the 1957-58 pandemic) or virulent (as in the 1918 pandemic, which is estimated to have taken between 40-50 million lives worldwide).

Avian Flu: The Effect Of A Pandemic On Health And Life Insurers
Source: Insurance News Net

 

Fidelity Offers Way To Stretch Retirement Income

Fidelity Investments is offering employers a way to help workers stretch their savings by locking in a steady income stream as more Americans risk running out of money during retirement, the company said on Tuesday.

The world's biggest mutual fund company, which manages more than $1.3 trillion in assets and has $2.7 trillion in assets under custody, now lets investors in a company's 401(k) plan convert part of their money into an annuity that pays out a portion over time when they are ready to retire.

Fidelity Offers Way To Stretch Retirement Income
Source: Reuters

 

How to Make Sure Your Money Lasts as Long as You Do

Wall Street has a message for investors: Maybe you'll live.

For years, mutual-fund companies have pounded away at the need to save for retirement, while life and health insurers have stressed the risk of ill health, disability and an early death. But with the baby boomers rapidly approaching retirement, Wall Street's tune is changing.

How to Make Sure Your Money Lasts as Long as You Do
Source: Wall Street Journal (subscription required)

 

Most Banking and Insurance Executives to Spend More for Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Compliance, KPMG Study Finds

Banking and insurance executives overwhelmingly plan to spend more, especially on staff, to help strengthen their anti-money laundering (AML) and terrorist financing compliance programs, according to new research by the audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG LLP. Competition for experienced professionals, however, seems to be at an all-time high.

Most Banking and Insurance Executives to Spend More for Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Compliance, KPMG Study Finds
Source: PR Newswire

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

 

Average Policy In Force and Lapse Ratio Show Continued Improvement Since 2001

The life insurance industry's average policy in force continued its upward trend in 2005. The face amount of the average policy issued in 2005 continued an increasing trend seen since 2001. A focus on higher face amount cases has helped spur the increase.

Average Policy In Force and Lapse Ratio Show Continued Improvement Since 2001
Source: A.M. Best (subscription required)

 

Manulife Investment Introduces New Product Category With First-Ever Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit Product In Canada

Manulife Investments is launching a first-of-its-kind financial product into the Canadian marketplace. IncomePlus is Canada's first offering in the Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (GMWB) category designed to help baby boomers navigate the "retirement risk zone," a period of extreme portfolio risk identified in a new research study commissioned by Manulife Investments.

Manulife Investment Introduces New Product Category With First-Ever Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit Product In Canada
Source: Yahoo! Finance

 

Lincoln Employer Markets Launches Lincoln American Legacy Retirement Product

Lincoln Financial Group's Employer Markets Division announces the launch of Lincoln American Legacy Retirement(SM), a multi-manager group variable annuity that features 20 investment options managed by American Funds. Lincoln Employer Markets, comprising Lincoln Financial Group's Defined Contribution, Executive Benefits, and Group Protection businesses, is a newly formed division strategically created to provide employers and employees with integrated solutions for all non-healthcare-related benefits.

Lincoln Employer Markets Launches Lincoln American Legacy Retirement Product
Source: PR Newswire

 

John Hancock Life Insurance Company Introduces Ground-Breaking Long Term Care (LTCI) Policy With Industry-First Benefits

John Hancock Life Insurance company today introduced a new LTCI policy with industry-first benefits geared to the needs and budgets of Baby Boomers. Called Leading Edge, the product offers new features that significantly reduce both the expense and complexity of buying LTCI.

"When people have many competing financial priorities, they need long term care insurance protection that fits their personal needs and budget, and Leading Edge does that without sacrificing coverage," said Laura Moore, senior vice president, John Hancock Long Term Care Insurance. "As a matter of fact, we've added benefits that expand coverage, reduce costs, and simplify the buying process for consumers."

John Hancock Life Insurance Company Introduces Ground-Breaking Long Term Care (LTCI) Policy With Industry-First Benefits
Source: Yahoo! Finance

Monday, October 02, 2006

 

John Hancock Launches New Current Assumption SUL Insurance Policy

John Hancock has launched its latest survivorship universal life insurance product, a current assumption policy called Performance SUL.(1)

This versatile product is designed for clients seeking low-cost death
benefit protection, while also offering significant cash value accumulation
potential. The new Performance SUL also offers competitive lifetime
level-pay, 10-pay and single-pay premium solves.

John Hancock Launches New Current Assumption SUL Insurance Policy
Source: PR Newswire

 

Many Confounded By Insurance Maze

It's time for open enrollment. That means millions of workers will be evaluating their health, life and disability insurance options as part of their employee benefits package.

Trying to decide what coverage to get for yourself or your family can be a trying experience. According to a survey conducted by Aetna and the Financial Planning Association, nearly two-thirds of women are responsible for family health care decisions and 35 percent of them do not know basic information about health benefits; more than half (54 percent) say they have some difficulty choosing a health plan.

Many Confounded By Insurance Maze
Source: Hartford Courant

 

Prudential's New Underwriting Standards Offer Significant Savings for Applicants With Coronary Artery Disease

In response to medical advances, Prudential Financial Inc. announced today new individual life insurance underwriting guidelines that may offer significant reductions in premiums for applicants who have coronary artery disease (CAD). More specifically, these changes mean more competitive pricing for individuals who have recovered, stabilized, and engage in a lifestyle conducive to good cardiac health. In fact, some "best case" CAD applicants who may have received impaired risk ratings previously may now qualify for standard ratings

Prudential's New Underwriting Standards Offer Significant Savings for Applicants With Coronary Artery Disease

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