Carrier Updates — December 21, 2010
High priority items in red!

 
Advanced Markets

AXA

Learn about Employer-Owned Life Insurance (EOLI)
The updated Materials and Applications of Rules in this field bulletin.

Executive Benefits Plan Section Wizard

The Executive Benefits Plan Section Wizard is an illustration tool which will provide a recommended executive benefit plan suitable

ING

Understanding Business Succession Chapter 4: The Consequences of the Unfinished Succession Plan - The Mark McCormack Story
You may have heard of the late Mark McCormack. In 2002 he was #209 on Forbes magazine's list of the 400 wealthiest Americans. Sports Illustrated once named him the most powerful man in sports. He was the first sports agent and built International Management Group into a billion dollar company. This new chapter in the Understanding Business Succession series tells the story of what happened when Mark McCormack failed to finalize his business succession plan. Access Understanding Business Succession Chapter 4: The Mark McCormack Story (#156610) on ING for Professionals, on the Business Planning Micro Site or click here

Start Selling ING IUL-Global: Premium Finance - Leveraged 1035 Exchange
Case study showing an ILIT with an underperforming policy using premium financing and a 1035 exchange of the old policy to an ING IUL-Global policy to provide death benefit coverage with potentially reduced collateral requirements and limited out of pocket expenses. Available electronically on ING for Professionals, the Premium Finance Resource Center, or click here.
 
The Nine Different Buy-Sell Strategies in the ING Life Companies' Buy-Sell Wizard
The new ING Life Companies' Buy-Sell Wizard helps you identify the type of arrangements that may best suit the needs of business owners. This new producer flyer gives a convenient, brief overview of the 9 different buy-sell strategies that are available on the Buy-Sell Wizard. Available electronically on ING for Professionals, the Business Planning Micro Site, or click here.

John Hancock

Grantor Trusts with Mary Ann Mancini December 14, 2010 JH Advanced Markets Radio

Attorney Mary Ann Mancini of Bryan Cave LLP and Randy Zipse, VP and Senior Counsel,  Advanced Markets Group, discussed the many facets of grantor trusts. Note: Special Offer from Randy Zipse  -- Randy Zipse, as contributing editor of National Underwriter's Tax Facts and Field Guide, is offering a 40% discount on these valuable tools for 2011.  This offer is available for a limited time only. Click on the radio link below for more information. To listen to the broadcast and to access the Tax Facts special offer, click here.          

John Hancock Central Intelligence - December 2010
In this issue:

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Wish you had all the answers?
Tax Facts has answers to over 1,500 of your most pressing tax questions. Each book will show you how the tax laws and regulations are relevant to your insurance and financial planning challenges, offer specific planning pointers, and provide you direct citations to IRS Code, rulings, and regulations. Click here for more information.

Lincoln Financial

Estate planning opportunities in a low interest rate environment

Many affluent clients have experienced a loss of net worth due to downturns in the real estate and equity markets. They may be reluctant to sell assets that have sustained losses even though they don’t need these assets for income. Read more

Estate planning kit coming January 2011!

Watch for this exciting business-building initiative in 2011!

MetLife

New Article: Has No-Lapse Universal Life Been Oversold?
Read this new article by Bob Passero, senior advanced sales consultant for the Wealth Advisory Group, which appeared in the December issue of Life Insurance Selling magazine. Click here to view it now.

Principal

Tax Legislation Update
December 15, the United States Senate voted 81-19 in favor of the agreed upon compromise tax legislation. The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives where it will be taken up under an uncertain timeframe, but a vote could come as soon as Thursday of this week. Read more

Transamerica

Debate Continues on Tax Cut Compromise
Congress continues its debate on the extension of Bush-era tax cuts. President Obama and Republican Congressional leaders have reached a preliminary deal on a bill that proposes a $5 million estate tax exemption and 35% top tax rate. Given opposition from many Democrats, it is unclear whether the bill will be signed into law as is, if at all. Stay tuned for further updates.

Marketing/Industry Updates

Allianz

Are your clients worried about paying for college?

Show them how the cash value in their life insurance can help cover the cost. As the cost of college keeps rising, your clients may be counting on grants, scholarships, student loans, or savings programs such as 529 plans to pay for an education. But there’s another option many people overlook: Your clients can use the cash value in their life insurance policy to help supplement their college savings. Read more

The cash value in life insurance can help pay for college

Our exclusive new marketing kit shows you how. As the cost of college continues to rise, your clients are likely looking for more options to help cover the cost of an education. They may be surprised to discover how life insurance can help. Read more

Life insurance renewal cap and rate history
Click here to view.

Protection for two people with a single policy

Our GenDex Survivor^® Fixed Index Universal Life Insurance Policy is life insurance that is designed to be shared. It can be an affordable, effective solution for… read more 

The GenDex Momentum^® Fixed Index Universal Life Insurance Policy training module is now a part of the Allianz Business Builder
This module will show you how GenDex Momentum can be a valuable part of your clients' financial strategy. Log in to find out more about:

The Business Builder training resource is online and available on your schedule.  Get started today with the Allianz Business Builder.

Aviva

Regulation 194 Compliance Update

New disclosure rules affecting sales of life insurance products in New York take effect January 1, 2011. Regulation 194 requires producers to disclose information about their role in an insurance sale and the type of compensation they receive.  Read more

AXA

AXA Equitable's MSO w/IL Legacy II Policies: Consistency Is Key
Your clients may be asking themselves: “Is it better to seek reasonable gains on a yearly basis or to have years with exceptional returns combined with years of losses?” Read more

Are no-lapse guarantee UL contracts always a safe option for clients?
View this flyer to see how the flexibility of Athena UL may be a better option.

ING

S&P Affirms Ratings for ING US Life Insurance Companies
Click hereto view

Get Down With the "New" ING ROP Endowment Term Series
Get down with:

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Inforce Policy Access… All Information in One Place!
Starting on December 13, 2010, you’ll be able to access all of your inforce life insurance policies with the ING Life Companies in one place through our Inforce Policy Access application. The consolidated inforce policy access system will offer several features that can make it easier for you to service your inforce policyholders. Learn more

ING Presents Software Update – December 6th

Time to Spread the Good Cheer! 
Order your ING holiday card using #157891 now. Also available to be personalized (electronically & print) on the ING Life PromoCenter. Click here to view.

Households with life insurance hits lowest level in 50 years
ING Life Companies and Butch Britton, CEO, ING U.S. Insurance, are featured in the below USA Today article about life insurance. Click here to view.

Lincoln Benefit

Lincoln Benefit Life Launches New Mobile Version of accessallstate.com
Customer Service that Fits in your Pocket -- Lincoln Benefit Life has unveiled a new resource for producers on the go a mobile-optimized version of accessallstate.com! No need to download any software; just log in to m.accessallstate.com through your mobile browser using your accessallstate.com… Read more

It's Tax Time
Just in time for tax season, Lincoln Benefit Life is providing the tools to educate and motivate your customers. Whether you need customer brochures, prospecting materials, or reference tools such as tax charts, we've got you covered. Visit accessallstate.com/tax2011 to access the listing and links to these marketing tools!

Lincoln Financial

There’s still time to hit your numbers with quick ticket sales!
Meet your 2010 sales goals with Lincoln fixed annuities, which do not require underwriting, and Lincoln MoneyGuard^® Reserve, which features a streamlined underwriting process. Read more

Thank you for a prosperous 2010!! From Laurie E. Barber (formerly Willoughby)
As the year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to thank you for the opportunity to have earned your business this year. It’s been a pleasure to provide you with sales ideas each month to help you identify new clients and determine the appropriate Lincoln products to meet your clients’ needs. We look forward to partnering with you for continued success in 2011!  Please take a moment to take this quick (5) five-question Zoomerang survey. It will assist us in the development of future Competitive Edge newsletters and webcasts that will provide you the best value for your business in 2011.Simply click here and it will take you directly to the survey.

Year End Survey
As the year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to thank you for the opportunity to have earned your business this year. It’s been a pleasure to provide you with sales ideas each month to help you identify new clients and determine the appropriate Lincoln products to meet your clients’ needs. We look forward to partnering with you for continued success in 2011! Read more

MetLife

MetLife Investments Delivering on Our Promises
The Delivering on Our Promises piece has been updated to reflect MetLife's investment portfolio for the third quarter of 2010. This client approved piece illustrates the position of MetLife's investment portfolio. Read more. 

Attention MetWINS Users
MetWINS Version 75 is targeted to be deployed on December 21st. Click here for a list of the most noticeable enhancements.

WinGawLif Illustration Training
Training on the updated version of WinGawlif is being held December 14th and December 16th at 2:00 pm EST. Click here for details.

Mutual of Omaha

Enter the Sales Illustrated Archives – and Take Your Pick of Great Life Sales Ideas
Never again will you run short of life sales ideas: We've opened the doors to our Sales Illustrated archives. Remember, with Sales Illustrated, each issue includes an explanation of the sales idea as well as a flyer to use with clients. Find the ideas your producers can use to bring in the business. We'll be adding ideas all year.

Keeping the Zing in Our Relationship
A new year with new opportunities is just around the corner and we're excited about exploring the new (and existing) ways we can help impact your producers' business. Mutual of Omaha Vice President of Life and Annuities Sales Mark Rush shares a brief message about the relationship we hope to build with you, our business partners.

Larger-than-Life Support for Large Life Cases
Experts in underwriting, advanced markets and case management — all dedicated to your producers' large life cases. Find out how to access this support, who to contact and all the related perks.

Product spotlight: Term Life Express
View Details

Recruiting postcard

A.M. Best reaffirms Mutual of Omaha's A+ rating

View Details

Change in Louisiana do not call registration

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Nationwide

How Nationwide's policy management tools can help protect a client's policy
No one likes surprises when it comes to their money. That's why we created a comprehensive list of policy management tools available with Nationwide YourLife Protection VUL, to help reduce unwanted surprises and keep the policy going according to plan. Read more

Principal

2010 Marketing Highlights
On behalf of everyone at the Principal Financial Group^® we want to thank you for your confidence, support and loyalty in 2010 as we worked to provide you with the following marketing advantages… read more

Protective Life

Important Request For Your Feedback
As we approach the year-end, we'd like to take a moment to thank you for all your efforts in helping to make 2010 a successful and rewarding year for both Protective Life and West Coast Life.  We appreciate all you do, and wish you the happiest of holidays and best wishes for a prosperous New Year. Read more

Prudential

2011 Policyholder Dividend Scales
Prudential Insurance’s Board of Directors has approved payment of approximately $1.9 billion in dividends in 2011 for participating individual life insurance policies and annuity contracts in the Closed Block.  Read more

Sun Life

Sun Life AccumULator Competitive Flyer

Click here to view

Transamerica

A New Brainshark to Grow Term Sales
Watch this new Brainshark and see how the Trendsetter term portfolio can help those in or near retirement address the challenges unique to today's environment. To learn more, click here.

Finish the Year on TOP
Help producers close out the year with higher term sales with our TOP toolkit. Qualified applicants can obtain up to $1M of coverage with no medical exam. For more information, click here.

West Coast Life

Was Booger Victorious? Find out what happened at the Showdown in Cowtown.

In case you missed it at NAILBA 29, see what happened at the Showdown in Cowtown! Click here

Product

ING

Back to the Top...with the new and improved ING ROP Endowment Term Series
The ING Life Companies are moving back to the top of the charts for return of premium term products. Effective December 11, 2010, we’re improving rates on ING ROP Endowment Term Series policies. And we’re adding a $1,000,000 band for even bigger discounts on large cases. Read more

First Year Blending using the Adjustable Term Insurance Rider (ATR) to be Discontinued
Click here for more information.

Variable Investment Options: January 24, 2011 Fund Changes
The changes will be effective January 24, 2011. Supplements to policyholders will be mailed out 12/09/10 informing them of these changes.  Click here to view.

Lincoln Benefit

New Legacy II Series is Coming Soon!
In February 2011, we will be introducing two new life insurance products, Legacy Secure II and Legacy Choice II. These new products will continue to offer your customers a total value – life insurance protection at competitive pricing that builds meaningful cash value, just like the current Legacy Series. The products will be priced very comparable to the current Legacy Series and will even have the same features. Read the bulletin for information on what will be changing, as well as the transition rules.

• Read the Countrywide bulletin
• Read the New York bulletin

MassMutual

Survivorship Whole Life and UL Guard 2
MassMutual Survivorship Whole Life versus the competition – updated with 2010 dividend scales. Mass Mutual’s Universal Life Guard 2 – recent increases to Hartford, John Hancock and Lincoln National UL products, Mass Mutual now positioned as a credible competitor in the guaranteed universal life marketplace. 

MetLife

Introducing MetLife Promise Whole Life
On January 3, 2011, MetLife will launch MetLife Promise Whole Life^SM in 46 states. This exciting new product includes a Flex Term Rider that makes whole life more affordable, while offering the important guarantees and protection you've come to count on. Increase your client base with MetLife Promise Whole Life. Click here for details.

Important Information Regarding the LTC-GPO Rider
As a reminder, after December 30, 2010, the LTC-GPO rider will no longer be available as an option on our Individual Life products. Click here for more information.

Introducing MetLife Promise Whole Life
On January 3, 2011, MetLife will launch MetLife Promise Whole Life^SM in 46 states. This exciting new product includes a Flex Term Rider that makes whole life more affordable, while offering the important guarantees and protection you've come to count on. Increase your client base with MetLife Promise Whole Life. Click here for details.

MetLife Promise Whole Life Training
On December 15th, Paul Wetmore hosted a webinar promoting the launch of MetLife Promise Whole Life^SM. Click here for recorded call information.

Protective Life

Protective Life Universal Life Portfolio Re-price
Effective January 18, 2011, Protective Life will make modest increases to the current rates on the following lapse protection guarantee and current assumption universal life insurance products.

Read more

Coming Soon – ExtendCare Rider on Centennial G II UL
Your clients may be healthy and active today — but are they prepared for when they’re not? Don’t ignore the impact a chronic illness could have on your clients’ financial future. Chronic Illness Affects Nearly One Out Of Every Two Adults1. It can be disruptive to daily activities, compromise quality of life, and cause financial strain on families. Read more

Prudential

Tuesday, January 4 at 12-1pm ET or Thursday, January 6 at 1-2 ET: Term & UL Protector 2010 Repricing Webinars
Join us to learn more about Pru’s latest product portfolio changes. This Webinar will focus on the January 2011 Term Essential/Elite and UL Protector repricings. Click here for more information.

December 2010 Product Repricings
Click here to read full message discussing December repricings.

New Money and Portfolio Rates
View December 2010 updates.

West Coast Life

West Coast Life - UL Portfolio Reprice / LifeTime Platinum III UL ExtendCare Rider Coming Soon