Friday, September 05, 2008

 

Gen-X Millionaires Give More to Charity

Generation X millionaires give nearly twice as much to charity on average compared to older generations, according to a new survey.

Gen-X Millionaires Give More to Charity
Source: Financial-Planning.com

Permalink posted by armandn @ 12:01 PM
 

Selling Policies Starts with Marketing

If you want to sell more policies as an insurance agent you must first lay the groundwork. And with that in mind, the most important thing that you can do is look into your marketing campaign. The way that you market yourself is going to determine how much success you have in the sales department. Remember, you will not have anybody to sell your policies to if your marketing plan is not living up to its potential.

Selling Policies Starts with Marketing
Source: Insurance News Net

Permalink posted by armandn @ 12:00 PM

Thursday, September 04, 2008

 

Sun Life Financial Launches New Charitable Estate Planning Program to Assist Producers and Families

The U.S. division of Sun Life Financial today launched Charitable Estate Planning, an innovative new life insurance marketing campaign to help educate advisors, producers and clients about the value and importance of charitable giving opportunities and their importance in estate planning. The campaign builds upon Sun Life’s unique Charitable Giving Benefit Rider, available with the company’s universal life insurance products, which provides an additional 1% death benefit above the base policy face amount to a designated charity for no additional cost.

Sun Life Financial Launches New Charitable Estate Planning Program to Assist Producers and Families
Source: Yahoo! Finance

Permalink posted by armandn @ 11:38 AM
 

The Hartford Issues Earnings Warning

The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. has reported falling profits amid lower investment returns for three straight quarters as the housing slump pushes down the value of fixed-income investments.

The Hartford Issues Earnings Warning
Source: Hartford Courant

Permalink posted by armandn @ 11:37 AM
 

Northwestern Mutual Reaffirms #1 Rank in U.S. Direct Life Insurance, Managing More Than 10% Market-Share

Northwestern Mutual oversees more than 10 percent of the total U.S. direct life insurance market, based on the most recent data* from A.M. Best. This reaffirms Northwestern Mutual's number one rank in U.S. individual life insurance market share, a position the financial security company has held since 2000. Significantly outpacing the industry year over year, Northwestern Mutual increased its total U.S. direct life insurance premium by 9.0% from first quarter 2007 to first quarter 2008, compared to the overall industry average of 0.9%.

Northwestern Mutual Reaffirms #1 Rank in U.S. Direct Life Insurance, Managing More Than 10% Market-Share
Source: PR Newswire

Permalink posted by armandn @ 11:35 AM
 

BB&T Insurance Services to Offer Customers MyTerm, a New Online Life Insurance Product

Prudential Financial, Inc. today announced it is partnering with BB&T Insurance Services to offer MyTermSM, an immediate issue term life insurance policy available through the Internet, to its customers. Through an online simplified underwriting process that can be accessed from virtually anywhere, MyTermSM delivers a policy in about 10 minutes to qualified customers that can then be saved electronically or printed.

BB&T Insurance Services to Offer Customers MyTerm, a New Online Life Insurance Product
Source: Yahoo! Finance

Permalink posted by armandn @ 11:34 AM

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

 

Hope for the Best. Prepare for the Worst. Is Your Life Insurance Policy Adequate?

Nearly half of U.S. employees and retirees are unsure of how they would cover expenses in the event of their death or that of a spouse. One quarter of those surveyed said they would rely on selling investments and withdrawal from personal and retirement savings to manage finances related to the death of a loved one, according to recent findings from The Principal Financial Well-Being Index, Second Quarter 2008.

Hope for the Best. Prepare for the Worst. Is Your Life Insurance Policy Adequate?
Source: MarketWatch

Permalink posted by armandn @ 7:49 AM
 

CIGNA Encourages Consumers to Do Their Life Insurance Homework This Month

Kids may be back in school this month, but they aren't the only ones who have homework to do.

"When it comes to life insurance, everyone needs to do their homework and what better time than now to review," says Jim Jacobsen, vice president of product for CIGNA Group Insurance. "This includes making sure that you have right amount of coverage and that your beneficiary information is up to date, and creating or updating your will."

CIGNA Encourages Consumers to Do Their Life Insurance Homework This Month
Source: MarketWatch

Permalink posted by armandn @ 7:48 AM
 

Sun Life Financial Sweetens Its Bonus VA

Sun Life Financial has increased the premium bonus on its Masters Extra variable annuity contract to 6% from 5%, regardless of the size of the purchase payment or the issue date of the contract.

Sun Life Financial Sweetens Its Bonus VA
Source: Financial-Planning.com

Permalink posted by armandn @ 7:48 AM
 

Is It Time to Recommend a 1035 to Your Client?

If an adviser’s clients have an insurance policy or annuity that no longer meets their needs, the advisor and clients may want to explore the idea of replacing that policy using the Section 1035 exchange.

Is It Time to Recommend a 1035 to Your Client?
Source: Insurance News Net

Permalink posted by armandn @ 7:46 AM

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

 

ConsecoLifeOptions Launched by Conseco Insurance Company as New Universal Life Product

Traditionally, banking institutions have been offering mainly interest rate business that provides business and personal loans at profitable interest rates. Although they offer a few investment products, such as CDs, there are no advisor fees attached to the purchases, unlike the fee-based investment products available from other financial firms.

ConsecoLifeOptions Launched by Conseco Insurance Company as New Universal Life Product
Source: PR Newswire

Permalink posted by armandn @ 9:44 AM
 

Cost Tops Consumers' List of Excuses for Not Getting Life Insurance

I'm busy. I can't afford it. I'll get to it tomorrow. Americans make all kinds of excuses for putting off all sorts of things that they know they should do. But when it comes to getting needed financial protection, no excuse is ever good enough. The results of a new survey released today by the nonprofit LIFE Foundation in support of Life Insurance Awareness Month show that the vast majority (93%) of Americans think it's important for most people to have life insurance, and yet nearly half of those surveyed say they don't have enough coverage."

Cost Tops Consumers' List of Excuses for Not Getting Life Insurance
Source: Sun Herald

Permalink posted by armandn @ 9:43 AM
 

Baby Boomers' Expectations High for Retirement Lifestyle

"The generation approaching retirement would not be as satisfied with their parents' lifestyle as they think their parents are," concludes a study by Mathew Greenwald & Associates Inc., a research firm that specializes in retirement issues.

Baby Boomers' Expectations High for Retirement Lifestyle
Source: Courant.com

Permalink posted by armandn @ 9:42 AM
 

What Happened to Selling Life Insurance?

Two questions rank high when it comes to the current climate in the life business: Why do life insurance sales remain flat, and why are so few people entering the sales force?

What Happened to Selling Life Insurance?
Source: A.M. Best (subscription required)

Permalink posted by armandn @ 9:41 AM
 

Bankruptcies Soar for Senior Citizens

While the bankruptcy filing rate for those under 55 has fallen, it has soared for older Americans, according to a new analysis from the Consumer Bankruptcy Project, which examined a sampling of noncommercial bankruptcies filed between 1991 and 2007.

Bankruptcies Soar for Senior Citizens
Source: USA Today

Permalink posted by armandn @ 9:40 AM

Friday, August 29, 2008

 

MassMutual Launches New Advertising Campaign, Highlighting The Importance of 'Good Decisions'

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) today announced the launch of "Good Decisions" the next evolution in the company's brand marketing campaign that supports consumers' desire to feel confident in the decisions they've made and are about to make regarding their personal finances, regardless of where they are on the spectrum of life and finances.

MassMutual Launches New Advertising Campaign, Highlighting The Importance of 'Good Decisions'
Source: PR Newswire

Permalink posted by armandn @ 10:36 AM
 

Americans Today Are Rethinking the Notion of What it Means to Be "Old" and 65 is Out

Increased longevity and life expectancy are changing Americans’ perception of what it means to be “old,” causing many to reevaluate their retirement plans. A new study, commissioned by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., gauged the perspectives of four different generations: the Silent Generation (born between 1924 and 1944), Boomers (born between 1945 and 1964), Generation X (born between 1965 and 1976) and Generation Y (born after 1976). The study uncovered a diversity of thoughts, dreams and goals surrounding how many of us have and will approach life’s third act, including interesting findings on how Americans are shifting their perspectives on what it means to be “old.”

Americans Today Are Rethinking the Notion of What it Means to Be "Old" and 65 is Out
Source: Business Wire

Permalink posted by armandn @ 10:35 AM
 

Fidelity Research on Generation X/Y Shows That Financial Intentions and Actions Are Often in Conflict

Fidelity Investments released new research on Generation X and Y, whose combined population will represent 60 percent of the U.S. workforce by 2010. The research indicates that when it comes to how both generations view and make decisions about money, they are often conflicted between their intentions and actions.

Fidelity Research on Generation X/Y Shows That Financial Intentions and Actions Are Often in Conflict
Source: Yahoo! Finance

Permalink posted by armandn @ 10:34 AM
 

AEGON Buys 50% Stake in Caixa Terassa's Life Insurance and Pension Unit

AEGON has signed a life insurance, pension and health joint venture agreement with savings bank Caixa Terrassa, further strengthening the Group's position in the Spanish market. The partnership gives AEGON access to the north-eastern region Catalonia, one of Spain's wealthiest and more dynamic areas with a population of more than seven million.

AEGON Buys 50% Stake in Caixa Terassa's Life Insurance and Pension Unit
Source: MarketWatch

Permalink posted by armandn @ 10:33 AM

Thursday, August 28, 2008

 

Life Insurance Mergers Create Management Recruiting Frenzy

Mergers and acquisitions have long dominated U.S. business headline, and life insurance company mergers have been among the most noteworthy.

Thirty years ago in America there were approximately 2,500 life insurance companies, and the number shrank to 1,500 by the late 1990s. Today approximately 800 life companies operate.

Life Insurance Mergers Create Management Recruiting Frenzy
Source: MarketWatch

Permalink posted by armandn @ 7:43 AM
 

When it Pays to Hire a Financial Professional

As I noted in a previous column, paying a financial planner an ongoing fee to handle every aspect of your financial plan can make sense if you're extremely time-pressed or if your finances are particularly complicated. Ditto if you're very rich. Paying for ongoing financial advice (and hand-holding) may also be worth it if you've had trouble sticking with your investment plan through the market's many ups and downs. The best advisors earn their keep many times over by saving investors from their own worst tendencies to buy high and sell low.

When it Pays to Hire a Financial Professional
Source: Yahoo! Finance

Permalink posted by armandn @ 7:41 AM
 

SecureLiving® Liberty SPDA Provides Competitive Rates and Flexibility

Genworth Life Insurance Company and Genworth Life Insurance Company of New York, subsidiaries of Genworth Financial, Inc. , are launching new single premium deferred annuities called SecureLiving® Liberty and SecureLiving® Liberty NY with 1, 3 or 5 year initial rate guarantee terms and “Bailout Rate” provisions. Effective August 25, 2008, SecureLiving® Liberty and Liberty NY will be available exclusively to the Broker/General Agency Channel.

SecureLiving® Liberty SPDA Provides Competitive Rates and Flexibility
Source: Insurance News Net

Permalink posted by armandn @ 7:40 AM
 

Lincoln Financial Group Named # 1 for 2007 Life Sales in LIMRA Report

Lincoln Financial Group today reported that it ranked #1 in life insurance sales for 2007 in LIMRA's latest annual life insurance sales survey.

Lincoln Financial Group Named # 1 for 2007 Life Sales in LIMRA Report
Source: PR Newswire

Permalink posted by armandn @ 7:39 AM

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

 

Pacific Select Exec IV Powers Up Life Insurance Protection with Features That Can Help Stabilize Market Volatility

Today's equities market is a roller coaster ride and even if retirement seems way off on the horizon, many people may wonder how their plans might be affected if the same circumstances coincide with their retirement. Pacific Select Exec IV,1 a new variable universal life insurance policy from Pacific Life Insurance Company, combines the power of life insurance death benefit protection with innovative features that can help address prolonged market volatility and downturns.

Pacific Select Exec IV Powers Up Life Insurance Protection with Features That Can Help Stabilize Market Volatility
Source: MarketWatch

Permalink posted by armandn @ 11:39 AM
 

Merging Mutual Funds, Annuities to Resonate with Retirees

Baby Boomers and their financial advisers are going to increasingly look for one-stop-shop solutions that combine mutual funds, annuities and systematic or laddered drawn-down schedules, Investment News reports.

Merging Mutual Funds, Annuities to Resonate with Retirees
Source: Financial Planning

Permalink posted by armandn @ 11:39 AM
 

Variable Annuities: Still a Better Deal for the Insurance Industry Than for Investors

Variable annuities have a tough row to hoe. Doomed to being measured against better alternatives, they simply can't overcome the burden of their fees or the higher tax rates investors must pay on their returns.

Variable Annuities: Still a Better Deal for the Insurance Industry Than for Investors
Source: Boston.com

Permalink posted by armandn @ 11:38 AM
 

Insurance Woes Persist

Insurance penetration has fallen to new lows in the month since Moody's Investors Service placed triple-A insurers Assured Guaranty Corp. and Financial Security Assurance Inc. on review for downgrade.

Insurance Woes Persist
Source: Financial Planning

Permalink posted by armandn @ 11:37 AM

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