First Protective

AIG has announced that they have been monitoring the low interest rate environment and it has become necessary to adjust certain components of the Power Series of Index Annuities.  Effective October 10, 2016, AIG will implement the following:

Power Select Series

1. Removal of Premium Enhancement

2. New Premium Breakpoint Structure

3. Simplifying with closure of Monthly Index Interest Crediting Strategies

4. Adjustment of the Maximum Annual Withdrawal Rate Changes for the Lifetime Income Plus and Lifetime Income Plus Multiplier

Click here for more information.

Power Protector Series

1. Removal of Premium Enhancement

2. New Premium Breakpoint Structure

3. Simplifying with closure of Monthly Index Interest Crediting Strategies

4. Reduce the Income Credit (roll-up) on the Lifetime Income Plus living benefit

5. Adjustment of the Maximum Annual Withdrawal Rate Changes for the Lifetime Income Plus

Click here for more information.
TRANSITION RULES:

In general, applications must be signed by October 9, 2016. AIG will allow a 60-day funding period for transfer business. In order for contracts to be issued with the existing product parameters, the following rules apply:

· Cash with Application: Applications must be signed no later than Sunday, 10/9/16. The applications and initial premium must be received in good order by the AGL Annuity Service Center by Monday, 10/17/16 for the contract to be issued with the existing product parameters.

· 1035 or Transfer Business: Both the application and transfer paperwork must be signed no later than Sunday, 10/9/16 and must be received in good order by the AGL Annuity Service Center no later than Monday, 10/17/16. The initial premium must be received no later than Friday, 12/9/16 for the contract to be issued with the existing product parameters.

Effective October 1st, Mutual of Omaha is increasing premiums on their GUL and GUL Plus and have also improved the GRO rider.
Click here for details and more information.

Lincoln announces premium increases of 8-12% on their LifeGuarantee UL and offers additional info on their recent term conversion changes.

Click here for complete details.

The new rates will be as follows:

Annuity Care

LTC fund: 1.25%

Cash fund: 1.05%

Important: These new rates will be reflected on software version 6.33 (9-15-16), which can be downloaded beginning Sept. 15 from OSO. Current new business rates may be preserved based on the method of funding:

•Cash Transactions: One America must receive a completed application with full premium in the Home Office by the end of business on Thursday, Sept. 15, to preserve current interest rates.
•Transfer/1035 Transactions: One America must receive a completed application with completed transfer or 1035 paperwork no later than Thursday, Sept. 15. All pending transfers to 1035s must be fully funded by Tuesday, Nov. 15, to preserve current interest rates.

Indexed Annuity Care

Point-to-point Cap: 2%

Point-to-point Par: 12%

Monthly average Cap: 2 %

Monthly average Par: 20%

Fixed account: 1%

Important Upcoming Changes for North American products for October 8, 2016

Cap & Participation Rates for Indexed Universal Life Policies

There will be changes to the Cap and Participation Rates as well as Maximum Illustrated Rates for Currently Marketed Products: Builder IUL® 7, Rapid Builder IUL® 3, Guarantee Builder IUL® 3, Survivorship GIUL and Non-Marketed Products: Builder IUL®1-6, Rapid Builder IUL® 1-2, and Guarantee Builder IUL® 1-2.
Read more about these changes in field bulletin NAB-497.

Interest Crediting Rate Changes

North American is reducing fixed interest rates on inforce block of business as well as on new sales.
Read more about these changes in field bulletin NAB-498.

Changes to Custom Guarantee® UL and Guarantee Builder IUL®

The Custom Guarantee UL and Guarantee Builder IUL products will reflect higher premiums to guarantee the death benefit to maturity. The magnitude of the change will depend on a number of factors including the issue age, underwriting class, face amount, and funding pattern.
Read more about these changes in field bulletin NAB-499.

Important Dates to Remember
•September 27, 2016: ◦An updated version of the NACIS illustration software will be available for download. This version will contain the new cap, par and interest rates as well as both versions of the Custom Guarantee UL and Guarantee Builder IUL.

• October 7, 2016: ◦The money must be received and applied to the policy by this date in order to receive the higher cap or par rate.
◦Applications signed on or before this date AND received by the Administrative Office on or before October 21, 2016 will receive the current Custom Guarantee UL and Guarantee Builder IUL rates.

•October 8, 2016: ◦The changes outlined in bulletins NAB-497, NAB-498 and NAB-499 will be effective.
◦All policies listed in bulletin NAB-498 with a policy date October 8, 2016 will be credited with the new fixed interest rates.

• October 11, 2016: ◦Software will be updated to remove the old guarantee rates for Custom Guarantee UL and Guarantee Builder IUL.

•October 21, 2016: ◦Applications signed on or before October 7, need to be received by the Administrative Office on or before this date to receive the current Custom Guarantee UL or Guarantee Builder IUL product.

Prudential has made some improvements to their Founders Plus UL (UL/IUL hybrid) including a Designated Transfer Account and a Benefit Payout Options.
Click here for more details.

Protective Life announced increases to certain underwriting limits that could make it easier for you to place your larger cases.

-Retention limit increases from $2 million to $5 million for most ages and policies
-First-year premium increases from $1 million to $2 million for all policies
-Autobind limit increases from $40 million to $50 million for most ages and policies
-Jumbo limit increases from $50 million to $65 million for most ages and policies

Click here for more details.

Effective August 29, 2016, initial level benefit periods of 15, 20, 25 and 30 years will see a 1.5% premium decrease for Select Preferred, Preferred and Non-Tobacco rate classes. This change allows you to offer even greater value to clients at many face amounts and level death benefit periods.

The following transition rules will apply for paper applications and electronic submissions:

> The new Protective Custom Choice UL (10-30) rates will be available on August 29, 2016, for quoting, submitting applications and issuing policies in all states that are currently approved for the product.

> All applicable Protective Custom Choice UL applications already in underwriting will receive the new, lower rate, when applicable, if the policy is issued on or after August 29, 2016.

> All applicable Protective Custom Choice UL applications received on or after August 29, 2016 will be processed with the new rates.

Click here for complete details.

Prudential is increasing premiums on their UL Protector effective 9/26/2016 and SUL Protector effective 10/10/2016.
Click here for more information.

Commissions are reducing on the following fixed index annuities and multi-year guarantee annuity (MYGA):
•NAC BenefitSolutions® (14-year only)
•North American Charter® Plus (14-year only)
•NAC RetireChoice® (10- and 14-year)
•HI and PA Only: North American Charter®, North American Precision Series® (14-year only)
•North American Guarantee ChoiceSM (MYGA, 5-year only)

See your updated commission schedule for details and review the state availability chart for products in your state.

Period certain terms less than 10 years on the North American Income® single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) will temporarily be unavailable. Click here for updated election form.

Effective August 29, 2016, the current loan interest rate for Protective Indexed Choice UL will decrease from 5% to 4.79%. For both new and existing loans, this new rate will go into effect as of the next policy anniversary following the loan interest rate change effective date.

With a maximum illustrated rate of 5.79%, this new loan interest rate of 4.79% means Protective Indexed Choice UL illustrations now produce a maximum policy loan leverage of 1.00%.

Click here for full details.

Lincoln is increasing premiums on their LifeGuarantee UL effective September 12th.

They are also changing the COI’s on some Legend Series Universal Life policies issued by Jefferson Pilot (now The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company) between the years 1999 and 2007, effective October 9th.

Click here for details and transition guidelines.

One America has updated guidelines for producers. One America has made some important changes to how new business is processed to ensure they are in compliance with NAIC regulations. These changes will be effective on applications submitted September 1, 2016 and after.

The first important change is starting September 1, New Business cannot request funds from another company until One America can perform a suitability review. This means New Business must have a completed Consumer Suitability Questionnaire on file for applications where it’s required (see Producers Guide page 7, part B). This is to protect OneAmerica from receiving funds from another company in an unsuitable situation.

The second important change is starting September 1, all required NAIC Annuity training (product specific and state specific) must be completed prior to New Business requesting funds. These training requirements are state specific – whichever states have adopted the NAIC Annuity regulation. As a reminder, a new application and Consumer Suitability Questionnaire must be completed and submitted to New Business prior to issue.

Click here for an Annuity Suitability producer guide.

Click here for NAIC Annuity Suitability Training Standards.

Call our Asset Team for more information at (800)876-3950.

Fixed index annuity (FIA) product changes effective Wednesday, September 7, 2016:

These product changes will require use of new Statements of Understanding and consumer brochures. On August 30, you will be able to select between two versions of forms and materials based on when the application will be submitted.

Allianz 222® Annuity
Protected Income Value bonus will be changing from 20% to 15%.
All commission options will be reduced to 95% of the current rate. For example, if the current rate is 6.50%, it will be reduced to 6.175%.

Allianz 360SM Annuity and 360 Benefit rider
Income options 1 and 2 base withdrawal percentages are decreasing by 0.40% for single life and joint life.
All commission options will be reduced to 95% of the current rate. For example, if the current rate is 6.50%, it will be reduced to 6.175%.

Allianz 365i® Annuity and Income Maximizer Rider
Income Maximizer Rider income options 1 and 2 base withdrawal percentages are decreasing by 0.50% for single life and joint life. As always, option 3 base withdrawal percentages can change monthly until time of election.
All commission options will be reduced to 95% of the current rate. For example, if the current rate is 6.50%, it will be reduced to 6.175%.

Core Income 7® Annuity and Core Income Benefit rider
Income options 1 and 2 base withdrawal percentages are decreasing by 0.40% for single life and joint life.

Suspension of Signature 7 effective September 7, 2016
Due to a low volume of sales, the Signature 7® Annuity will be suspended effective September 7, 2016.

FIA commission changes to newly issued business with an effective date of Tuesday, September 27, 2016.

In light of the persistently low interest rate environment and to ensure sustainability now and in the future, Allianz will be making the following changes to commission on newly issued business with an effective date of Tuesday, September 27, 2016:

MasterDex X® Annuity
All commission options will be reduced to 95% of the current rate.
Allianz Endurance® Plus Annuity
All commission options will be reduced to 95% of the current rate.

Click here for complete information. Call (800)876-3950 #1 for more details.

Effective Monday, August 22, Protective Life is excited to launch My Hub: a mobile app that enables agents to quickly access pending case statuses and generate quotes for Protective Custom ChoiceSM UL. This app allows agents to stay better connected to the statuses of
their pending cases on-the-go and easily access the same information that is also available in the “Pending Business” view on MyProtective (www.MyProtective.com). In addition, the app features a view for policy count by agent, which is not available in the “Pending Business” view on MyProtective.

Additional App Functionality:
• Contact Protective Life directly from the app, via email or phone
• Email Case Manager from the “Requirement” view
• Call Case Manager from the “Policy Info” view
• Receive in-app notifications when new requirements or notes are added
• Ability to customize quick access icons by function

My Hub is available for download by visiting www.MyProtective.com and navigating to the “My Hub Mobile App” link by accessing “My Business” followed by “New Business.” Agents can log-in to the app using their MyProtective username and password. My Hub is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (iOS 8 or higher). If you need help getting started once the app is available, download our training guide for assistance.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact us at (800)876-3950 #1.

The new Term 2016 rates are effective August 15th, 2016 and are available in all states except for New York.

Premium improvements will benefit our core market:
· Males, Age 35-65
· Top 3 Risk Classes – Super preferred, Preferred, and Standard Plus Non-Smoker
· Face amounts of $500,000 and up

You will notice modest premium increases outside of this core market, mainly for the $250,000 face amount band, Standard Plus and Standard NS risk classes, and younger insureds (under Age 35). There will be no change in smoker premiums. No changes to Term with Vitality.

Click here for details.

Principal is rolling out a new IUL Accum effective Monday, August 15th. This product features high targets, great distribution, the chronic illness rider, alternate loans, high early cash value, and fills up a vacancy in the BOES area.

Details:
Principal will still have the same options as the current IUL Flex.
The Annual Price Return: 12% cap, 0 floor, 100% Par – annual point to point.
The Total Return: 18% cap, 0 floor, 110% Par – monthly crediting average
Targets will be top tier.

Click here for more details.

To help meet your clients’ needs, Protective Life offers policyholders who own a qualifying* life insurance policy the ability to convert or exchange their policy to an eligible Protective Life permanent insurance option without providing evidence of insurability.
Program Details:

No evidence of insurability is required.
In the first 12 months of the policy being issued, the agent will receive net commissions.
Full commissions will apply after the policy’s first anniversary.
For Protective Secure-T and Protective Custom Choice UL products, partial conversion is available after the first policy year.

Click here for more details and product availability.

Protect Your Income – Protect Your Business – Protect Your Retirement

Every day, you advise your clients on multiple aspects of their financial planning. Most of what you do revolves around income. Generating it, growing it, and protecting it!

Without income, no financial plan works!
Central to any income protection plan is disability insurance. But when was the last time you thought about your own ability to generate income should you be sick or hurt and unable to work or work as effectively as before. Have you taken the time to review your income protection plan and the disability insurance policies that backstop it?
If you do not currently have disability insurance or don’t have the right type of coverage or the amount of benefit, now is the time to take action. First Protective and Secura Consultants (our disability insurance resource partner – www.securaconsultants.com) have revamped and reinvigorated a unique Disability Income program for financial advisors affiliated with First Protective. The first generation of this plan was introduced in 2009 and has already benefited many advisors who have suffered from a disability.

New enhancements and products are available.
We have partnered once again with Disability Specialists, Inc. (DSI), who has worked with First Protective on this plan since 2009 and will continue as the plan administrator.
This program allows you to protect your income, cover office expenses and continue retirement savings should you become disabled. The rates are discounted 20-25% for the life of the policy and issued on a Modified Guarantee Issue (MGI) basis (no lab or blood work required).
MGI Limits:
• Disability Income (DI): $5,000 for advisors age 60 and under
• Overhead Expense (OE): $5,000 for advisors age 55 and under
• DI-Retirement Security (DI-RS): $2,050 for advisors age 55 and under
• Up to $2,000 of DI monthly benefit for Security Licensed Staff
You may apply for additional coverage with proof of medical insurability; the discounted rates will be included regardless of your level of coverage.
Each of these policies includes the Your Own Occupation definition of total disability to age 65. During periods of Total Disability, the insurance company cannot require you to work in another occupation. In addition, your monthly benefit will not be reduced by renewal income, 12b-1 fees, wrap account fees, profit from your company, etc.
The MGI qualification requirements are: you must not have missed three consecutive days of work, been hospitalized or partially disabled in the six months prior to the date on your application, must not be currently collecting disability benefits, must not be homebound, and must meet the income requirements (you can enroll for less than the MGI maximum). There are also three medical questions on the application that must be answered.
For more information on the program options, visit www.gotodsi.com/first or call DSI’s enrollment office at (888) 279-8348 (9:00am – 5:00pm CST). Identify yourself as a First Protective Affiliated Advisor and you will be provided with the program details.

New for this year is the opportunity for you to receive compensation on your policies.
This will require you to be licensed to sell insurance in your resident state, be appointed with Principal Financial Group and be contracted with First Protective through our disability insurance resource partner, Secura Consultants. Click Here to receive more information on this process.

Offering additional insurance coverage with limited underwriting, MetLife’s Class
Match program will issue a new policy matching a client’s inforce policy’s
underwriting class and face amount, up to $1.5 million.

Who’s Eligible?
• Age 18 to 65
• 18 to 60: $1.5 million face limit
• 61 to 65: $1 million face limit
• Applying for any permanent, single-life policy
• Standard or better (including smokers)
• Must have an existing inforce policy, issued by an approved carrier,
for at least six months and no more than five years
• Cannot have significant change in health since the inforce policy was issued

Underwriting Requirements
1. New Business Application (ENB-7-07) & Medical Supplement (EMED-48-07)
OR Express Order Ticket (EOT), Enterprise Authorization Form (EAUTH-16), Producer
Certification Form (EPID-54-07). We also suggest submitting the HIV Consent (EHIV-04)
2. A copy of the inforce policy face page showing the face amount and
underwriting class, and a copy of the medical declarations from the inforce policy
application (Usually bound in the back of the policy, often called a “Part II”)
NOTE: Please write “Class Match” on the top of each copy
3. Prescription History, Medical Information Bureau (MIB), and Motor Vehicle
Reports
Click here for more information and guidelines.

Effective August 1, 2016, Term Life Express will now also include no-cost Living Benefit Riders (only on the TLE non-ROP policies).

The Living Benefit package will include three Accelerated Death Benefit Riders at no additional cost to the customer.

• Chronic Illness
• Terminal Illness
• Critical Illness

Available in all states, except New York and California (pending approval)
All marketing materials will be available on Sales Professional Access (SPA) on July 20, 2016
The Living Benefit includes three Accelerated Death Benefit Riders*
*May vary by state, for complete descriptions refer to the state specific highlight sheet
Chronic Illness – Unable to perform 2 of 6 ADL’s for consecutive 90 days
Terminal Illness – Life expectancy is 12 months or less
Critical Illness – Diagnosed with life threatening health condition
Available on TLE non-ROP policies only
No-cost riders
No additional underwriting required
The new Accelerated Death Benefit Rider for Terminal Illness will replace the existing Accelerated Death Benefit Rider for Terminal Illness on all TLE non-ROP products.

Click here for additional information or call our Brokerage Life Sales team at (800)876-3950#1.

Banner announces a new limited time exchange program that gives existing customers an opportunity to swap policies and restart term coverage for another 25 years.

Details here.

Term conversion options on new term policies with policy effective dates on or after September 12, 2016, will continue to have access to the full suite of competitive permanent products only through policy year seven.  No commission will be on conversions after year seven.  After year seven, policies that are eligible may convert to one of the available product(s) designated for conversion by Lincoln. A separate Term product will be available for those clients who would like the ability to convert to the full product portfolio for the entire conversion period.

Click here for a summary of the product changes.

One America announces new business interest rates for Annuity Care^®, Annuity Care II/III and Indexed Annuity Care will be decreasing effective Friday, July 15, 2016.

View all rates »

The new rates will be as follows:

Annuity Care:

LTC fund: 1.40%

Cash fund: 1.05%

Annuity Care II/III:

LTC accumulated value: 1.15%

Accumulated value: 1.05%

Important: These new rates will be reflected on software version 6.31 (7-15-16), which can be downloaded beginning July 15 from OSO. Current new business rates may be preserved based on the method of funding:

Cash Transactions: They must receive a completed application with full premium in the Home Office by the end of business on Friday, July 15, to preserve current interest rates.

Transfer/1035 Transactions: They must receive a completed application with completed transfer or 1035 paperwork no later than Friday, July 15. All pending transfers to 1035s must be fully funded by Wednesday, September 14, to preserve current interest rates.

Indexed Annuity Care:

Point-to-point Cap: 2%

Point-to-point Par: 12%

Monthly average Cap: 2.25%

Monthly average Par: 20%

Fixed account: 1%

Note: All products may not be available in all states or may vary by state. Policies are issued by The State Life Insurance Company^®, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Effective June 25, 2016 the Trendsetter term product portfolio is being repriced.  Improvements were made for clients 45 and under and Standard and Preferred Tobacco users.

Click here for complete rates and marketing materials.

Athene announces interest rate update on the following products:

• Athene MYG
• Athene Performance Elite
• Athene TargetHorizon

Click here for rates.

The OPTerm 25 Exchange Program allows customers who purchased OPTerm 10, 15, or 20 within the past four years (48 months) to trade up to an OPTerm 25 plan at his or her current attained age with no underwriting. The OPTerm 25 replacement policy will be a new issue, with a full 25 years of level premium, not adjusted by the duration the original term policy was held.

As previously announced and as most of you know, Metlife is suspending sales of their IDI products on September 1, 2016. In light of that date, Secura Consultants will quote new cases and accept new applications up to and including Monday, August 15, 2016. All delivery requirements for issued policies must be received by MetLife no later than October 31, 2016.

If you have clients that are still considering coverage from Metlife, we highly encourage you to contact them as soon as possible, in order to get their application in before the submission cutoff.

See the message below that comes directly from MetLife.

Please Note: – IDI Sales will be suspended on 9/1/2016.  The final date to submit an application is 9/1/2016.  All new applications must be received in our office no later than 9/1/2016 in good order to be considered.  

The final date to place a policy is 10/31/16.  This does not apply to Guaranteed Increase Options (GIO) or Guaranteed Standard Issue (GSI) business.

Please contact Matthew Riordan, Senior Brokerage Consultant at (952)224-5400 if you have further questions.

The External Term Conversion Program allowed a conversion from an eligible unaffiliated
company’s term policy to currently available MetLife individual permanent products, subject to
program and suitability guidelines. This conversion, if qualifications were met, did not require
review of a medical supplement or underwriting.
As a result of low program utilization and increasing challenge with vetting eligible carriers,
MetLife will discontinue the External Term Conversion program effective July 1, 2016.

Please see the transition guidelines below.
While the External Term Conversion program is ending, MetLife offers a program that may be
able to provide the coverage clients need. The MetLife Enhanced Rate Plus SM (ERP) program
provides the opportunity for qualified clients to possibly obtain coverage with shorter service
time and fewer underwriting requirements. ERP is available now on MetLife Premier
Accumulator Universal Life SM and MetLife Whole Life Select 10.
.
Transition
All applications for the External Term Conversion Program must be signed no later than
July 1, 2016. All applications must be processed and placed no later than August 1, 2016.
Please remember that the original term policy must be included with all applications.

Click here for more information.

Asset Care base premium rates changing effective July 1, 2016.

The base premium rates* for Asset-Care® are increasing as of July 1, 2016. Products affected include Asset-Care I, Asset-Care II/III (life policy) and Asset-Care IV. This change only impacts new business.  All existing in-force policies are not affected, as all premiums are contractually guaranteed to remain unchanged for the life of the policy. The guarantees provided by Care Solutions will remain unchanged: All premiums are contractually guaranteed. All products and options will continue to be available. No adjustments are being made to issue ages. No changes are being made to producer compensation rates. Transition rules: All business submitted/received no later than Thursday, June 30 and fully funded no later than Wednesday, August 31 may use the pre-July 1 rates. All other new business will receive the new July 1 rates going forward. Please call the Asset & Income Protection Team at (800)876-3950 for more information. Click here for more information from One America.

Protective Life Insurance Company is pleased to introduce our new dual purpose variable universal life insurance product: Protective Strategic Objectives VUL. Effective June 6, 2016, Protective Strategic Objectives VUL will replace Protective^® Premiere III VUL.

So what’s different? Protective Strategic Objectives VUL features:

• Higher target premiums
• 24-month rolling target premiums
• Higher supplemental retirement income streams

Altogether, the dual purpose of Strategic Objectives VUL offers your clients death benefit coverage along with the potential for tax-deferred growth of cash value.

• This cash value can one day be used to supplement retirement income with tax-advantaged* policy withdrawals and loans.
• Clients with a Strategic Objectives VUL policy can also participate in Defined Objectives®, a planning program that provides an analysis at the end of each policy year showing investment performance along with guidance on recommended premium modifications.
• Clients can also take advantage of the cash value potential for other life needs, if retirement isn’t their primary concern.

State Availability
Protective Strategic Objectives VUL will be available for sale in all states, except New York. The product will not be available in Puerto Rico.

Transition Rules
The current Protective Premiere III product will be replaced with the new Protective Strategic Objectives VUL effective June 6, 2016 and will follow the rules in this document.

The new Protective Strategic Objectives VUL will be available beginning June 6, 2016. We can begin processing and issuing policies on the new plan effective June 6, 2016 in all states that have approved this product. In addition, the ELI (illustration) system, MyLifeSpace (Intent to Buy) and EZ APP will be able to support the new product.

Applications signed on or before June 5, 2016 and received no later than July 8, 2016 will be processed according to the accompanying illustration application/illustration. Applications signed on or after June 6, 2016 will be issued as the new Protective Strategic Objectives VUL.

Tickets dropped via the MyLifeSpace platform on or before June 5, 2016 and the application received by August 5, 2016 will be processed with the accompanying application/illustration. Tickets dropped on or after June 6, 2016 will be processed as the new Protective Strategic Objectives VUL.

Please contact your Life Marketing Assistant for more information at (800)876-3950.

Appcelerate is an automated underwriting system available through their AppAssist tele-application program that can speed qualified applicants through to approval with no medical exams, labs or APSs.

Click here for more information.

Effective June 13th, 2016 – VOYA launches new index annuity:  Quest

• 6% premium bonus
• 6.5% compounding roll up
• Return of Premium rider

Click here for more information.

Effective May 2nd, AIG life insurers are launching two new IUL products and discontinuing the Elite Index II product.

New Cash Value Accumulation IUL: Max Accumulator

Cash accumulation life insurance solution offers numerous features to maximize and access cash value potentially tax-free:

• Select Income Rider – Provides installment death benefit payout which may lower cost of insurance charges & increase cash value resulting in more income
• Income for Life rider – Converts cash value into a guaranteed stream of lifetime payments; optional cost of living increases and annual step-up feature for potentially higher income
• Accelerated Access Solution qualifying condition to be permanent; 3 payout options available – funds can be used for any purpose
• 4 Index Interest Accounts with account value enhancements:
  • 1 par rate account based on ML Strategic Balanced Index
  • 1 par rate account based on S&P 500 Index
  • 2 cap rate accounts based on S&P 500 Index

New Interactive IUL Sales Tool: Life to the Max

Assisting producers with IUL sales is our new consumer-approved interactive sales tool that provides easy access – no user ID or PW required! It offers:

• Educational, interactive site for use by agents during client meetings
• Easy access – no user ID or password required
• Useful information regarding the potential challenges to a successful retirement
• Variety of specific scenarios to see the impact it has on retirement assets

Click here for more product details.

On June 1, Mutual of Omaha is adding their Guaranteed Refund Option (GRO) on its SUL-G product.  They are also making some “premium adjustments.”

Mutual of Omaha announces that effective next month, the Guaranteed Refund Option Rider will be included with every qualifying policy at no additional cost.

The GRO Rider gives policyholders

• The flexibility to adjust to estate planning needs or other life changes
• Seven windows throughout the life of their policy to surrender and get either a portion or all of their premiums returned

Click here for additional information.

·  Approved in the following states: AZ, AR, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MI, MS, NE, NV, NC, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN,  TX, UT, VT, WV, WI, and WY.

Click here for more details and transition rules.

·  Three underwriting classes:  Super Elite, Elite, and Tobacco

·  Maximum face amount of $1,000,000

·  John Hancock Vitality Program benefits

·  Premiums adjust annually based on engagement – decreasing premiums for Gold and Platinum members.

·  Approved in the following states:  AZ, AR, CA, CO, DC, DE, GA, ID, IN, IA, KY, ME, MI, MS, NE, NV, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WV, WI, and WY.

·         Call (800)876-3950 for a quote!

Click below for sales flyers:

Introducing SmartProtect Term with Vitality

John Hancock is now offering term and permanent life insurance coverage to applicants living with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) if they meet certain criteria.

Click here for details.

Legal and General America’s OPTerm rates have new pricing.

Click here for details that include decreases across all ages, genders, bands and non-tobacco classes.

Effective May 9, 2016 Lincoln is pleased to introduce, LincXpressSM Tele-App, LincXpressSM Lab-Free underwriting and
LincXpressSM E-Delivery. These three initiatives will be explained in detail below.
LincXpressSM Tele-App
The LincXpressSM Tele-App process is a streamlined, no-cost, application process for electronic ticket and paper ticket
submissions, utilizing Lincoln’s Tele-App process. This new process will allow advisors to spend less time with paperwork
and more time with clients. Following a short in-house Tele-App interview, the submission will be processed by your
dedicated Leading Edge team, with signatures on the submission and applicable non-solicitation forms obtained on
delivery. The Tele-App process consists of three simple steps:
• Step 1: Quote and Submission (utilize Paper Ticket Submissions or Electronic Ticket Submissions**)
• Step 2: Tele-App interview and underwriting
• Step 3: Policy issue and delivery.
** LincXpressSM Tele-App is available for all products (excluding, Lincoln TermAccel®, and Lincoln MoneyGuard® – these
two products use similar methods, but they are not part of LincXpressSM) through all available submission methods and in
all states, except New York. Electronic Ticket Submissions through the LincXpressSM Tele-App process are available only
with Lincoln LifeElements® Level Term. All other products are offered as a paper ticket only.

LincXpressSM Lab-free underwriting
The new LincXpressSM Lab-free Underwriting Program is designed to identify those clients who are the healthiest risks to
allow a more streamlined path of underwriting for those individuals.
As part of the new Lab-free Underwriting process, Lincoln will leverage data from traditional underwriting sources and
information provided during the Tele-Interview, along with underwriting technology, to determine whether to waive or
order labs within a few short days of completion of the Tele-Interview.
The LincXpressSM Lab-free underwriting program is exclusively available for eligible LincXpressSM Tele-App and Lincoln
TermAccel® applications. This Lab-free Underwriting opportunity is available for all products within established guidelines
(excluding MoneyGuard®/Full list of exclusions below).
As part of the new Lab-free underwriting process, Lincoln will leverage data from traditional underwriting sources and
information provided during the Tele-Interview, along with underwriting technology, to determine whether to waive or
order labs within a few short days of completion of the Tele-Interview.
Program Exclusions:
• New York applications
• Lincoln MoneyGuard® product submissions
• Traditional Full Paper Application and eApplication submissions
• Guaranteed and Simplified Issue
• Exchanges and Conversions
• Prior submissions, including trial or formal submissions, received in the past 12 months*
* Any trial or formal submission -submitted in the last 12 months will be reviewed for use of prior medical
information in the underwriting decision. Due to prior information on file, these cases will not be considered for
the lab-free rules engine; however, if we have enough evidence in the prior file to issue without additional medical
information, we will proceed.
LincXpressSM eDelivery
The final step to streamline the application process.
Electronic Delivery (eDelivery) offers a quick and secure electronic delivery process – allowing clients to receive policies
via email, to view them 24/7 on mobile devices, and provides for eSignatures for agent and client. eDelivery is available
with full application or Tele-app case submissions for the life product portfolio.

Click here to learn how to sign up for these features.

Effective May 9, 2016, Lincoln is pleased to introduce the newest member in its Term
portfolio, Lincoln TermAccel® Level Term. Lincoln TermAccel® provides easy, affordable
death benefit protection. Lincoln TermAccel® Level Term has been designed for younger
middle to mass affluent market clients ages 18-50 with face amounts from $100,000 –
$500,000 for term periods of 15, 20 or 30 years.
Lincoln TermAccel® is a fully underwritten offering that requires a streamlined paperless
online eTicket and electronic policy delivery process. Coupled with automated
underwriting, this process eliminates attending physician statements and substantially
improves submission processing times.
Highlights include:
• It’s simple
o Electronic ticket submissions
o Less time wasted on paperwork
o No attending physician statements
• It’s fast
o Streamlined approval process with automated underwriting
o Opportunity to waive labs for qualified clients
o Policies issued in a fraction of the time
• It’s highly competitive
o Attractive, low rates
o Opportunity to penetrate new markets

Click here for transition rules and details.

New Updated Products as follows:

Please call if you have any questions at (800)876-3950.

Effective Monday, April 25, 2016

10-, 15-, 20- and 30-Year Term Transition Guidelines

Effective, April 25, 2016, we  Principal Financial is reducing Term rates! This applies to many

different ages and risk classes. There are no premium increases with this re-price.

Click here for transition guidelines.

NEW YORK, March 30, 2016 – MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today ordered that the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s (FSOC) designation of MetLife as a Systemically Important Financial Institution (SIFI) be rescinded.  Click here for the official statement from MetLife Chairman, President and CEO Steven A. Kandarian.

On April, 1st  LifeTrends introduced a follow-up white paper co-authored by independent actuarial consultant, Timothy Pfeifer. The original articles, AG49 – What You Need to Know and AG49 – A Closer Look, were released July 27, 2015.  

Actuarial Guideline 49 (AG49) emerged on the Indexed Universal Life (IUL) scene in 2015. It provided the first uniform standards covering important aspects of illustrating IUL contracts. Certain requirements of AG49 have been effective since September 1, 2015. These requirements included: (1) the determination of maximum illustrated crediting rates for indexed accounts inside IUL contracts (using a concept known as the Benchmark Index Account), and (2) guidance for life insurers’ illustration actuaries to certify that an IUL policy form meets standards that allows the policy to be illustrated in the first place. Several other AG49 standards became effective on March 1, 2016. These include requirements for illustrating participating policy loans and mandates for certain additional disclosures on IUL illustrations.

For more information, Click here to see the attached white paper, which is approved for you to share with your producers, advisors, and colleagues.