Carrier Updates — January 31, 2011
High priority items in red!

Advanced Markets

AXA

Learn how you can use recent changes to estate taxes to drive sales
This short Brainshark presentation highlights all the estate tax materials and resources available to you from AXA Equitable.

Purchasing Life Insurance through a Qualified Plan can make good financial sense
This case study features Roy, a typical client, and a possible strategy featuring Life Insurance in a Qualified Plan.

ING

e-Pocket Tax Tables now available from the ING Life Companies!
The new tax laws provide important opportunities for you to contact clients and prospects with up-to-date information on tax rates, exemptions, deductions, contribution limits, and much, much more. To make it easier for you to access this information for both 2010 and 2011, we are providing this quick tax reference tool, e-Pocket Tax Tables. This information will be kept updated if anything changes during the year. You can use this information online, post the link on your own website, download and print, or e-mail the tables to clients and prospects. Click here for access.

Understanding Business Succession Chapter VI: Replacing Lost Benefits - The Missing Part of Succession Planning
This new chapter in the Understanding Business Succession series discusses an often overlooked part of succession planning - the importance of replacing the benefits that will be lost when an owner-employee dies. Access electronically on ING for Professionals, the Business Planning Micro Site, or click here.

Help Clients Take Advantage of Low Interest Rates
Interest rates are still low, which creates a good opportunity for you to talk to your clients about some estate planning/wealth transfer techniques which may be more efficient in a low interest rate environment - private financing, premium financing, and GRATs. Read about them in this updated producer flyer, Kick Start Your Clients' Estate Planning by Taking Advantage of Low Interest Rates, available on ING for Professionals, the ING Life PromoCenter, the Wealth Transfer/Estate Planning Micro Site, or click here to access.

John Hancock

Planning Opportunities from the 2010 Tax Act
There is a two year window of opportunity for families to make outright gifts of assets up to $5M per individual ($10M per couple) directly to a beneficiary or in trust. This means a significant amount of family wealth can be permanently transferred out of the purview of the transfer tax system forever — before the scheduled return of the estate tax in 2013 at the $1M estate tax exemption level and the 55% estate tax rate. Read more

2010 Tax Act & Planning Opportunities with Larry Brody, January 20, 2011, Advanced Markets Radio

Join us today as we re-air the broadcast between Larry Brody, Partner, Bryan Cave LLP and Randy Zipse, VP and Senior Counsel, Advanced Markets Group, who discuss the Obama-GOP Tax Cut Compromise Bill recently signed by President Obama and offer their thoughts on the interesting planning opportunities that may come of it. Larry and Randy emphasize that this is a "repeal of the repeal of the estate tax" and is set to last for only two years. Therefore, we may see planners taking advantage of the short term availability of the $5M exemption amount for Gift, Estate and GST taxes, and leveraging the exemption with life insurance before it sunsets to $1M at the end of 2012. We may also see more Dynasty Trusts created in the next two years to shelter family money from the transfer tax system before the two year window closes.  Further, if a trust's underlying transaction, such as old split dollar plans and loan arrangements, still makes sense, we may see planners tightening up trusts and using the increased exemption amount to make existing trusts more efficient. To listen to the broadcast click here.          
   
Quarterly Edition Central Intelligence- January 2011
In this issue:

Click here to view

MetLife       

New Tax Flyer Available For Use With Clients
This new flyer describes planning opportunities created by the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010. Click here to view the flyer which will be available through fulfillment February 7th.

Nationwide

Simplifying recent tax law changes
The recent tax law changes made in Washington could have a major impact on your business and your clients. Your clients are counting on you to help them understand what the changes mean to them, so it's important to have one trusted source for the most accurate and up-to-date information possible. That source is Nationwide^®. Read more

Pacific Life

Estate Taxes are Back!

It’s Time to Get Off the Sidelines.  Check out these brochures:

Protective Life

Connect with Clients on the New Tax Legislation
Congress recently enacted the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the “2010 Tax Act”). The legislation includes major changes in the Federal Estate, Gift and GST Taxes. Click here for a News Blast that encourages advisors to connect with their clients and explore ways to use permanent life insurance to take advantage of this legislation and satisfy a number of advanced planning needs.

Transamerica

New TransSecurity Video Makes an Impact
Our new TransSecurity^SM client video is getting great reviews. With the link below, it's easy for producers to show clients how the Income Protection Option can help build a lasting family legacy. Watch it here. Use this link to forward: 
http://download.transamerica.info/tiig/New_Home_TransSecurity_IPO.wmv

West Coast Life

Connect with Clients on the New Tax Legislation
Congress recently enacted the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the "2010 Tax Act"). The legislation includes major changes in the Federal Estate, Gift and GST Taxes. Read this important News Blast encouraging agents to connect with their clients and explore ways to use permanent life insurance to take advantage of this legislation and satisfy a number of advanced planning needs.  

Lincoln Financial

Lincoln survey confirms growing need for LTC planning
Lincoln Financial Life Stages Survey: Long-Term Care reveals that nearly two-thirds of Americans recognize the importance of long-term care planning. With longevity and escalating healthcare costs, there is an enormous market opportunity for your business. Read more

You're missing BIG opportunities!
Clients should plan ahead to help protect wealth, retirement security and estate assets from the potential risk of exposure to long-term care expenses. Read more

Mutual of Omaha

Become a Subscriber to Our LTC Connections Page at YourChoiceforLTC.com
Subscribe Now

Marketing/Industry Updates

Aviva

How Aviva could save your clients thousands over the life of their policy
Aviva’s Advantage Builder offers lower premiums than these top sellers of no-lapse guarantee universal life at age 60. Read more

Life insurance is one of the most important purchases an individual or small business can make
It can help a family maintain its lifestyle after the death of a loved one, or continue a business when one of the partners is gone. Today’s life insurance consumer has more options than ever. You can buy policies offering the potential to accumulate considerable cash value, or products that stress stability and guarantees. At Aviva Life and Annuity Company, we have a policy that can do both.

AXA

Athena Indexed Universal Life^SM delivers long-term protection and potential cash value accumulation through index-linked interest options
View 10 reasons why clients should consider Athena Indexed UL^SM.

ING

"Global" Expansion . . . introducing ING IUL-Global PLUS
The new ING Indexed Universal Life-Global Plus issued by Security Life of Denver Insurance Company.
It's all the same features you've come to love in ING IUL-Global, PLUS . . .  Select Loans that could catapult your Executive Benefit sales out of this world! Go "global" with ING IUL-Global Plus and discover how our new world opens new opportunities for your clients. Learn more

Life Foundation's "Insure Your Love" awareness campaign kicks off!
Click here to view the campaign.

Opt-in Option Available on ING Pro
Adding new producers to your organization? Know someone who should be getting ING Life Communications but isn't?  Direct them to ING for Professionals (www.inglifeinsurance.com) to opt-in to select communications!  Read more

John Hancock

Protection UL: Get the Competitive Edge
Take a look at how Protection UL provides some of the lowest cost death benefit protection in a variety of coverage duration scenarios.

Protection UL: Lower Cost. Greater Protection.
See how Protection UL can provide affordable protection with long-term care (LTC) coverage that is less expensive than leading competitors' products without LTC coverage.

Lincoln Benefit

A New Era for LBL's Illustration Software
Beginning January 22, 2011, you will be able to download a pre-release preview of the illustration software for LBL's new Legacy Secure II and Legacy Choice II products that are available for sale beginning February 1, 2011. You'll notice some significant changes to the way Lincoln Benefit Life is illustrating these new life products:

And that's just the beginning. Read the bulletin to learn about all of the enhancements. Then, watch your email on February 1st for even more new marketing support that will be available with the new Legacy II series.

• Read about the illustration enhancements
• View a sample of the new illustration

MetLife

Middle Market eLearning Module is Now Available!
Become more familiar with Middle Market consumers and MetLife's Initiative through this new eLearning Module. Click here for more.

Mutual of Omaha

Life Options Grid
View United, View Companion

Product Spotlight: Term Life Complete
View Details, View Brochure

Term Conversion Flyer
View Details

Renewal and CE Update for Connecticut
View Details

Telephone Solicitation Bans February 2011
View Details

Transamerica

Transamerica is Working to Modernize Insurance Law
Transamerica is working with Agents for Change, a grassroots trade association representing over 8,500 producers nationwide, to provide you an option to receive one license to sell in all states. Please click here to learn more and join Agents for Change (it's free).

West Coast Life

Save on the Virtual Sales Assistant
Virtual Sales Assistant (VSA) is a subscriber-only website designed and operated to help insurance and financial services professionals sell and service their clients. VSA provides a Referred Lead Generator and High-Powered Sales Support that includes a library packed with sales-oriented concepts. Read more

Product

ING

ING IUL-Global & ING IUL-Global Plus Participation Rate Increase
Effective starting with the January 28, 2011 Indexed Strategy block, the participation rate for ING IUL-Global and ING IUL-Global Plus, issued by Security Life of Denver Insurance Company, will increase to 65%, up from 60%. Read more

Improved Exchange Option for Inforce Customers
Updated Policy Endorsements Mailing Soon! Read more

John Hancock

New John Hancock Trust (JHT) Prospectus Supplement Dated January 12, 2011
The JHT Supplement Document now includes the January 12, 2011 Prospectus Supplement, which will be mailed to all policyholders. The handy Prospectus Update Chart references all current supplements.

Introducing John Hancock's NEW Protection UL in New Jersey. Often the Lowest Cost Death Benefit Protection Product in the Industry.
John Hancock’s NEW Protection UL offers highly competitive premiums in all funding scenarios. Beyond the low premium, Protection UL also provides long-term cash value growth potential and a substantial no-lapse guarantee — delivering more value to your clients. Be first out of the gate with John Hancock's new Protection UL in New Jersey. Click here for more information and access to marketing materials.

MetLife

Introducing MetLife Promise Whole Life
On January 3, 2011, MetLife introduced MetLife Promise Whole Life in 46 states. This new whole life product offers a balance between competitive pricing, product guarantees and flexibility–including the new Flex Term Rider! Read more

Mutual of Omaha

Updated AccumUL Plus Highlight Sheet Available in Nevada
View Details
Highlight Sheet

Principal

New Principal Term Insurance Rates Available
Principal Term insurance has new, competitive pricing to help your clients meet their personal and business insurance needs. Updated rate comparisons are available on the following term products… Read more

Protective Life

Income Provider Option on Secure-T and Secure-T Re-pricing

Click here for a Field Memo that announces the addition of the Income Provider Option to the Secure-T product. The Income Provide Option provides a guaranteed monthly or annual income stream to the policyholder’s designated beneficiaries. It also discusses a price increase for 10, 15 and 20 year plans for Secure-T.

Transamerica

New Product Launch This Week
Introducing TransTerm^SM . . . our new UL product that blends the basic characteristics of level term insurance with the guaranteed protection available with No-Lapse Universal Life. It offers competitively priced protection, along with the guarantees and flexibility to transition to lifetime coverage. A full suite of marketing materials will be available tomorrow. For more information, click here.  

Trendsetter Super Series Revision
Effective January 21, 2011, Transamerica Life Insurance Company's Trendsetter^® Super Series portfolio is being revised to include a new Non-Medical band at $25,000 - $99,999 for standard nonsmokers or standard smokers (face amount limitations based on age). For details, click here.  

Of Current Interest
For interest rates on Transamerica products effective January 19, 2011, click here.  

West Coast Life

WCL Secure-T New Income Provider Option and Current Rate Increases
Effective January 31, 2011, West Coast Life will add the Income Provider Option to our Secure-T product and increase current rates on the 10, 15, and 20 year plans. Read more for all the details. 

Correction: WCL Secure-T Communication
Please note, an error was made in an earlier communication about Secure-T. Secure-T applications under $1m are NOT required to be submitted via TeleLife. Read the revised communication below:

New Income Provider Option and Rate Increases on Secure-T
Effective January 31, 2011, West Coast Life will add the Income Provider Option to our Secure-T product. In addition, current rates on the 10, 15, and 20 year Secure-T plans will increase effective January 31, 2011. Read more for all the details on the new Income Provider Option and the Secure-T rate increase.