2011 Year-End Deadlines

American General

2011 Year End Life Processing Dates
See bulletin 11-101 for year-end cut-off processing dates provided to assist you in meeting your 2011 life production objectives.

Banner

2011 Year End Closing Dates

We often receive questions regarding year-end closing or cut-off dates. Click here to view

Aviva

Make Sure Your Production Counts for 2011
In order to make sure your business is processed before year-end, we are providing you with established year-end processing deadlines below for both life and annuity business. Please note that business received after the dates stated below will be processed in the order received and may be issued in 2011 or 2012 based on volumes. Read more

AXA

Year End Deadline Dates
As we enter the final quarter of 2011, please note these important dates regarding life application processing for year-end.

ING

2011 End of Year Deadlines
Click here to view

Lincoln Benefit

Important Year End Processing Dates
Don't miss the cutoff dates for processing new business and paying commissions. Read more

MetLife

2011 Year End New Business Deadlines
Please note this year's New Business cut-off dates for placing cases and crediting them to 2011 business. Click on the links for Independent Channel case deadlines and National Accounts case deadlines.
 
Nationwide

Get Your Business Placed in 2011
Click here for more information

Principal

Year End Deadlines and Information
Click here to view

Prudential

2011 Year End Deadline Reminders
All delivery requirements must be received by Prudential no later than 12/20/11 in order to receive compensation in 2011. Read more, including key reminders for a winning year end.

William Penn

2011 Year End Closing Dates

We often receive questions regarding year-end closing or cut-off dates. Click here to view

Advanced Markets

Allianz

Life Insurance As a Business-Planning Solution

If you haven't been marketing life insurance to small-business owners, perhaps it's time to start. Our new, exclusive kit can show you how. Learn more

Thursday, November 10 at 11am CT: Our NEW, Exclusive Small-Business Life Insurance Kit Can Help Your Business, Too
Participate in this fact-filled web seminar and you'll get the complete Small-Business Life Insurance Kit – and some great tips on using it to build your business. Read more

ING

Passing on Family Wealth Without Making Gifts
Gifting isn't for everyone. Even though Congress has expanded the lifetime gifting and GST exemptions through 2012, some well-to-do clients won't feel comfortable about making large gifts. This new consumer brochure discusses three strategies in which life insurance can be used to pass on family wealth without making gifts: the Standby Trust strategy, Inter-Family Loans, and Private Split Dollar arrangements. Use it in your estate planning meetings with wealthy clients. Available for download on ING for Professionals and the Wealth Transfer/Estate Planning micro site, on the ING Life PromoCenter, and for order later this week using #161752

2011 End of Year Sales Opportunities
The end of the year brings new opportunities for sales, including some "use it or lose it" opportunities for your clients. Year-End Gifting, with the "use it or lose it" annual exclusion, the 2010 increase in the lifetime gift exemption and the generation skipping transfer tax exemption, is just one of eight different end-of-year sales opportunities available to you.

Access both client and business opportunities here!  End of Year Sales Opportunities personalizable email is also available on the ING Life PromoCenter under "Special Promotions."

John Hancock

Monthly Edition Central Intelligence - October 2011
Click here to view

Grantor Trusts with Mike Mulligan, November 1, 2011, JH Advanced Markets Radio
IDITs. DIGITS. SAGTs. Intentionally defective. What do these acronyms mean and is it good to be "defective?” Attorney Mike Mulligan of the law firm Lewis, Rice & Fingersh joined Randy Zipse, VP and Senior Counsel, Advanced Markets Group to discuss Grantor Trusts and the benefits of being "defective." To listen to the broadcast, click here.

Special Offer from Randy Zipse, guest speaker at the 48th Annual Hawaii Tax Institute ~ December 4-8 2011
The program includes late breaking news and practical topics covering a wide array of wealth transfer planning areas. Select from a variety of fiduciary, financial, tax, non-profit and insurance topics. John Hancock has worked out a special offer for JHAM Radio listeners to attend the tax conference at a discounted price:

4-Day Pass:    $975  $525.  Use registration code JH48525

1-Day Pass:    $425  $275.  Use registration code JH48275
       
To register, please visit www.hitaxinstitute.org and click on "Contact & Registration" on the left panel and follow instructions.

Mutual of Omaha

Advanced Markets Sales Idea: Capital Transfer
Find out what Ron Lee, manager of Advanced Markets with Mutual of Omaha, had to say about Capital Transfer. View Details

Prospecting for Multi-Life Clients
Get in front of more small and mid-sized businesses by utilizing these prospecting brochures. Mutual Care at Work Brochure, United Workplace Solutions Brochure

Show Your Clients How They Can Use Proceeds From a Universal Life Policy to Help Pay For Estate Settlement Expenses
Customize and print the attached consumer flyer and share it with your clients and prospects. View Flyer

Principal

Monday, November 7 at 10:30am CT: Profiling Candidates for Informal Business Valuation and Buy-Sell Review
Click here for details

Disability Insurance

Mutual of Omaha

DI Choice Training Resources
Have you checked out the number of training resources available to you at your fingertips? DI Choice Resource Website

Are You Using the Consumer Needs Brochure?
Check out this short Brainshark to learn more about the features of this valuable brochure. View Brainshark

National Underwriter

Disability Insurance Views: Meet Your New Customers
Even a company with deep roots in the traditional group market sees the voluntary writing on the worksite wall.

National Underwriter

Still No Relief in Sight for Long-Term Needs (New York Times)
The Class Act, the Obama  Administration's attempt to provide a long-term care solution for the vast number of consumers that don't have coverage for caretaking needs down the road, was sacked last week, following the release of a report that showed it had little chance of being able to sustain itself over the next 35 years.

Republicans Grill HHS on CLASS Failure to Launch

The Affordable Care Act is still moving forward without CLASS, Greenlee testifies. But who will serve the needs of the 15 million Americans who need long-term care down the road?

Marketing/Industry Updates

NFP

Product Updates
11/07:   Nationwide – YourLife IUL (new; S&P 500, Nasdaq & Dow Jones; 12-14% current cap; 140% current par; 1 year monthly average; fixed & “alternative” loans; NLG rider; indemnity LTC rider)
11/21:   Lincoln Benefit Life – True Term (rate decreases)
12/11:   West Coast Life – All Products No Longer Available; Only Protective Products Available

American General

Announcing Enhanced Concierge Service!
American General Life Companies introduces enhanced concierge service for high premium/high face amount cases. Read more

We Jive at 55!
Compare premium and cash value for AG Secure Lifetime GUL® to its competitors.

Sell UL and Win a Trip to Africa
See how only 5 submitted UL cases can qualify you to win a trip to Africa.

Rolling Targets Available on AG Choice Index GUL^SM
With 24-month rolling target premium, you can receive full target on AG Choice Index GUL.

How Competitive is AG Choice Index GUL^SM
Compare benefitsof key competitors to the new AG Choice Index GUL.

Quick Reference Guide to IUL Products
Click here to learn more on the index UL products we offer.

AG Secure Lifetime GUL, Why Settle For the Ordinary...

Why settle for the ordinary…when you can have something extraordinary for the same price? Read more

Banner

My New Blog from Frank T Gencarelli, Senior Vice President, Distribution and Marketing

I like to talk, too much sometimes. And often with an "edge". So our creative services team ("Mad Women", who may be tired of listening) encouraged the creation of this venue: www.frankmatters.com. Check it out. Comments encouraged, but the site is moderated, so they might not appear in real time.

Genworth

Solving for Face
Provide your clients 13%-37% more coverage for the same premium. Now you can run a GenGuard^® SUL face solve illustration faster and easier on WinFlex and WinFlex Web. Read more

ING

Special Offer on 2012 Tax Facts books
Tax Facts has answers to your most pressing tax questions. Use this deal to save over 30% off retail prices! Click here for details.

2012 RealLIFEstories Client Service Awards Program
The LIFE Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of its 2012 RealLIFEstories Client Service Awards Program. The goal of the program is to collect and publicize the best stories that illustrate how life, disability and long-term care insurance helped a family or business through difficult financial and emotional times. These stories educate consumers about the important role of insurance and the value of obtaining advice from qualified insurance professionals.

How to submit your "RealLIFEstories"
To enter, you must complete an application form along with an essay describing your client's RealLIFEstory. The application form is available at www.lifehappens.org/reallife.There are three ways to apply:

Please note that the deadline for entries is January 17th, 2012. Four winning stories will be featured in the fall of 2012 in the pages of O magazine. In addition, featured distributors and their clients will receive all-expenses-paid trips to Las Vegas, Nevada, where they will be honored by their industry peers at the 2012 annual conference of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA).

Add Your Logo and Photo to Every Piece!
The ING Life PromoCenter is all about personalization. Why not go the extra mile and add your photo and a company logo to each item? It's easy! Log-in to the Life PromoCenter through ING for Professionals and go under "Contact Management" and choose "Change My Profile." You'll see the areas to upload a photo for print and HTML purposes.

John Hancock

Indexed UL & Premier Life Finish Ahead of the Competition
John Hancock's new Indexed UL and Premier Life policies often beat the competition on key performance measures — whether it's lower premiums, stronger cash values or more compelling product features. Click on the links below to see where each of these new products shines against the competition.

John Hancock's Indexed UL vs. Lincoln
John Hancock's Indexed UL vs. AXA
John Hancock's Indexed UL vs. Minnesota Life
John Hancock's Indexed UL vs. Pacific Life

John Hancock's Premier Life vs. Guardian Whole Life 121
John Hancock's Premier Life vs. MetLife's Promise Whole Life
John Hancock's Premier Life vs. MassMutual's Whole Life Legacy 100
John Hancock's Premier Life vs. Northwestern Mutual's Adjustable CompLife

Covering More Markets and More Client Needs — John Hancock's Expanded Life Insurance Portfolio
John Hancock's comprehensive portfolio is broader than ever — designed to be extremely competitive in more markets and provide real value to clients. Check out this new flyer and see which products can best fit your clients' needs.

Lincoln Benefit

Wednesday, November 9 at 1pm CT: LBL’s Customer Compass
With detailed life stage profiles and a well-defined sales process, LBL's Customer Compass can show you the way to gain deeper customer understanding—and increased sales opportunities. Read more | Join Meeting

Importance of Professional Collaboration
Working together is a fundamental element of success in the advanced markets. Getting involved with other professionals can help build both your credibility and reputation. Read more

Future Access to Customers Money
Our innovative rider provides an exit strategy which guarantees customers will receive a significant percentage of premiums back, up to 100% in some cases, if they surrender their policy after the surrender charge period. Read more

Conference of Leaders April 15-20
Kiawah Island will exceed all your expectations as a premier resort destination with the beautiful surroundings, world-class golfing, lush accommodations and classic low-country hospitality that await you and your companion. Read more

4^th Quarter Crunch Time
Finish the year out strong to win a new iPad and use iGO to earn iTunes Credit. Read more

MassMutual

A Closer Look at Direct Recognition
All whole life policies are not created equally, especially with respect to how dividends are credited to a policy. If no policy loan is ever taken, the choice of loan interest rate will not matter. However, if your client does choose to borrow from their policy, the loan interest rate can have an effect on any dividends earned from that point on. This effect is called direct recognition. Policies issued with a fixed loan interest rate will receive direct recognition if a loan is taken, which means that when a loan is taken, the loaned amount will receive a different dividend payment than the dividend payment credited to the non–loaned portion of the policy.  Read more

MetLife

Diverse Markets Materials Available
Check out metlifeinvestors.com to learn about the African American, Chinese, Hispanic, Korean and South Asian markets and download client materials to support your efforts. Log on to metlifeinvestors.com > Sales Tools > Diverse Markets. Click here to learn more now.

Strong to the Finish - You Count on MetLife
MetLife is ready to help you finish the year strong and close those final important cases. Click here to learn how MetLife's financial strength, underwriting competencies and world class service teams can work for you as you finish 2011. Year-end is also a great time to review your client's life insurance needs.

Attention MetWINS Users
Effective October 28, MetWINS Version 80 Service Pack 5 will be deployed. Click here for a list of the most noticeable enhancements.

Mutual of Omaha

Using Life Insurance Cash Accumulation to Help Pay for IRA Taxes in Retirement
Customize and print the attached consumer flyer and share it with your clients and prospects. View Details

Find Out What GUL's Dial Down Guarantee Does for You
View Presentation

When We Say Liberal Term Conversion Feature, We Mean It
Three things you need to know about converting term policies. View Details

November 2011 Holiday Solicitation Bans
View Details

Personalize and Order Your "How Far Can the Dollar Go?" Business Card Today
This handy grid can help your client see how far a dollar can go depending on face amount. View Card, Overprint Order Form

Life Insurance for Living
Fact finder updated View Brochure

Is Your Laptop Protected?
When someone takes your laptop, they may not want the machine itself. They may want the information inside the machine. Is your laptop protected? Is it encrypted? Learn more about how to encrypt your laptop. View Details

Nationwide

Weekly Economic Review & Outlook + Supporting Podcast (Week of October 31, 2011)
The rally in financial markets continued this week, as European leaders agreed to another rescue package. Spreads narrowed and stocks jumped, with the S&P 500 hitting its highest level since July, as at least initially, the markets believed the Euro zone was on a path to finally addressing core issues. Read more | Click here for the podcast

Principal

Easy to Do Business With
No company is more committed to the brokerage market than the Principal Financial Group^®. We deliver the brand, financial strength and competitive products you need to help build strong relationships with a growing numbers of customers. Read more

Protective Life

Continued Email Security Enhancements

Protective Life continues to activate email encryption on all outgoing emails containing personal identifiable information. Go here to read more about our continued email security enhancements.

Prudential

If You Thought Pru Just Sells a Great Term Product, Look at Our Survivorship Universal Life!
Prudential remains committed to the lifetime secondary guarantee marketplace for survivorship universal life (SUL)—even as other companies have left. Our commitment to this market is evident in this year’s competitive repricing and in the introduction of new market opportunities for SUL, beyond just the wealthy. Read more

William Penn

My New Blog from Frank T Gencarelli, Senior Vice President, Distribution and Marketing

I like to talk; too much sometimes, and often with an "edge." So our creative services team ("Mad Women," who may be tired of listening) encouraged the creation of this venue: www.frankmatters.com. Check it out. Comments encouraged, but the site is moderated, so they might not appear in real time.

National Underwriter

Life Insurer Reserves Loom Large at NAIC Meeting
"There's a real problem with the reserves," said Benjamin Lawsky, New York's new top cop for financial services regulation. When New York is on the case, sit tight, underwriters of universal life with secondary guarantees. Read more

ACLI Proposes Oversight Framework for Principles-Based Insurer Reserves
Oversight would include a single, independent auditor hired by the company and pre-approved by the NAIC, to make sure new reserving methods meet the sniff test. Will the idea fly? Read more

The Great Retirement Rethink (AdvisorOne)
New research from a Hearts & Wallets study suggests that investors are thinking differently about the meaning of retirement — and, in fact, many don't plan to retire at all. In this new economic climate, financial advice aimed at retirees or those approaching retirement may not hit home.

The Debt Fallout: How Social Security Went 'Cash Negative' Earlier Than Expected (Washington Post)
Last year, as the recession raged on and unemployment rates held frighteningly steady, a struggling Social Security program went "cash negative" for the first time since the early 1980s. In 2011 alone, this will mean an extra $46 billion in expenses taken out of the Treasury.

Turn Prospecting into a Party
Think prospecting feels like a chore? It doesn't have to. Host an event that's more play than work, and watch prospective clients flock to your practice.

Economist Buchholz Sees Signs of Financial Hope
Economist, hedge fund manager and author Todd Buchholz began the second day of LIMRA's 2011 Annual LIMRA Conference with a cautiously optimistic appraisal of the challenges and opportunities …

NAIC to Consider Initiative to Grow Financial Modeling Suite
No determination has been made as of yet, but the NAIC no longer can rely on the rating agencies for structured security ratings, per Dodd- Frank, and suffers from a “lack of expertise to model these securities internally.”

Retiring: Our Financial Smarts Erode Quickly After Age 60 (Wall Street Journal)
A new study investigates how older Americans make decisions about money -- and finds that financial literacy and decision-making skills decline significantly with age. These skills, the survey shows, peak in middle age and then decline by about 2% each year after age 60.

MetLife, NFP Enjoy Earnings Gains in Third Quarter
National Financial Partners Corp. (NYSE: NFP), New York, reported third quarter 2011 net income of $9.3 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared with net income of $8.2 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2010.

Product

American General

AG Choice Index GUL^SM approved for sale in Minnesota; ContinUL Extend Plus® discontinued in Vermont
Read the bulletin for details and transition rules.

AG Choice Index GUL^SM and AG Secure Lifetime GUL® now approved in PA
Both guaranteed universal life products are now approved in Pennsylvania. Learn more from the bulletin.

AG Choice Index GUL^SM now Approved in NY
AG Choice Index GUL has been approved in the state of NY. Learn more from bulletin.

AG Lifetime Income Builder^SM New State Availability
Optional living benefit rider for index annuities, now approved in VA.

Banner

Banner Lowers OPTerm Rates Effective November 1
The price reductions are evident for all term periods (10, 15, 20 and 30 year plans).  The new rates will apply to all applications received at the respective home office on or after November 1. Any policy issued on or after November 1 will receive the new rates. Policies recently issued can be considered for reissue with the new rates provided the free look period has not expired. Read more

Term Riders Now Available in Montana
As of November 2nd, Term Riders will be available on OPTerm 15, 20 and 30 year term plans sold in Montana. The Term Rider is an additional insurance rider that provides temporary life insurance coverage for a specified number of years after which coverage provided by this rider will cease. Read more. Specifications, promotional materials, and much more can be found on the Term Riders Microsite!

Lincoln Benefit

TrueTerm Rates Are Going Down Effective November 21
The rate changes will reduce rates in select cells up to 20%, with typical rate reductions in the range of 5-15%. A policy with an application date after October 21 and issued prior to November 21 may have their policy re-issued to receive the new rates without additional underwriting. Click here for the nationwide bulletin | Click here for the New York bulletin

Echelon Index UL Rates Are Changing
Echelon Index UL Rates have changed effective November 1, 2011. Learn more

MassMutual

MassMutual Increases Dividend to 7.0 %
MassMutual reports a 15BP increase in their 2012 Dividend Interest Rate from 6.85% to 7.0%. It has approved payment of an estimated $1.33 billion in dividends to eligible participating policyholders in 2012, an increase of $105.5 million over the prior year, representing an 8.6 percent increase. Read more | MassMutual 2012 Dividend Interest Rates vs. Treasury Rates

MetLife

Changes to UL and VUL Premium Payment Modes
Effective November 1, all in-force Universal Life (UL) and Variable Universal Life (VUL) policies requesting a change in payment mode from less frequent to more frequent will require a signed T-Form. Click here for more

Term Conversion Plus Applications Due November 14
Applications for Term Conversion Plus must be received in good order in the home office by November 14. Click to view the Program Details or Producer FAQs.

Nationwide

Introducing Nationwide YourLife Indexed UL November 7
We're pleased to announce that we'll soon be launching Nationwide YourLife^® Indexed UL, a competitive solution for clients looking for potential for growth with the guarantees they want. Read more