3 Mark Financial, Inc.

10/31/2018

Join Lauren Hicks from Prudential as she introduces: 

It's Why We Call It Advantage UL 

Webinar Later Today at 3:00 pm central

he Lincoln Leader

Click here to read the latest edition of the Lincoln Leader for updates on enhanced variable product underwriting, enhancements to pending website case tools, and more. 

 How Cash Value Life Insurance Adds Value to a Client's Strategy

One of the top five reasons why Americans purchase life insurance is to supplement their retirement income. See how to start a conversation with clients in your practice who are risk-averse, but would like to experience growth linked to market opportunities.  Learn more.

Market Insights: Stormier Data for September

Retail spending was weaker for a second consecutive month in September with total retail sales up by only 0.1 percent. Despite the slower activity, retail sales were up solidly for the third quarter as a whole (rising 1.3 percent) — still setting the stage for further above-trend GDP growth for the period.  Read more.

New Sharper Term Rates 

At all ages, classes, amounts, and durations, OPTerm pricing* for Banner ranks #1 - 79% of the time. For William Penn, pricing ranks #1 - 80% of the time. October 8, 2018 - New rates include a mix of decreases and increases. Rate decreases in more than 40% of pricing cells improved our ranking against core competitors. Less than 7% of rates increased and focused on female tobacco users at higher face amounts.  Read more.

A Bridge Not Too Far from GUL

It's clear that GUL and IUL are more equal in guarantee strength than once thought. And we all know which targets are traditionally higher... But it's important to understand that bridging from GUL to protection-focused IUL also yields numerous other benefits.  Read more.

How Will Your Clients' Retirement Expenses Get Paid?

Learn about an IUL planning strategy that gives your clients additional options to consider - even if their retirement savings runs out.  Learn more.

 Help Your Clients Understand Their Planning Options

When discussing the LTC or Chronic Illness Rider on a life policy, your clients may have questions. We have client-approved brochures that you can use as you present these two planning options.  Learn more.

Eclipse and Omega Builder IUL Retiring Dec. 28

As a valued partner, you're receiving advanced notice of an upcoming product change. Eclipse Indexed Universal Life (IUL) and Omega Builder IUL will no longer be offered for sale effective Friday, December 28, 2018, in all states (except in New York). While these products are being retired, we'll continue to offer Orion IUL as a competitive alternative for your clients' death benefit and accumulation needs. We appreciate your continued support of Securian Financial. See how Orion’s competitive features stack up against the competition..  

News Flash: Term Reprice!

Reprice on PL Promise Term1 as of 10/15! Use the marketing toolkit to get the message out to your producers ASAP.  Get toolkit.

CJA=CPA + QBI

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) made several changes to the tax code effective for 2018.  In addition to lowering some business tax rates, a new 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction may be available to pass through entity clients with joint total taxable income of $315,000 or less ($157,500 or less if single).
 
How can we help? A qualified retirement plan! Contributions to a qualified plan are still TOP LINE DEDUCTIONS.  What does that mean?  It means employer contributions to a qualified retirement plan may help lower a client’s income enough to take up to an additional 20% deduction on their taxes.  Talk to your CPA contacts today about the way a new qualified plan can help their clients utilize the new QBI deduction for 2018.

For more information on QBIs, click here.

Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

Jill Perlin, Vice President, Advanced Planning and Sales Training, recently wrote an article on life insurance opportunities following the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.  Read more.

Email These Videos to Clients in One Easy Click

Talking about life insurance protection can be easy when you have something to share. The four new life “Conversations” campaign videos are just right for that purpose. Email them to clients and prospects today.  Read more.

Your Product Options Are Growing

The improved BrightLife® Grow Series 159, is equipped with many of the great features from the previous version, plus new features such as a streamlined suite of indexed options, the addition of two popular riders and more.  Learn more.

 Long-Term Care Services Rider (LTCSR) Becomes More Competitive in Two States

Enhancements to the LTCSR for Connecticut have been introduced, and the maximum issue age has been increased to 70 for Florida.  Read more.

 Timely and Proactive Information on Tax Reform

Hear updates from experts on Section 199(A) and pass through entity savings under the Tax Cut & Jobs Act. 22-minute podcast. Read the eNotice.

Trouble with the Mortality Curve? (repeat entry)

Are increasing mortality expenses ruining your sales pitch? It might be time to change your game. Global Atlantic’s new Lifetime Foundation ELITE IUL is designed to eliminate mortality charges after age 90*, helping to keep the policy in force longer for less.  Learn more.

A Critical Part of Your Clients’ Planning

See how John Hancock’s Critical Illness Benefit rider can provide protection from the unpredictable costs of a critical illness -- helping to ensure your clients' long-term financial plans stay on track.  

 A Simple and Convenient Funding Strategy

The Preliminary Funding Account (PFA) is a new tool to help your clients fund their policies. Available on Accumulation IUL '18, the PFA provides a simple, convenient, and tax-efficient process for your clients.  Learn more. 

 Valuation of Life Insurance Policies

Understanding "What is the value of a life insurance policy” can result in complex and inconsistent answers for many reasons. Use this Because You Asked to get the answers you need to address this topic. 

 Webinar Replay Advanced Planning and Underwriting

Senior leaders from the AALU and John Hancock Insurance partnered together for a webinar that discussed changes impacting the life insurance industry, with a focus on life insurance opportunities and underwriting considerations for business owners in the wake of tax reform. The On-Demand replay is now available to watch at your convenience.  Watch now.

Webinar: The Time to Plan for LTC is Now

November is Life Insurance Awareness Month, and the time to plan is now! Join our experts for this interactive, 20-minute webinar to learn about how life insurance with a long-term care rider can protect your clients retirement income and assets from a costly long-term care event and help alleviate the emotional and physical burden that your clients loved ones could face should a long-term care event occur.  Learn more.

Introducing Base Index Strategies; Accelerated Death Benefit and Charitable Giving Riders in California

We are pleased to announce that effective Oct. 15, 2018, Symetra has added new Base Index Strategies to Accumulator IUL, for a total of nine diversified index crediting strategies, among other updates.  Learn more.

The Loan-Based Split Dollar Method

Did you know that Columbus Life policies can be funded with business assets in a tax-efficient manner and provide supplemental retirement income? They can by using the split dollar method.  Learn more.

Hybrid or linked-benefit products are a fresh approach to retirement and estate planning. These products, cover opposing risk groups by combining long-term care coverage with life insurance or an annuity.

Another Advantage of Traditional LTCi

A unique advantage of traditional LTCi is the tax benefits it offers.  Here's why.

Coming in November

Are you ready for it? November is LTC Awareness Month! (It's also Sweet Potato Awareness Month, but that's another story.) LTC Awareness Month is the perfect time to remind your agents to pull up a chair and start talking with their clients about the importance of planning for long-term care.  Read more.

Leverage LTC Awareness Month to Close Sales

November is Long-Term Care (LTC) Awareness Month. This is the perfect time to help your clients learn more about the importance of LTC coverage and find affordable solutions to their long-term care needs. To help you make the most out of this opportunity, use our 2018 LTC Awareness Month marketing plan. This includes useful tips and tools about the world of caregiving, the potential risks of not being financially protected and the benefits of having a long-term care strategy.  View plan. 

ASSET TRANSFER TIPS 

For all annuity carriers

Transferring assets, or exchanging money via section 1035 of the tax code, may have tax consequences. Any questions regarding taxation should be referred to a qualified tax professional.

Call the Financial Institution/Insurance Company to see what they require to transfer the money e. g. some financial institutions, like Fidelity, require a call from the client to release money, others like Northwestern Mutual require their own surrender form to accompany the 1035/transfer form from the company receiving the money.

Attach a copy of a current policy/ account statement for the funds being transferred to the 1035/transfer document.

Complete the 1035/transfer form carefully and completely. Be sure all necessary signatures are obtained.

Send original transfer forms with the application to 3 Mark for processing.

Annuity Fact Finder 

Click here for a great Annuity Fact Finder

NEW Vitality Welcome Kits Now Going Directly to New Customers

We’ve made it even easier for your clients to get started with the John Hancock Vitality Program. That’s because they’ll now receive their Vitality welcome kits directly from John Hancock, along with welcome emails telling them how to register for the program, complete their online Vitality Health Review (VHR), and download our Vitality mobile app. Visit JHRedefiningLife.com to learn more about John Hancock Vitality.

Important Year-End Reminders

The countdown to year end is on, and our focus will be on helping you achieve a strong finish. For cases you are targeting to include in your 2018 sales results, please note the key submission deadlines outlined in this flyer.

Simplified Issue Underwriting Updates

We have made two improvements to Simplified Issue Underwriting - making it even quicker to get an underwriting decision.  Learn more.

Year-End Deadlines

Lincoln’s Underwriting & New Business department is committed to helping you meet your year-end goals and objectives. Our focus is to ensure the maximum amount of your business is placed by close of business on December 31, 2018. To assist in placing year end business, we encourage you to submit outstanding requirements as early in December as possible. Learn more.

Know What's Coming with PL Smooth Sailing Underwriting

Are today’s ‘black box’ fluidless underwriting programs causing you to lose credibility with your clients? Avoid embarrassment! Fluidless underwriting offers should be predictable and easy to explain.  Get the toolkit.

Move Your Business Forward with PruFast Track 

PruFast Track is Prudential’s accelerated underwriting process that’s faster, less invasive, and more efficient than traditional underwriting. Take the “Try 5 Challenge” to experience the ease and convenience of PruFast Track.  Read more.

9 Tips to Get Your Business in Before Year End

As we near year end, life insurance professionals across the industry have a mutual understanding that the most imperative deadline of the year—December 31—is quickly approaching. Learn what Kenneth Byrd, Protective Life’s 2VP of New Business Operations, suggests to ensure that your cases are placed by December 31, 2018.  Read the 9 tips.

2018 Holiday Schedule and Year-End Processing Guidelines

Now that you’ve read Kenneth’s year-end tips, familiarize yourself with our 2018 holiday schedule and processing guidelines—which will help you expedite your business during this time.  View important dates.

 Introducing our Quick Quote Underwriting Team

In an effort to ease Protective Life’s underwriting process, we recently created a dedicated team to support your Quick Quote needs. And thanks to this team, we’re able to process your cases quickly and more efficiently, just in time for year end.  Learn more.