3 Mark Financial, Inc.

12/12/2018

2019 Policyholder Dividend Scales

The Board of Directors of Prudential Insurance has approved payment of approximately $1.7 billion in dividends in 2019 for participating individual life insurance policies and annuity contracts in Prudential’s Closed Block. The 2019 payment represents a continuation of the 2018 dividend scales for 2019.  Read more.

Not Your Average Hybrid

Standalone LTC insurance policies might not be appropriate for everyone anymore, but “solutions exist in the form of hybrid products,” writes Tim Heslin, Chief Product and Underwriting Officer, AIG Life Insurance. LTC and CI riders, when combined with Life Insurance, can provide viable “hybrid” alternatives.  Learn more.

 Illustration Generation Station Combo

Upgrade your agents to the express train for success! While charting your client’s financial destination with an illustration, give them the added bonus of a Generation Station Report so they know WHAT to sell based on the client’s specific life stage, as well as HOW to sell it based on their generation. Help your agents get on track. It’s easy and fast!  Learn more.

Right Up Your Alley: New Term Life Answers Rates

Our new Term Life Answers rates and monthly modal factor set you up for a perfect strike. Read more.

 Use IUL and Term to Meet Your Clients' Life Insurance Needs

Teaming an Income Advantage policy up with a Term Life Answers policy may be an ideal solution for clients who want to plan ahead for retirement, but also have a larger temporary life insurance need. Read more.

 Guide to Selling Critical Advantage

Check out these tools to help you be successful in selling Critical Advantage.  Read more.

NEW 35 and 40 Year Term Options!

Give your clients the option to purchase simple, straightforward protection that can cover them into retirement and beyond. Our competitive, guaranteed level term OPTerm series now comes in durations of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years! OPTerm 35 and 40 provide the same great pricing and service that you have come to know from Legal & General America.  Learn more

Market Insights: Cooler Hiring in November

Payroll employment grew by 155,000 in November, slower than market expectations of around 190,000. Still, job gains through 11 months in 2018 add up to 2.27 million, more than the total for all of 2017, while the three-month average remains solid at 170,000. Most economists view monthly job gains over 100,000 as being above trend at this stage of an expansion.  Read more.

Video and More: Help Businesses Attract and Keep Top Talent

Show employers how key employee benefits can help them recruit, reward, retain and retire their top talent. These benefits can help employees make up for benefits lost due to government restrictions placed on qualified retirement plans. The result? More engaged and loyal employees — and a great recruiting tool, too.  Read more.

Video: Transitioning a Book of Business with Doug Bailey

Doug Bailey shares his experience on transitioning a book of insurance business, working with renowned Columbus Life producer Ray Marks to serve his clients into the next generation. Watch now.

Will Your Retirement Plan Be Ready When You’re Ready for Retirement?

There are many factors that can suddenly and adversely impact your retirement funds, including market downturns, unexpected expenses, even questions over the reliability of social security. Having back-up plans in place with potential supplemental sources of income is essential.  Read more.

Protective Advantage Choice UL Product Changes January 1, 2019

At Protective Life, delivering what’s promised is a decision—one we make every day—and doing the right thing is the foundation of everything we do. This is why we wish to inform you that we are repricing our Protective Advantage Choice UL product. The reprice enables us to continue offering this solid, well-designed protection solution that meets our customers’ expectations and helps us deliver on our promises—together.  Read more.

Grow Your Business With an Industry Leading Client Solution

The new Protection IUL leads the industry in providing the most complete IUL product for death benefit protection.  Learn more.

 State Estate Tax Planning

For clients living in the states that levy separate, state-level estate and/or inheritance taxes, estate tax planning continues to be very important. Life insurance owned by an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) is often the ideal funding mechanism to pay state estate taxes because it creates a tax-free source of liquidity via the death benefit when it’s needed most. State Estate Taxes Blog Post. Estate Planning Client Guide. FAQs: State Estate Taxes.

 John Hancock Central Intelligence

Central Intelligence (CI) is John Hancock’s monthly publication and podcast which summarizes important court rulings and legislative updates.

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.

Best In Market Term Conversion Plus Program Extended Due to Popular Demand

The Term Conversion Plus program has been extended to year-end. Add AXA’s Long-Term Care ServicesSM Rider with only a streamlined questionnaire and no additional medical requirements. Learn about AXA’s three conversion programs in this simple chart.

 BrightLife Grow Now Approved in CA and NY

Explore top BrightLife® Grow sales ideas to help clients get their financial, estate and business plans in shape.

Webinar: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 has presented some unique challenges as well as planning opportunities. After approximately one year from the time the act was signed, we now have more clarity with the provisions under the act and how they will effect both individuals and businesses. Please join The Lafayette Life Insurance Company at 11:30 AM EDT on December 18, for a discussion with Advanced Markets Assistant Vice President Michael Buckner, CLU, ChFC, RICP, CPC, QPA, QKA in which he will present an overview of the tax law changes as well as some specialized planning opportunities involving both life insurance and annuities. Register here.

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.

LTC Marketing Promotions

Did you know that we recently promoted the following marketing resources and tools?  

National Webinar in October on the multiple solutions we now offer to cover extended care needs.  Learn more.

  Webinar: Let’s Talk LTCi Tax Advantages

Advanced Markets Specialist Tom Fridrich will talk about the tax-saving potential of a traditional LTCi policy on November 14. Learn how you can help your clients - individuals and business owners alike - reduce their tax bill while planning for their future long-term care needs. Learn more.

LTC Riders: Understanding the Differences in Design

Watch this short video to understand the differences between an LTC Rider that uses a reimbursement model and one that uses an indemnity model.  Learn more.

 Protect Your Clients from the Medicare Myth

A red flag in many retirement plans? Counting on Medicare to help pay for potential long-term care costs. Many clients don't understand that Medicare does not pay for the type of care they'd need during an extended health care event. But if you don't talk to clients about how they plan to pay for care, it's a red flag you'll never see – and an opportunity you'll miss. We can help you have the long-term care conversation with clients and take the first step toward presenting them with solutions that address their top concerns.  Learn more.

Online Scheduling for the MoneyGuard Personal History Interview

We’re excited to offer online scheduling for the Personal History Interview. The scheduling tool can be used by clients or advisors, and makes it easier to arrange the interview at a time that’s convenient for the client. The addition of eFeatures, such as online scheduling, is part of Lincoln’s continuous effort to create the best overall application experience for you and your clients. Learn more.

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

Commission Payment Options

Legal & General America, effective December 3, 2018, will be moving commissions paid via paper check to monthly payments only. Standard (three times each month) and bi-weekly checks will no longer be offered as payment options. There is an option to be paid by Electronic Funds Transfer, which allows more flexibility and makes getting paid easier and faster!  Learn more. 

WriteFit Underwriting: How it works

Traditionally, underwriters have reviewed medical histories, lifestyle traits and behavioral characteristics to accurately determine an applicant’s risk. With our WriteFit UnderwritingTM program we are using a new and emerging tool, to help provide a better underwriting experience for our clients. The LexisNexis® Risk Classifier takes a predictive modeling approach to provide the mortality risk of an applicant based on a number of individual behavioral factors.  Learn more.

Reminder: Important Year-End Dates

The countdown to year end is on, and we want you to finish strong. Click here for r key submission deadlines on cases you are targeting to include in your 2018 sales results.

Want to Get Your Cases Issued by Year-End?

If you’re looking to get payments for this year’s business this year, Global Atlantic’s Accelerated Underwriting Fast Lane program offers a shorter application, no exams*--take the faster route, free from obstacles like paramed exams and fluid draws, accelerated Underwriting average is 5 days, the normal underwriting average is 26 and you can access everything you need by clicking the button below.  Click here.

Faster Placement with Electronic Policy Delivery 

Announcing an electronic policy delivery solution via iPipeline's DocFast e-delivery tool.  Read more.

 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.

Coversheets for Faster Non-Med UW Processing

For the most seamless transition When submitting a case, simply include instructions in the coversheet that the case may proceed to full underwriting if it’s deemed ineligible for non-medical underwriting.  Click here to learn more.

New Guide for Insurance and Annuity Replacements

Replacements are, and continue to be, a regulatory focus.  Each state has its own replacement rules and requirements, which you are required to know, understand and follow in states where you do business.  Additionally, you are required to know, understand, and follow Western & Southern Financial Group Inc.’s (the “Company”) guidelines regarding life insurance and annuity replacements, which are explained throughout this communication. Read more.

2018 Year-End Processing News

Thank you for your partnership and business in 2018. As we approach the end of the year, please keep in mind the following dates and guidelines to ensure that all of your business processes in a smooth and timely manner.

Year-End Procedures 2018

It's time to prepare for 2018 year-end closing. As always, Pacific Life’s goal is to make this a successful year-end for everyone. View the Full Bulletin for important dates and information about year-end closing.  Full bulletin. 

Expedited Exam Ordering with ScheduleNow

We have successfully integrated ExamOne’s ScheduleNow service into our TeleLife interviews, giving clients the ability to schedule their paramedical examination immediately. And thanks to this feature, we’re able to process your cases quickly and more efficiently—just in time for year-end. View full announcement.

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.