3 Mark Financial, Inc.

May 12, 2021

Join Jacquelyn Baker and Howard Klebanow, for 

Income Protection Solutions 101

Webinar Later Today at 3:00 pm central

May is Disability Awareness month!

Discover opportunities to protect your client's income if an injury or sickness prevents them from working.

Join Jacquelyn Baker and Howard Klebanow to explore this opportunity and learn how Berkshire Advisor Resource can help!

May is for Moms: Celebrate with Simple Acts of Love

Share with clients how the little things we do for our loved ones show we care. From picking up flowers to providing financial security with a life insurance policy, it’s the simple acts of love that make the biggest impact. Download client resource.

John Hancock Vitality Members Can Now Earn Points for COVID-19 Vaccination

John Hancock Vitality members can now earn 400 Vitality Points, simply by sharing proof of their COVID-19 vaccination. Learn more.
 
Five New ETF Portfolios Added to VUL Investment Platform

The investment story you can tell your John Hancock VUL customers just got stronger than ever with the addition of five new exchange-traded fund (ETF) portfolios comprising “The Optimized Portfolio System (TOPS),” which is managed by ValMark Advisers, Inc.  Each TOPS option offers clients a separate risk/return ratio from conservative to aggressive growth. Information about our new funds has been added to our recently updated — and client-approved — Your guide to investing and allocation options brochure.

Something Big is Coming

Estate and Gift Tax Change is in the Wind. Read more.
 
New 7702-Adjusted Products Now Available

National Life Group's universal life insurance products now have increased premium funding limits. Learn more.

Step Up Your Sales with Symetra

Life insurance is more than just a financial safety net for loved ones.  That’s why Symetra offers a suite of product solutions for clients with a variety of financial goals while also providing prospecting clues for identifying clients who may benefit from life insurance — no matter what stage of life they’re in.  Explore flyer.
 
Generate More Sales with Our Comprehensive Solutions for Split-Dollar Plans

High-quality employees provide a competitive edge that can help take a business to the next level. An employer-sponsored, split-dollar life insurance arrangement can help your clients attract and retain their industry's top talent.  View details.
 
Rewarding and Retaining Valued Executives

High-quality employees provide a competitive edge that can take your business to the next level and by offering an executive bonus plan using life insurance, you can help attract and retain your industry’s top talent. Download Executive Bonus Plan brochure.

Product Update 5/10: Lincoln’s IUL Portfolio

Learn about our competitive solutions, our new Fidelity indexed account and core strategies to help meet your customers’ needs & drive more business. Access our resources.

Own the outcome with tax management

As your clients plan for 2021 taxes, give them the confidence to reach their retirement income goals using life insurance. With tax regulation continuing to change, it’s important that your clients are building a diverse tax management plan. Help them understand how taxes impact the money they invest in the different options and the distributions they receive from those sources:

• Tax worksheet: Help your clients keep more of what they earned
• Client guide: Retirement planning using cash value life insurance
• Tax article: President Biden’s Phase I Tax Proposals for Businesses

Fidelity AIM® Dividend Indexed Account added to the Lincoln IUL suite

For your clients who have concerns about market volatility, but still want strong growth potential for their protection or retirement planning needs, the new Fidelity AIM Dividend Indexed Account Fixed Bonus offers:

• A high participation rate
• No cap and a 0% floor to maximize growth but protect from market loss
• A fixed bonus that provides guaranteed growth regardless of market performance

Visit resource center for information about  Lincoln WealthAccumulate® 2 IUL if your clients need protection with growth opportunity for living benefit needs like supplemental retirement income.

Download Lincoln WealthPreserve® 2 brochure if your clients need to protect their loved ones, retirement and/or business. Lincoln WealthPreserve® 2 IUL can provide the financial security they need. 

Challenge Accepted: Embracing the transformation of our industry

Learn more about 2021’s biggest growth opportunities and how we can help you say challenge accepted! View our resources.

Celebrate small businesses this month
   
This month we honor the 30+ million small businesses in our country — and the amazing people who run them. You can help your business owner clients by bringing life solutions into your conversations. Visit our website for client resources to start a conversation with a business owner.
  

VUL Protector Reprice

Effective May 10, VUL Protector will be repriced. Learn more.
 
It Takes Fresh Insight to Deliver a Superior Client Experience

LifeInsight is Prudential’s patented online policy management tool. Learn more.

Value+ Protector II updates

We are repricing Value+ Protector II on May 15, as a result of the continued low interest rate environment while updating the Cash Value Accumulation Test (CVAT) interest rate to meet the new IRC 7702 requirements. See details.

Interest crediting rate updates

Effective May 15, interest crediting rates will be updated on our Index Universal Life (IUL) products. See bulletin for a summary of changes.

GUL rates increase

Effective May 15, premiums on Secure Lifetime GUL 3 are increasing to reflect the current market conditions. Review changes and transition rules, and get your GUL cases in on or before May 14 to receive current rates.

DCA Rider enhancement

Effective May 15, an enhanced Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) Rider will be available on all new business for our Accumulation IUL and Protection IUL products issued on or after June 2018. Learn more.

Managed Volatility Portfolios (MVP)

MVPs are among the subaccount options available with Securian’s variable life contracts. MVPs are dynamic investment portfolios seeking to reduce the effect of market volatility over the long run. Learn More.

Consumer Brochure -  Business Owner Saver Strategy (BOSS)
Sales tools for advisors to support life insurance sales strategy discussions with Business Owners.

• BOSS Consumer Brochure
• BOSS Business Profile Information for advisors

Consumer Brochure - Human Life Value

Sales tool to support advisors’ discussions with clients regarding, “How much life insurance do I need?” Download brochure.

6 Sales Ideas to Help Grow Your Business

Look no further than this video for insurance sales ideas that can help grow your business. Jeff Taber shares tips that he’s learned from agents all across the country. Watch video.
 
External Term Exchange Program FAQs

Offer your clients an opportunity to switch from term coverage to high-quality permanent insurance through our External Term Exchange Program. View this FAQ outlining program guidelines and requirements, including a list of eligible carriers. Learn More

Get Down to Business with These Sales Concepts

Try incorporating these ideas into your practice:

• Buy-Sell: Whether a large company or a small family-operated business, success is dependent on smart strategy and planning. 
• Executive Bonus: An executive bonus arrangement can be a valuable benefit for owners and key employees. 
• Key Person: Most companies have an owner, partner, or employee whose skills are vital to the success of the business.

8 Ways for Working Moms to Make Time for Financial Planning

Working full-time and taking care of kids isn’t always easy and it certainly doesn’t leave a lot of time to navigate finances. Share these tips with clients to help them manage money even with limited time.

Help Your Clients Create A Customized Will – 100% Free

Nationwide, in partnership with FreeWill has an exciting offer!  If some of your clients still have this on their to-do list, this service can be the motivator.  Bonus: you don’t have to be a Nationwide member to take advantage of this offer. Learn more.
 
Show Clients the Value of Tax-Free Income in Retirement

If you believe taxes are on the rise, this item will help you as you review retirement needs with your clients — especially those with high incomes — and consider having them invest with after-tax dollars now in order to be in a “tax-preferred” position at retirement.  Check it out here.
 
Capital Market Insights

Millennials have warmed to stocks, but many remain wary of risk.  Take a look at our  latest report from the Nationwide Capital Markets research group explores how COVID-19 has affected Millennial attitudes toward investing

The Gift of Giving

Many grandparents would like to make substantial gifts to their grandchildren but living on a fixed income can make them difficult. With the purchase of a level payment whole life policy based on their lives, grandparents can maximize their gift and guarantee the death benefit. Download our customizable marketing piece.
 
SBLI Whole Life At-A-Glance

Offer your clients a financial tool that combines a dependable death benefit with superior flexibility to meet current financial obligations — and earn very competitive commissions! View Flex Whole Life At-A-Glance flyer.

Be a Lock Star with Auto Lock

Our new feature makes it even easier to react when there is market volatility – without needing to constantly check the index values.  Auto Lock lets your clients activate an Index Lock automatically once during a crediting period. Once activated, they will lock in the day’s ending index value until the end of the crediting period – no matter what happens in the market.

Available now on new business and inforce fixed index universal life insurance policies that currently offer our Index Lock feature. To assist your clients with Auto Lock or executing an Index Lock, ensure you have the proper authorization established with each contract or policy.

Get ready to be a lock star. Visit our exclusive webpage for more details.

Ready to Gain New Life Insurance Prospects?

What do videos, success stories, and quizzes have in common? These clever tactics could be the key to generating new leads that could be converted into new policyholders! Read the latest Broad Market Insights.
 
It’s Grant Time Again.

Applications are being accepted for the Pacific Life Foundation Partner Involvement Grant Program—open to contracted Pacific Life producers. Ten grant recipients will be selected with $5,000 awarded to each chosen charity. Deadline is May 31, 2021.

Business Owner Retirement

Offer business owners a complimentary, personalized analysis that considers the value of their business, their business transition plans, and their potential retirement income sources. Read Approach brochure.
 
Buy-Sell Planning

Do your clients have a strategy in place to transfer their business to the right people, at the right time, for the right amount of money? Share Business Succession in 6 steps with clients.

Need a Powerful Accumulation Strategy? Take a second look at Strategic Objectives II VUL

If your clients are searching for strong accumulation, the solution is already in your portfolio. Strategic Objectives II VUL offers a dual blend of growth and protection to support multiple financial goals at once and help you win the sale. Download materials.
 
Protecting Your Family While Paying a Mortgage

Show clients how they can use a step premium strategy to purchase affordable IUL coverage now and cover "catch-up" payments once their mortgage is paid off. Download flyer.

Wondering how much LTC could cost your clients?

Check out the LTC Cost of Care map provided by OneAmerica. This site will allow you to estimate what care could cost on an annual, monthly or daily basis in your client’s individual state.

Sales Idea: Help Your Clients Stay at Home

By walking through how LTCi provides in-home services, you can help clients feel more secure in their purchase of an LTCi policy. Download sales idea.

The Pros of Indemnity vs Reimbursement With Asset Based LTC

View Case Study 

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

Offer Clients a Powerful Income Advantage for the “GO-GO” Years

The Max Income Option of Lifetime Income Choice provides high initial income of 6.25% for 65-year-old clients at a time during retirement when spending is likely to be the greatest. Read more.
 
Adding a Fixed Index Annuity May Enhance Returns and Reduce Costs

Replacing a portion of fixed income assets with a fixed index annuity may provide more asset, income and protection guarantees for your clients and more revenues for you. Read sales flyer.
 
The Power to Allocate Less and Do More With Your Client’s Money

Learn more about the benefits of a Power Series Index Annuity issued with the Lifetime Income Choice guaranteed living benefit rider — visit income comparison tool or read brochure.

Attention Ohio Producers - Best Interest Changes are Here

Ohio has updated the requirements around Best Interest and suitability in annuity transactions. New training will be required to be able to submit applications for any annuity products, including Asset Care annuity funding whole life. These changes for Ohio went into effect February 14, 2021. Learn more.

AIG Lifting of COVID-19 underwriting restrictions

In the wake of positive COVID-19 case trends, we are pleased to announce that, effective May 12, 2021, our temporary underwriting restrictions that have been in place since April 2020 will be lifted and our normal pre-COVID-19 underwriting guidelines will be in effect. We will continue to require a current Statement of Health for all policy approvals. Learn more.

Faster Case Processing due to Underwriting Improvements 

In partnership with 3 Mark, AIG implemented significant improvements in their underwriting process and therefore has been able to process cases faster than before. A key factor contributing to faster processing is that AIG has a dedicated underwriter for 3 Mark who reviews our quick cases. This coupled with AIG's product suite provides you with viable solutions for your clients.

New Application Statuses guide

View our new one-page guide that explains the meaning of various application statuses, listed in the order in which they may be seen on a case.

Update to COVID-19 application requirements 
 
Effective immediately, we are pleased to announce that we have eliminated the following COVID-19 application requirements that were instituted last year:

• The supplemental application question “Have you, or anyone in your household, been exposed to any person known to have tested positive for COVID-19?”
• The supplemental Declaration of Insurability delivery requirement for insureds over age 65 and for all cases with a 1035 exchange

Underwriting reserves the right to request these requirements as needed. If you have any questions, please contact your John Hancock underwriter.

Help Your Business Move Fast…Faster…Fastest

In just three simple steps, you can get business done faster with our streamlined drop ticket solution. No meddlesome paperwork, no paramed scheduling, no stress. Learn more.

 COVID-19 Temporary Underwriting Guidelines Revised
  
Effective May 10, 2021, Lincoln’s COVID-19 temporary underwriting guidelines have been modified, including:

• The Table Reduction Program (TRP) is now available! Consideration for up to $10 million maximum face amount, through age 70, for Table 3 to Standard rate classes
• Internal Retention Limits have been increased up to $20 million for permanent life insurance products
• Substandard ratings, up to Table 4, will be considered for all ages through 80

Lab Lift Exam Substitution Boosts Exam-free Approvals to Over 50%

Offer a super easy application experience while giving more clients a convenient approval process. Accelerated underwriting opportunities are built right into the digital application and our new Lab Lift exam substitution program boosts exam-free approvals to over 50% for eligible clients. Read Lab Lift Overview.

Our Fully-Underwritten Products Are Available on Speed eTicket

We're pleased to announce that our fully-underwritten IUL and UL products are now available on iPipeline Speed eTicket (Drop Ticket). See details.
 
The Long-Term Care Rider Can Now Be Submitted Using e-App

Effective immediately, the Long-Term Care Rider available on our Income Advantage IUL and Life Protection Advantage IUL products can now be applied for using the iPipeline e-Application system.