Revised NAIC Model Regulation Adopted in 18 States … Additional Training Required
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) revised the Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation 275 in February of 2020. The revisions require completion of either a 1-hour General Annuity Training CE course available to producers who have taken the previous NAIC Annuity Suitability training or a new 4-hour General Annuity Training CE for those who have not taken it previously. General Annuity Training CE must be completed with a training vendor approved by the state in which they are selling.
The revision is being reviewed by various state insurance departments and has been adopted by 18 states. Before doing business in these states, agents must fulfill the General Annuity Training requirement. | more
Lincoln National Now in Vive
Lincoln National’s TermAccel & LifeElements Term plans are now available in Vive for all states except New York. Vive is an exclusive term life insurance submission platform only available to LIBRA Insurance Partners and also includes term products offer by American General, Banner Life, Pacific Life, Principal, Protective, Prudential, United States Life NY and William Penn NY. Vive simplifies the submission of your term life business with a fairly uniform process with only a few variations from company to company. Contact us to learn more about Vive or to schedule a demo.
American General Now Offers Accelerated Underwriting on Term
American General and United States Life NY are now offering Accelerated Underwriting through Vive for all Select-a-Term guarantee periods in all states. The process is available for issue ages 20-59 for a maximum face amount of $1,000,000. Currently, American General’s accelerated underwriting processes for term and IUL are separate so please contact us prior to submitting for situations where both term and IUL are being applied for with American General or United States Life NY.
Principal Exiting Fixed Annuity & Individual Life Insurance Marketplace
Principal Financial Group recently concluded a strategic review initiated in February and has decided to prioritize fee-based businesses and focus on three key areas: retirement in the U.S. and select emerging markets, global asset management and U.S. specialty benefits and protection in the small-to-medium-sized business market. With this new focus, Principal will be exiting both the fixed annuity and the “individual” life insurance marketplaces. Principal will continue to offer life insurance solutions in the business environment (keyperson, buy/sell, NQDC, COLI) focusing on small/medium-sized businesses.
Principal will continue to accept all life insurance applications through September 30, 2021. After this date, only business-related life insurance applications will be accepted. Principal’s Disability protection portfolio remains unchanged with no foreseen changes coming.
While we are disappointed by this decision, we are not surprised. This is just another in a continuing trend of activist investors compelling publicly traded companies to exit the life insurance marketplace. This strategy enriches their coffers, often at the expense of existing policyowners.
Please contact us if you or your clients have any questions or concerns regarding this announcement or if you would like us review any Principal fixed annuity or life insurance cases yet to be submitted. | more
MassMutual Joins The Brokers Network
The Brokers Network is proud to announce our newest addition, MassMutual. Rated A++ (Superior) by A.M. Best, MassMutual is a Forbes 500 company with over $300 billion in assets and over $830 billion of protection inforce. Contact us for more information on MassMutual’s portfolio of whole life, term life, guaranteed universal life, disability and long-term care products.
COVID-19 Product & Underwriting Updates
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, life insurance companies have announced an unprecedented number changes to their life products and underwriting. These changes have altered the life insurance landscape like never before. While some of these changes have actually been beneficial – like increased death benefit amounts for Accelerated Underwriting and the introduction of new APS retrieval options – others have not been so favorable. Please use the resources below to guide you through the many changes that have been announced.
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- Accelerated Underwriting Guidelines – overview of the various term, universal life and whole life accelerated underwriting programs we offer.
- COVID-19 Underwriting Restrictions – summary of current life insurance underwriting restrictions.
- COVID-19 Announcements – detailed listing of life insurance company product, underwriting and workflow changes.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for additional information on any of the above or for assistance in structuring an application process for your clients to maximize social distancing.
Introducing Delaware Life
The Brokers Network is proud to announce the addition of Delaware Life to our portfolio of fixed annuity solutions. Contact us for more information on their great multi-year guarantee and fixed indexed annuities with some of the highest trail commissions in the industry.
Indexed Universal Life Changes
Actuarial Guideline 49 (AG-49) was adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in 2015 to bring uniformity to indexed universal life (IUL) illustrated rates. A revised version known as AG-49A was approved by the NAIC earlier this year to address illustrated rates for the latest innovations of IUL products, including multiplier and buy-up features. To comply with AG-49A, life insurance companies are either modifying their existing IUL products or introducing new IUL products this month. If you have any outstanding sales opportunities, we encourage to submit your applications by November 19, 2020, or contact us for updated illustrations that will comply with AG-49A.
Savings Bank Mutual Increases No-Exam Underwriting to $750,000
Effective October 15, 2020, Savings Bank Mutual Life (SBLI) increased the maximum face amount for their unique Accelerated Underwriting process, which is guaranteed for anyone ages 18-60, from $500,000 to $750,000 all risk classes. The process is available on all SBLI term and whole life insurance products and provides expedited underwriting with no in-person contact to maximize social distancing.
New Fixed Annuity Options with Oceanview Life & Annuity and Oxford Life
The Brokers Network recently enhanced their fixed annuity portfolio with the additions of Oceanview Life & Annuity and Oxford Life. Though completely unrelated companies, Oceanview and Oxford Life were both established west of the Mississippi in 1965. Oceanview and Oxford Life have relatively new product portfolios so they are not strained by old blocks of business in this near 0% interest rate environment. We invite you to learn more about these new options and how their guaranteed fixed annuity solutions can help your clients.