Bulletins
Bulletins
Bulletins
Long Term Care and Disability Insurance
What has 80 years of Social Security taught us?
Presented by Leonard Berthelsen Looking back on the eighty years since the creation of Social Security, the idea of retirement has changed for many of us, and in some respects, not changed anything at all for others. Understanding that in 1935 when Social Security was established, there weren’t many opportunities for workers to save for the future. Our nation was coming off the worst financial disaster in history just six years earlier and was still struggling to get people back to work and recreate faith and trust in the financial markets and the government. Now here is a president who wants people to save for the future (retirement) when folks were still struggling to put food on the table and pay for basic necessities, a bold move for any elected official. It may have been prudent back then to hold the position of waiting for the economy to improve and more folks were working. However, President Franklin D. Roosevelt saw this as an opportunity to provide some minimum protection and savings for the average American worker when they did want to retire because he knew America was on the verge of enormous growth and prosperity. The average American worker lived to be about 65 in 1935, so when you look at how the program was built it seemed to make actuarial sense. Now we see the average individual living well into their 70’s, 80’s and beyond. It’s no wonder there’s endless pressure on the system. In addition, baby boomers are retiring en masse. We have a system that hasn’t kept pace with the realities of economic changes. And we have a political environment that for over 50 years hasn’t wanted to address the real need for change to the formula or make the tough decision to increase taxes. Seems to be really negative, right? Not so fast. As I watched my grandparents retire and rely on Social Security as their full source of retirement income and then my parents, it became clear early on that it did make a difference for them and it made their quality of life better. It was a simpler time back then. They stayed in the home they bought early in their marriage through those retirement years. No mortgage payments after retirement. They did not live beyond their means and watched their expenses. They were able to take annual vacations and “splurge” every now and then on something special. As pensions became popular with many companies in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s as a way of recruiting good, hard working loyal employees, Social Security quickly became viewed as a secondary source of income for these pensioners when they retired. This was a real game changer in the eyes of many Americans. For those who weren’t lucky enough to have a pension where they worked, they were left to fend for themselves and save for retirement. For the ones who didn’t save, at least Social Security was there. We entered the era of pension elimination in many companies beginning in the 1970’s as a means of scaling back expenses for companies and eliminating the huge liability that kept many companies from expanding and growing due to their obligation on these pension plans. As the pensions slowly faded away, we were introduced to savings via the employer, with both the employer and employee contributing but the employee owning the savings plan, the 401(k) was born. The one thing through all of these changes that remained a staple was Social Security. It’s been there since 1935 providing retirement benefits to millions of American workers. For some it is their only means of financial independence; for others it simply supplements their income during retirement. Whatever group you fall into, Social Security does make a difference. This is a program that, 80 years later, is still delivering on its promises. I want to look at Social Security from the glass half-full perspective, because it is doing what it was designed to do. As we age into the next two decades, certainly some things will need to change. It is being projected that in ten years from now, there will be only three to four workers supporting every one retiree. Technology replaces workers as it has done for decades. We have to be smart and sharp with our attitudes and our actions. I believe Social Security will be there for every working American that contributed the minimum requirement, and will continue to do it through their retirement years. Will the system change, probably? Will we agree or like all the changes, maybe, maybe not? I think the one constant will always be there and that constant is Social Security. President Roosevelt saw a future where American workers could live in retirement with dignity, without worry of where their next meal was coming from, but also recognizing that each individual needed to take personal ownership in how that retirement was going to be financed. Social Security can only do so much. We need to do the rest.
Annuities
Fixed Index Annuities: Sales growing, products evolving!
Presented by Richard Mangiameli For the first time, FIAs accounted for more than 50% of the market share for all annuity sales! Not only did sales reach over $48 billion in 2014, they are also gaining popularity in the “Broker-Dealer” channel. FIAs totaled 10% of the total broker-dealer annuity sales in 2014, and broker-dealers expect that share to grow. There are many financial planners who think that Fixed Index Annuities are the worst – too complicated and too many moving parts. It’s important that they take a closer look. FIAs are not complicated and there are not too many moving parts, and with the growth FIAs are having, they are not the worst things out there for your clients. FIAs just celebrated 20 years in the business, and they are here to stay. It would greatly help your business and your clients for you to learn and understand Fixed Index Annuities. Here is how you can learn more – call an Independent Marketing Office (IMO) such as Financial Brokerage, who has been in the market for over two decades and works with several insurance companies who offer FIAs, and will give you a non-bias opinion. Read this article for more information: http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2015/07/23/fixed-index-annuities-sales-growing-products-evolv?eNL=55b2baff150ba06858c48520&utm_source=LHPro_Daily&utm_medium=EMC-Email_editorial&utm_campaign=07272015&_LID=98077815
Bulletins
Transamerica – Product Update
Adjustments to the Maximum Illustrated Rates
Effective September 1, 2015, the TransWare® and Winflex illustrations systems will reflect new Maximum Illustrated Rates for TransNavigator® IUL new business and inforce illustrations. The new Maximum Illustrated Rates are as follows:
| Prior to 9/1/2015 | Effective 9/1/2015 | |
| S&P 500®Index Account | 7.66% | 6.86% |
| Global Index Account | 9.03% | 6.86% |
| S&P 500®Index Plus Account | 9.14% | 6.86% |
| Global Index Account Plus | 10.00% | 6.86% |
We recommend that you begin using the new lower maximum illustrated rates immediately. Using the new rates today will ensure that the illustration you share with your client will be consistent with the one included in the policy and with inforce policy illustrations.
Adjusting the Illustrated Rate in the Illustration
IUL illustrations default to the maximum illustrated rate. However, the illustration software allows you the flexibility to lower the rate to the new maximum illustrated rate, or any rate between the floor and the maximum. To change the rate, please access:
* TransWare® – Illustration Options > Allocation > Specific Allocation
* Winflex – Start Winflex Web > Transamerica > TransNavigator® IUL > Create Client > Rate/Funds
If you have any questions regarding AG49 or our new Maximum Illustrated Rates, please contact the Transamerica Sales Desk.
Bulletins