Annuity

Great American Life – Rider Changes

Rider Changes Effective April 21 Due to the persistently low interest rate environment, the following changes will be effective on April 21, 2015:
  •  IncomeSecure – income rider
    • The rollup credit is changing to 9% from 10%
    • The annual charge is increasing to 0.95%
  •  Inheritance Enhancer – death benefit rider
    • The rollup credit is changing to 8% from 9%
    • The annual charge is increasing to 0.95%
  •  IncomeSustainer Plus – income and death benefit rider
    • The rollup credit is changing to 7% from 8%
    • The annual charge is increasing to 1.35%
Income percentages for the IncomeSecure and IncomeSustainer Plus will remain the same. For complete rider details, click here. New Business Notes In order to receive current rider benefits, applications must be signed by April 20, 2015 and received by April 27, 2015. All funds must be received in the Home Office by June 5, 2015.
Annuity

American Equity – Internal Rollover Program Update

AEL Field_Header_Memo
American Equity is announcing changes to our internal rollover program. We appreciate your help and cooperation by working within the updated parameters as outlined below.
Effective April 17, 2015, the following guidelines will apply any time funds are being moved from an existing American Equity annuity to another American Equity annuity (new or active).
  • The amount being transferred/1035 exchanged from an existing annuity has to be at least $5,000. We will not accept smaller dollar amounts from more than one annuity to get to the $5,000 minimum.
  • If an annuity was funded by an internal transfer/1035 exchange, we will not process an internal transfer/1035 exchange out of that contract for three years. Additional premium will not be accepted if a client requests a penalty free withdrawal and then submits it as additional premium.
  • The Suitability Department reviews each of the internal rollovers in their totality, which includes the comparison of rates/caps and Lifetime Income Benefit Rider rollups/payouts on both annuities.
Please note: These guidelines are subject to change. If there is a unique situation that does not meet the above criteria, please submit a Potential Business form (Form #4079) for review prior to the application being written.
Life Insurance

What Do You Do?

Presented by Jim Linn Over a decade ago I attended a home office seminar and the CEO of the company was asked to give a brief address to the class. He introduced himself and he posed a simple question to us all: “What do you do?” The hands went up and the typical answers were, “I sell Life Insurance”, “I provide health insurance programs”, “I offer home and auto insurance”. When all the agents had finished he commented and said “all very good answers, and typically what I hear from most agents, but do you want to be defined as someone that sells a product, or would you prefer to be a trusted partner whose primary goal is protection and peace of mind?” He shared with us a phrase to use when working with clients that encompasses all of the areas we as agents work in whether you are a life only agent, health only, or P&C Agent. When asked “What do you do?” try this statement: “I provide enough of the right type of insurance to ensure my clients are protected and have peace of mind.” This statement works no matter what line or lines of insurance you work within. It captures the basis of why people purchase insurance whether it is P&C, Life, Health, Disability etc. By using this type of statement you are no longer selling a product, you are letting the client/prospect know you have their best interest in mind.