May 2015
Marketing/Study Group Overview
STUDY GROUPS
LIFE, Inc.
Group Classification: Study Group
Mission Statement: A study group designed to provide a forum for the exchange of information, proprietary and public, among insurance professionals representing independent brokerage organizations.
Year Group Established: 1974
Products Offered: Group’s primary emphasis is on information exchange.
Companies Represented: Each member agency represents many insurance companies.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Contact Mark Rosen.
Website: N/A
Risk Appraisal Forum
Group Classification: Study Group
Mission Statement: A national study group composed of a select number of brokerage agency principals who specialize in impaired risk underwriting. The group’s purpose is to promote the active exchange of impaired risk information among risk assessment professionals (RAF members, home office and reinsurance medical directors, and underwriters) in order to: (1) increase the level of technical underwriting expertise among members and professional colleagues through continuing education, (2) inspire greater levels of trust by fostering improved communication, (3) increase awareness of potential areas for medical breakthroughs or medical advances that will most likely result in mortality improvements and longer life expectancy.
Year Group Established: 1976
Products Offered: The group’s primary emphasis is the impaired risk case.
Companies Represented: Each member agency represents many insurance companies.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Membership is considered for any brokerage agency principal with direct and ongoing impaired risk underwriting responsibility and involvement.
Website: www.riskappraisalforum.com
SAGE Group
Group Classification: Study Group
Year Group Established: 2007
Products Offered: Life, Annuities, Disability Income, LTC
Companies Represented: Each member agency represents many insurance companies.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times per year with monthly accountability calls
Looking for New Members: Not at this time
Member Qualifications: Contact Laurie Prevette
Website: N/A
SUB Centers, Inc.
Group Classification: Study Group
Mission Statement: To promote high ethical standards and to increase efficiency and cost effectiveness through the standardization of materials and methods. To foster an interchange of ideas that might benefit each member and better serve the life insurance industry through the collective talents of all.
Year Group Established: 1961
Products Offered: All life, annuities, disability insurance, health, long term care, etc.
Companies Represented: Each member agency represents many insurance companies.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two to three times a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Must have a number of years in brokerage, must not be an officer in a life insurance company, must not be a member of any other life brokerage association.
Website: www.subcenters.com
TYGERS
Group Classification: Study Group
Mission Statement: To create and maintain a network of young dedicated insurance professionals whose purpose is to share concepts, learn from each other, develop new markets, establish quality relationships and distribution systems, and prosper through the 21st century.
Year Group Established: 1996
Products Offered: The group’s primary purpose is the sharing of ideas.
Companies Represented: Each member agency represents many insurance companies.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times a year
Looking for New Members: Not at this time
Member Qualifications: Contact Jeff Mooers
Website: N/A
AimcoR Group LLC
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: AimcoR Group LLC is a national insurance marketing organization consisting of 44 member companies that focuses on distributing and servicing insurance and retirement products through a variety of channels and platforms including independent financial advisors, broker/dealers, banks, property & casualty, employee benefit firms, professional advisors (CPAs and JDs) as well as direct-to-consumers marketers. With the highest and growing number of female principals in the industry, and its 2020 Study Group consisting of 20 second-generation leaders who focus on the future of brokerage distribution, AimcoR continues to lead the industry in innovation and forward thinking. Through the recent launch of its Enterprise Insurance Group (EIG) AimcoR is taking a fresh approach in serving the institutional space in a creative, consistent and compliant manner. AimcoR members share marketing expertise, technology infrastructure, best practices, and a vision of steady, sustainable, manageable and ethical growth for many decades to come. AimcoR is the ideal partner for any independent brokerage organization that is interested in converting individual entrepreneurial success into equity ownership in a unique cooperative.
Year Group Established: 2011
Products Offered: Universal life, indexed universal life, term life, whole life, variable life, annuities, long term care, disability income.
Companies Represented: Accordia Life, American General, Genworth, John Hancock, Legal & General America, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Minnesota Life, Mutual of Omaha, National Life Group/LSW, Principal, Protective Life, Prudential, Transamerica, Voya Financial.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Three times a year
Looking for New Members: Selectively
Member Qualifications: Contact John Ziambras at 866-428-0108, X7003 or john.ziambras@aimcorgroup.com
Website: www.aimcorgroup.com; www.aimcoreig.com
AIP Marketing Alliance
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: To provide our members and partners a realistic opportunity to compete with the largest national marketing companies. AIP Marketing Alliance provides its members and partners access to a large product portfolio along with top level marketing commissions, all without having to validate individual carrier contracts.
The goal of AIP Marketing Alliance is to allow its members and partners to maintain autonomy, yet still reap the benefits that go along with large production volumes. By sharing our unbranded marketing, training and staff resources, AIP Marketing Alliance enables its members and partners to better compete with the largest life and annuity marketing companies in the recruitment and retention of agents.
Year Group Established: 2000
Products Offered: Life, annuities, long term care, Medicare supplements, DI.
Companies Represented: Allianz, Allianz Preferred, American Amicable, American Equity, American General, American Memorial, American National, Americo, Athene Annuity, AXA Equitable, Columbian Mutual, EquiTrust, Fidelity & Guaranty Life, Fidelity Life, Forethought, Foresters, Genworth, Great American, Guggenheim, Integrity, John Hancock, Lafayette Life, Legal & General America, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Mutual of Omaha, Mutual Trust, National Western, North American Company, Principal, Protective Life, Prudential, Reliance Standard, Security Mutual (NY), Symetra, Transamerica, United American, United Home Life, Voya Financial, 5 Star Life.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Annual
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Membership is available to wholesalers, recruiters and agencies with down line agents. For information, contact Chris Howe.
Website: www.AIPonline.net
The Argyle Group, Inc.
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: Our mission is to enhance our members’ professionalism and profitability by:
• Developing strategic alliances with top quality insurance carriers and by
• Developing relationships with other marketing groups and
• By enhancing our members’ business management skills through education, peer review, and peer accountability.
Year Established: 1995
Products Offered: Annuities, disability income, life insurance, long term care.
Companies Represented: AIG/American General, Lincoln Financial, North American, Principal, Protective Life, Prudential.
Doing Business In: CA, FL, IL, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, TX
Meeting Frequency: Once a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Dues
Website: www.argylebrokerage.com
BRAMCO Financial
Resources
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: A life insurance marketing organization dedicated to the independent brokerage marketplace. BRAMCO has a complete focus on brokerage and aligns its members with carriers that support the independent distribution system. BRAMCO’s critical mass of intellectual capital is the main strength, which provides members with distribution expertise needed to reach higher levels of performance.
Year Group Established: 1979
Products Offered: Wide range of life and annuities both fixed and variable, long term care, disability income, and various financial instruments designed to suit an array of funding needs.
Companies Represented: Accordia Life, American General, AXA Equitable, Genworth, John Hancock, Legal & General America, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Mutual of Omaha, Nationwide, Principal, Protective Life, Prudential, SBLI, Symetra, Transamerica, United of Omaha.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Three times a year (five specialist meetings)
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Contact John Kuk at 860-539-9435.
Website: www.bramcofinancial.com
See Group’s Ad on: 33
Broadtower Insurance Solutions Inc.
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: Broadtower represents a new standard in long term care insurance distribution management. We have a singular focus to build LTCI production and expand sales success for our members. We are a value based organization driven by experienced leadership, an extensive inventory of risk management solutions, innovative business building technologies and leading edge sales training. If you are already a substantial distributor, our collaborative approach will help expand your sales opportunities and increase your profitability. We stand ready to help all our member agencies, regardless of their current production, build their LTCI line of business.
Products Offered: Long term care insurance in all its current and future forms and manifestations, stand-alone LTCI (individual/group), combo and hyrid LTCI as well as annuity combos.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Annual
Member Qualifications: Contact Ron Hagelman at 818-444-7751 or rhagelman@broadtowerinsurance.com
Website: www.broadtowerinsurance.com
Broker’s Health Insurance
Network, Inc.
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: The Broker’s Health Insurance Network was founded in 1987 with the specific purpose of providing an effective promotion and distribution channel for the health industry’s products and services. The Broker’s Health Insurance Network includes 20 major brokerage agencies and affiliates with countless years of accumulated experience in marketing individual and group health insurance throughout the United States. Advisors, agents and brokers look to Broker’s Health Insurance Network offices to provide case management expertise, market knowledge, product training, information and superior compensation.
Year Group Established: 1988
Products Offered: Employee benefits: medical insurance, mini-med, dental, disability, health savings accounts/HDHP, international group, long term care insurance, Medicare supplement/Medigap, retirement medical, executive benefits and worksite. Individual health: critical illness, dental, disability income, health savings accounts/HDHP, travel medical, international medical, long term care insurance, short term major medical and Tricare/Champus. Senior: Medicare supplements, Part C and Part D plans, specialized training, certification and leads. Complementary products: annuities, life insurance, retirement plans, prepaid legal and more.
Companies Represented: Assurity Life, CVS Silverscript Envision Rx, Fidelity Life, IHC, Legal Shield, Merchants Benefit Administration, Mutual of Omaha, Reliance Standard, Security Life, Settler’s Life, Standard Life & Accident, United of Omaha.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Twice a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Contact Joe Pittman at 402-397-0280 or bhini@cam-omaha.com.
Website: www.bhini.com
See Group’s Ad on: 51
Capitas Financial, Inc.
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: Our mission is to be the premier wholesale life insurance brokerage organization in the nation, focusing on both national account relationships, as well as advanced markets for independent agents. Capitas specializes in matching client needs with sophisticated, unbiased solutions. Our superior point of sale network and centralized technology delivers the strength of a national organization coupled with unrivaled local service.
Year Group Established: 2001
Products Offered: Annuities, disability income, long term care, life settlements, private placement, a wide range of life insurance, and variable products.
Companies Represented: American General, AXA Equitable, Genworth, John Hancock, Legal & General America, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Minnesota Life, Mutual of Omaha, Nationwide, National Life, Pacific Life, Principal, Protective Life, Prudential, Voya Financial. Capitas works primarily with the highest rated carriers in the industry and has access to more than 100 additional carriers as needed by the client or requested by the national account.
Doing Business In: All states and Puerto Rico
Meeting Frequency: Two to three times a year.
Looking for New Partners: Yes
Website: www.capitasfinancial.com
Consolidated Marketing
Group, Inc.
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: Consolidated Marketing Group, Inc., is a growing and vibrant national organization of life insurance and annuity marketing brokerage operations. CMG has built a foundational base of information and experience through the recruitment of exceptional principals who work together in areas ranging from insuring foreign nationals to unique wealth transfer strategies and proprietary premium finance techniques. Through the use of technology we are building and educating at the principal and agent level to increase opportunities for business expansion organically as well as through acquisition.
Year Group Established: 1988
Products Offered: Impaired risk, fixed, immediate and indexed annuities, disability income, long term care, term life, universal life, indexed life and whole life.
Companies Represented: Accordia Life, American General, American National, Athene Annuity, AXA Equitable, Fidelity & Guaranty Life, Fidelity Life, Genworth, Guggenheim, John Hancock, Lafayette Life, Legal & General America, Life of the Southwest, Lincoln National, Minnesota Life, National Life, Nationwide, North American Company, Prudential, Sagicor, Sentinel Security, Transamerica, Voya Financial.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Contact admin@cmginfo.com.
Website: www.cmgtoday.com
CPS Insurance Services
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: We are the nation’s leading marketer of individual products to the financial services professional. The CPS family of agencies is highly respected for consumer focus, the attention paid to maintenance of long term relationships with high quality insurance companies and successful producers, superior service, and the application and development of useful, leading edge technologies. Our employees are insurance experts who always strive to reach their full potential. They are recognized for their importance, and supported in their plans for personal and professional development. We are recognized as leaders in our industry, and we believe in giving back to our communities. Above all, we value our reputation for integrity, caring, and for being winners. CPS is Companies, Products and Service. You can count on us.
Year Group Established: 1974
Products Offered: Fixed, indexed and variable universal life, term life, whole life, impaired risk, fixed and variable annuities, long term care, linked benefits, critical illness, and disability income.
Companies Represented: American General, John Hancock, Legal & General America, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Minnesota Life, Principal, Protective Life, Symetra, Transamerica, United of Omaha, Voya Fnancial and many others.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Contact group for information.
Website: www.cpsinsurance.com
Diversified Marketing
Group, Inc.
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: The mission of the Diversified Marketing Group, Inc. (DMG) is to enhance the ability of its member agencies to do life, long term care, health insurance and annuity business. The representation of all member agencies through one central marketing organization enables each DMG-affiliated agency to achieve power in negotiating and retaining contracts without individual agency production requirements. DMG affiliated agencies are encouraged to cooperate and extend the availability of companies they represent to other member agencies.
Year Group Established: 1986
Products Offered: Impaired risk, life, health, annuities, and long term care.
Companies Represented: AGL Assurance, Allianz, American General, American Memorial, American National, Americo, Ameritas, AmerUS, Assurity Life, Athene, AXA Equitable, Banner, Cincinnati Life, Columbian Mutual, Fidelity & Guaranty Life, Fidelity Life, First MetLife Investors, Foresters, Genworth, Gleaner Life, Great American, Guardian, Hartford Life, Jackson National Life, John Hancock, Kansas City Life, Lafayette Life, Legal & General America, LifeSecure, Lincoln Financial, MassMutual, MedAmerica, MetLife Investors, Minnesota Life, Mutual of Omaha, Mutual Trust, National Life Group, National Western, Nationwide, New York Life, North American Company, OM Financial Life, Penn Mutual, Phoenix Life, Principal, Protective Life, Prudential, Royal Bank of Canada, Sagicor, SBLI, Security Life of Denver, Security Mutual of NY, Standard Life, Sun Life, Transamerica, Symetra, United Home Life, United of Omaha, Voya Financial, Western & Southern Life, Western Reserve, William Penn Life of NY, Zurich American Life. (While DMG is not directly licensed with all companies listed, member agencies are.)
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Once a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: BGAs
Website: www.dmgusa.org
Insurance Designers
of America, LLC
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: IDA’s mission is to foster working relationships between our members, service providers, and carrier partners that are unsurpassed in the insurance industry. In so doing, IDA will recruit new agencies based upon their reputation for the highest level of ethical behavior and professionalism by the carriers they represent and the independent agents they support. IDA is further committed to provide its members with top contracts from the highest quality carriers that offer the most competitive products available in America. IDA will be the best partner to its members and carriers, helping them to prosper and grow through honesty, transparency, market intelligence, collaboration and understanding.
Year Group Established: 1986
Products Offered: Fixed, variable and indexed annuities, traditional whole life, universal life, variable universal life, indexed universal life, term, linked benefit products, final expense, long term care, disability income, health supplements, and group products.
Companies Represented: Accordia Life, Allstate, American General, Ameritas, Athene, AXA Equitable, Companion Life, Genworth, Gerber, John Hancock, Legal & General America, Life of the Southwest, Lincoln National, MetLife, Minnesota Life, Mutual of Omaha, National Life of Vermont, Nationwide, New York Life, North American Company, Protective Life, Prudential, SBLI, Symetra, Transamerica, United Home Life, United of Omaha, US Life, Voya Financial, William Penn.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Twice a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Fully staffed brokerage general agents producing a minimum of $2 million in target premium per year; must be sponsored by a current member.
Website: www.ida-national.com
See Group’s Ad on: 35
LifeMark Partners, Inc.
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: LifeMark Partners exists to leverage Partner, carrier and industry resources and expertise to enhance and expand life insurance distribution for the benefit of all stakeholders. LifeMark has strong roots in the brokerage industry, comprised of the best professional independent brokerage general agencies as its Partners. LifeMark Partners adds value to its firms by providing state of the art tools and resources in the areas of product benchmarking, advanced sales, marketing, and underwriting that differentiate them in the marketplace. In addition, we secure the top contracts from the best carriers. Our BGA Parters have the opportunity to participate in many of the collaborative programs to increase distribution with retail life brokers, independent financial planners, P/C agencies and regional banks. LifeMark offers its BGAs access to top training, education and marketing opportunities that add value to distribution relationships. LifeMark is committed to adding value that drives success for its Partners and their producers and advisors.
Year Group Established: 1995
Products Offered: Annuities, disability income, long term care, term, universal life, variable universal life.
Companies Represented: Accordia Life, American General, American National, AXA, Genworth, John Hancock, Legal & General America, Liberty Life, MetLife, Minnesota Life, Mutual of Omaha, Nationwide, North American Company, Principal, Protective Life, Prudential, SBLI, Symetra, Transamerica.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Three times a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Contact Bill Shelow, bshelow@lifemarkpartners.com
Website: www.lifemarkpartners.com
See Group’s Ad on: 32
National Association of
Insurance Marketers (NAIM)
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: To promote excellence and integrity in the distribution of insurance products and services to the brokerage community. Our association is designed to promote products, educate and serve brokers, and enhance the professionalism of the insurance industry through the networking of regional marketers.
Year Group Established: 1990
Products Offered: Ancillary group, dental, disability income (blue and white collar special risk), group medical, group worksite, individual medical, interest sensitive whole life, international medical, long term care, short term medical, student medical, term life, universal life.
Companies Represented: American General, Assurant Solutions, Assurity Life, Capital Benefits Group, General Agents Center, Health Insurance Innovations, HPA, IMG, Lincoln Financial, North American Company, Petersen International, Securian Dental, Sentry Life.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Once a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Evidence of significant brokerage activities and ethical standards that will be reviewed for approval by the NAIM Board of Directors.
Website: www.NAIM.com
National Brokerage
Agencies, Inc.
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: The National Brokerage Agencies, Inc. researches, constructs and promotes marketing concepts using diverse products and services through a networking approach focused on insurance and financial services.
A national organization, NBA is comprised of independent general agencies who strive through fellowship and education to enhance and further their professional environment and to maximize productivity through this alliance. One of the NBA strengths is the broad and diverse knowledge within the group, allowing NBA to offer a unique opportunity to help members not only grow, but diversify their client base.
Year Group Established: 1981
Products Offered: Traditional life, fixed and universal life, term life, fixed and equity indexed annuities, senior life final expense products, worksite products, disability income, asset transfer products, long term care (individual and group), living benefits products, and life settlements.
Companies Represented: Accordia Life, AIG, American General, American National, Assurity, Banner, Broadtower LTC, Capital Benefits Group, Coventry, Gerber Life, Global Underwriters, GroupLink, IHC Solutions, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Merchants Benefit Administration, Minnesota Life, Mutual of Omaha, Mutual Trust Life, National Western, North American Company, OneAmerica, Petersen International, Phoenix Life, Protective Life, Reliance Standard Life, SBLI, Securian Dental, Security Mutual, Standard Life, Symetra, Transamerica, Voya Financial, Welcome Funds.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Agencies that derive the majority of their income from life and health insurance brokerage.
Website: www.nbagency.com
NBC National Marketing, Inc.
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: NBC’s objective is to be relevant in the financial services industry by committing to long lasting and productive relationships among members in a synergistic format. The primary vision of NBC is to make membership a personally and financially rewarding experience. With the combined experience of the group numbering in centuries instead of decades and with the infusion of many younger and innovative members, we are able to offer effective experience and innovation on a continual basis to our membership.
Year Group Established: 1989
Products Offered: NBC members offer all varieties of annuities and life insurance, disability income, long term care, critical illness and impaired risk underwriting services.
Companies Represented: Accord, Accordia Life, Allianz, American Amicable, American Equity, American General, American National, Assurity Life, Athene Annuity, AXA Equitable, AXA NY, Banner, Companion NY, Equitrust, Fidelity Life, Genworth, Genworth NY, Gerber Life, Great American Life, Hartford Life, Illinois Mutual, Integrity Life, John Hancock, John Hancock NY, Lafayette Life, Life of the Southwest, Lincoln National Life, Lincoln National Life NY, Loyal American, MetLife Investors, MetLife, Met NY, Minnesota Life, Mutual of Omaha, Nationwide, New York Life, North American Company, Penn Mutual, Phoenix, Phoenix NY, Principal, Protective Life, Protective Life and Annuity NY, Prudential, Reliance Standard, SBLI, Standard Life, State Life, Sun Life, Sun NY, Symetra, Transamerica, Transamerica NY, United of Omaha, USLife Insurance, Voya Financial, Western Reserve, William Penn.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times a year—spring and fall
Looking for New Members: Yes, currently offering new member promotions.
Member Qualifications: NBC is seeking agencies that derive the majority of their production from brokerage lines in life, health, annuity, disability income, retirement planning, critical care and long term care insurance. Small and mid-sized agencies in addition to large brokerage agencies welcomed.
Website: www.nbcnm.com
National LTC Network
Group Classification: Marketing/Study Group
Mission Statement: The National LTC Network is a national alliance of leading distributors of long term care insurance and retirement solutions. Network members work with multiple insurers and are dedicated to marketing LTC insurance with knowledge, ethics and excellence. The membership includes many of the largest and most-respected distributors in the nation.
Year Group Established: 1994
Products Offered: Long term care insurance
Companies Represented: Genworth, MedAmerica, Mutual of Omaha, Transamerica.
Doing Business In: All states and DC
Meeting Frequency: Three times a year—February, June and October
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: MGAs with a focus on LTC insurance production.
Website: www.nltcn.com
The Plus Group
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: A service organization that supplies training and disability insurance products to insurance agents, financial planners and marketing partners. Service is provided by the pooled resources and talents of the managing general agents who previously operated independently. Twenty-two offices are located across the United States to provide localized, quality service.
Year Group Established: 1997
Products Offered: Association, bank loan indemnification, blue collar, buy/sell, group long and short term, guaranteed issue/guarantee to issue, high limit, individual/group combo, impaired risk, key person, individual, multi-life, pension supplement, senior, and special risk for athletes, entertainers, musicians, and t
