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Broker World is the only national insurance magazine founded, focused and edited to specifically address the brokerage marketplace and the unique informational needs of independent life and health producers who select the products best suited to their clients' needs from a variety of companies and marketers. The primary service is to provide a channel of communication between life and health companies and marketers and the 28,600+ proven producers of substantial amounts of brokerage business that constitute Broker World's readership.

Mutual of Omaha

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Mutual of Omaha

Mutual of Omaha has launched a new, secure member eligibility tool for dental providers, giving them on-demand access to real-time benefits and eligibility information for members of employer-provided Mutual of Omaha (Mutually Preferred® Network) dental plans.

This new tool offers direct, self-service access to member eligibility—without need of a representative—24-hours-a-day online or through an interactive voice response line. This makes it easier for providers to provide their patients with the best treatment options.

To access the online tool, dental providers can visit www.mutualofomaha.com/dental-eligibility to fill out a form and receive member benefits via email or fax. In addition to the online tool, providers can also use the self-service phone line at 800-927-9197 and follow the prompts given to receive member eligibility.

“At Mutual of Omaha, we continually strive to improve our customers’ experience and to be a company that’s convenient and easy to work with,” said Scott Ault, executive vice president, Workplace Solutions at Mutual of Omaha. “We are excited about this new member eligibility tool that our dental providers can use to quickly access member information when they need it.”

For more online dental provider resources, visit Mutual of Omaha’s provider portal at www.mutualofomaha.com/dental-provider.

Founded in 1909, Mutual of Omaha is a highly-rated, Fortune 500 organization offering a variety of insurance and financial products for individuals, businesses and groups throughout the United States. As a mutual company, Mutual of Omaha is owned by its policyholders and committed to providing outstanding service to its customers. For more information about Mutual of Omaha, visit www.mutualofomaha.com.

OneAmerica

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OneAmerica

OneAmerica®, a national provider of insurance and financial services, announced enhancements to its suite of whole life insurance products to provide more robust, flexible options to clients. Whole Life Select, Whole Life 95 and Whole Life 121 products now include several new features that make them some of the most diverse in the industry.

“As part of the 7702 regulatory changes, we’re evolving our product designs in a way that modernizes them and emphasizes flexibility to better meet the needs of today’s clients,” said Mark Scalercio, senior vice president and head of distribution of Individual Life and Financial Services. “We’re dedicated to providing affordable whole life coverage, while also delivering products to the market that stand the test of time.”

While the product portfolio will continue to offer strong guarantees, death benefits, cash value growth and tax advantages, OneAmerica is giving clients more customization opportunities and the potential for added financial benefits through its recent whole life release. A highlight of the product changes is a new guaranteed interest rate that impacts gross premiums, cash value and dividends. The rate decrease to 3.25 percent impacts the base policy cash values, paid-up additions cash values, 7-pay premiums and other product values. OneAmerica continues to allow policyholders to choose from various payment periods, allowing financial professionals to tailor a policy to a clients’ specific financial planning needs.

The products also make available many riders, which provide an opportunity for greater customization for client needs. Highlights include the Indexed Dividend Option and the Survivor Purchase Option, which can present advantages for long-term estate preservation. Another option, the Paid-Up Additions Rider (PUAR), offers one of the lowest up-front load charges in the industry at six percent. When the PUAR is paired with the Enhanced Blended Insurance Rider or Same Insurance Term Rider, it provides flexibility to a financial professional to adjust the policy to a client’s goals and budget. Policyholders benefit from this rider by using more of each payment in the purchase of whole life insurance.

“The product changes are a testament of our financial strength and will better enable our distribution partners to meet the needs of our clients,” said Scalercio.

OneAmerica® is the marketing name for the companies of OneAmerica. Products issued and underwritten by American United Life Insurance Company® (AUL), Indianapolis, IN, a OneAmerica company. Whole Life 95, Whole Life 121 and Whole Life Select form numbers: L-60 and L-60SP. Not available in all states or may vary by state. All guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of AUL. Dividends are not guaranteed, past performance is not indicative of future results, and actual results may vary.

Rising Inflation Seen As Biggest Risk To Americans’ Retirement Plans In 2022

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Rising Inflation Seen As Biggest Risk To Americans’ Retirement Plans In 2022

Annual New Year’s Resolutions study from Allianz Life finds more commitment to improving finances, especially from Millennials

Although Americans say they worried most about the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, rising inflation is now seen as the biggest risk to their retirement plans, according to the annual New Year’s Resolutions Study* conducted by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life). Nearly half (48 percent) of respondents identified the pandemic as the most worrisome threat of 2021, with the rising cost of living following at 38 percent. However, looking ahead, a full one-quarter of Americans now view rising inflation as the single greatest risk to their retirement plans, more than doubling from 2020 (eight percent).

This focus on inflation is significantly higher than other risks to retirement, many of which saw a significant decline in concern from 2020.

20212020
Rising inflation25%8%
Outliving my money8%10%
Increased healthcare costs8%13%
Job security7%12%

“Given the seemingly constant changes with the pandemic, it’s no surprise it is top of mind for the majority of Americans as they think about saving and spending in the new year,” said Kelly LaVigne, vice president of Consumer Insights, Allianz Life. “However, inflation is clearly a more pressing concern as people live with it day to day. It’s also forcing them to think about how they can mitigate this significant risk to their retirement security down the road.”

Less desire for professional help, more do-it-yourself approach
At the same time, the percentage of people who identified financial stability as their top focus area for 2022 increased to 30 percent, the highest since 2017. Despite this, most Americans decline to make that commitment formal via their New Year’s Resolutions. The percentage of people including financial planning in their 2022 resolutions is at an all-time low of 12 percent, down 21 percentage points from its high in 2009-2010. The primary reasons why people don’t include financial planning in their resolutions remain unchanged over the years: Believing they already have a solid plan (34 percent) or that they don’t make enough money to worry about it (26 percent).

In addition, most people prefer to go it alone rather than seek professional assistance with financial planning. Only 22 percent of respondents said they are more likely to seek the advice of a financial professional in 2022, down from 27 percent last year.

This confidence could be a reflection of the fact that more people seem to be active in managing their finances – both in eliminating bad financial habits as well as establishing positive behaviors. The top bad financial habits from 2020 both saw declines this year, with less than one-third (28 percent) saying they “spend too much,” down from 32 percent, and only 23 percent saying they “save some, but not as much as they could,” down from 27 percent. Furthermore, a full one-third believe they have no bad financial habits, up from 28 percent in 2020.

Millennials feeling financial angst, but see the light ahead
Unfortunately, all Americans aren’t feeling equally as confident about the state of their finances. One-quarter of Millennials said their financial situation got worse this year compared to 2020, higher than both Gen Xers (17 percent) and boomers (15 percent). In addition, compared to other generations, Millennials are more concerned about stagnant wages (22 percent vs. 15 percent Gen X and six percent boomers) and job security (21 percent vs. 12 percent Gen X and five percent boomers). Moreover, Millennials are particularly concerned that the rising cost of living will impact their ability to pay for necessities (65 percent), and save enough for retirement (71 percent) and short-term goals (70 percent).

These financial concerns may be having a negative effect on Millennials’ health. More than four in ten (46 percent) said they experienced more overall stress this year compared to last year, the highest of all generations (37 percent Gen X and 27 percent boomers), as well as more stress related specifically to their finances (41 percent Millennials vs. 28 percent Gen Xers and 16 percent boomers).

That said, about four in ten (42 percent) Millennials are optimistic their financial situation will improve in 2022, much higher than Gen X (22 percent) or boomer (18 percent) respondents.

“Whether you work with a financial professional or set your own agenda for managing your finances in the new year, it’s crucial to consider the various risks like inflation that can derail your financial strategy and adjust accordingly,” added LaVigne. “Regardless of your age or amount of time until your retirement, it is important to take into account all of these issues and begin to devise an action plan to mitigate these risks.”

*Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America conducted an online survey, the 2021 Allianz Life New Year’s Resolutions Study, November 15-17, 2021 with a nationally representative sample of 1,115 respondents ages 18 years or older.

Half Of Americans Fear Falling More Than Cancer And Want To Age In Home Without Stairs

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Half Of Americans Fear Falling More Than Cancer And Want To Age In Home Without Stairs

Nationwide

Survey: Americans want in-home long term care, but half worry if their current home will be safe

Over a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, most Americans (85 percent) agree that it’s more important than ever to stay in their home for long term care. However, nearly half of those not retired (47 percent) say they are concerned their current home will not be safe for them to “age in place.”

According to the tenth annual Nationwide Retirement Institute® Long-term Care Survey of 1,812 U.S. adults aged 24 or over and 706 caregivers, conducted by The Harris Poll in October 2021, the vast majority of Americans (88 percent) believe it’s more important than ever for people to have a plan for long term care and have long term care insurance (86 percent) as COVID-19 has raised concerns about nursing homes.

“The pandemic has further fueled people’s fear of being alone in a nursing home when they need long term care,” said Holly Snyder, president of Nationwide’s life insurance business. “Our survey revealed that six in 10 adults would rather die than live in a nursing home. It’s also made people consider whether they have a plan that will allow them to age in place in their current home if they need long term care.”

What’s more, 80 percent of Americans agree that it is important for them to live in a single-floor home when they age. In contrast, 68 percent of non-retirees say their current home has stairs.

“Many adults are concerned about navigating their home’s stairs and step-up entries as they age,” Snyder added. “In fact, nearly half of those we surveyed (47 percent) say they are more afraid of falling than getting cancer. There are long term care solutions with cash indemnity style benefits that allow policy holders to use the money to pay for more than just typical assisted living expenses. You can use this coverage to pay a relative to help with your long term care and to install lifts, elevators and safety railings so you can stay in your home.”

A family affair
Most adults (70 percent) would like to have the option of relying on their family for long term care if they need it. In fact, half (50 percent) feel it is the responsibility of their family to care for them if they need long term care. This sentiment is particularly high for Millennials (69 percent) and declines with age (52 percent for Gen Xers and 33 percent for Boomers+). Millennials and Gen Xers expect their parents to live with them when they get older (61 percent and 49 percent), and they expect to live with their adult children when they get older (46 percent and 36 percent vs. just one in four Boomers).

That said, two-thirds of adults (66 percent) are worried they will become a burden to their family as they get older. Seven in 10 adults (70 percent) would not expect a family member to provide long term care if they were unable to compensate them.

Many adults misunderstand long term care coverage
The survey reveals that 25 percent of adults self-report that they currently own long term care insurance for themselves. This is concerning, as industry data shows only 15 percent of Americans have purchased long term care insurance and most of those are older consumers.*

According to the survey, Millennials (39 percent) are more likely than Gen Xers (26 percent) and Boomers+ (19 percent) to claim they currently own long term care insurance for themselves. Most say they bought the insurance at work, which gives away the misconception—too many adults confuse long term disability insurance with long term care insurance.

“Rarely is long term care included in a company benefit package,” Snyder said. “This misconception could mean that many Americans—mostly Millennials—mistakenly believe they have some sort long term care coverage, when in fact they do not.”

Most Americans (61 percent) cannot even estimate what current annual nursing home costs could be. Those who did, estimate current annual nursing home costs to be $43,096. That is not even half of what a semi-private room averages in 2020 ($93,075 semi-private, $105,850 for a private room**). They also underestimate home health care costs at $33,617 ($54,912**).

Caregivers face unique challenges
According to the survey, two in 10 adults are currently caregivers (21 percent) and close to four in 10 have been a caregiver at some point in their lives (39 percent). Caregiving is a time and money-intensive role. On average, most caregivers spend an average of 31.4 hours and $692 per month on caregiving duties.

Eight in 10 (80 percent) believe they should be able to be a caregiver without dipping into their savings to cover day to day expenses. The reality is, many say they are afraid caregiving expenses will keep them from ever retiring (68 percent of Millennials and 53 percent of Gen Xers), as well as worry caregiving could cause them to lose their job (62 percent of Millennials and 42 percent of Gen Xers). Despite all this, if given the choice, 80 percent of caregivers would choose to be a caregiver all over again.

Financial professionals have solutions
Nearly half of adults across all age groups have not discussed long term care costs with anyone. With fewer than one in 10 adults (eight percent) saying they’ve discussed long term planning with their financial professional, it’s important they start the planning process today to set themselves, their loved ones and future caregivers, up for success.

The good news is that more than one-third (36 percent) plan to discuss long term care costs with a financial professional in the future, in particular younger adults (41 percent Millennials and 46 percent Gen Xers, vs. 24 percent Boomers+).

“It is very clear that Americans across all generations need more education about long term care costs and solutions,” Snyder said. “Financial professionals can help adults create a plan that addresses these issues.”

To encourage discussions around health care and long term costs in retirement, Nationwide’s Health Care/LTC Cost Assessment tool uses proprietary health risk analysis and updated actuarial cost data to provide a meaningful, personalized cost estimate that will help financial professionals and clients plan for future medical and long term care expenses.

To learn more about the 2021 Nationwide Long term Care Consumer Survey, visit www.nationwidefinancial.com/ltcinsights.

Methodology
The 2021 Nationwide Retirement Institute Long term Care survey was conducted online within the United States between adults aged 25 and over by The Harris Poll on behalf of The Nationwide Retirement Institute. Within the survey, respondents who are current caregivers or have been caregivers in the past were identified. Caregivers are defined as those who have ever or are now providing paid or unpaid long term care to a friend or family member, not through an agency, business, or non-governmental organization. Those who care(d) only for a child under 18 or a child over 18 born with a disability did not qualify as a caregiver for this survey.

Respondents for these surveys were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the online panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. Data are weighted where necessary by age by gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, household income, marital status, household size, and propensity to be online to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. A propensity score was incorporated into weighting to adjust for attitudinal and behavioral differences between those who are online versus those who are not, those who join online panels versus those who do not, and those who responded to this survey versus those who did not.

About The Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is one of the longest running surveys in the U.S. tracking public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963 and is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. They work with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Their mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. To learn more, please visit www.theharrispoll.com.

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Allianz

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Allianz

To help registered investment advisers (RIAs) manage transition and longevity risks in client portfolios, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) recently announced it has launched an advisory version of its Allianz Index Advantage Income® Variable Annuity. The Allianz Index Advantage Income ADVSM Variable Annuity offers an advisor-centric product design with seamless integration, low fees1, greater control and enhanced fee billing.

In a recent Allianz Life study*, 88 percent of financial advisors said it is more important to effectively manage risk in client portfolios than generate the highest gains. The product can help address retirement risks associated with the rising cost of living over a longer retirements by offering indexed return potential with a level of protection through multiple crediting methods (also called index strategies), tax deferral, a variety of lifetime payout options, and a choice of death benefit options within the accumulation phase.

“The Index Advantage Income ADV offers investment advisory representatives (IARs) and their clients a modern approach to managing retirement risks like longevity and inflation,” said Heather Kelly, senior vice president of Advisory and Strategic Accounts, Allianz Life. “The product offers low fees1, greater control in managing assets, commission-free, and enhanced fee-billing while seamlessly integrating into financial planning, portfolio management and reporting platforms. These features help to remove some of the barriers that have previously prevented RIAs from integrating insurance into holistic financial plans.”

In addition to the robust product benefits, advisors can leverage their preferred financial planning and portfolio management tools to help demonstrate the value of integrating insurance solutions to clients.

Learn more about the product and get supporting materials and dedicated resources at www.allianzlife.com/advincome.

1) A 0.25 percent product fee and 0.70 percent Income Benefit rider fee are accrued daily and deducted on each quarterly contract anniversary, calculated as a percentage of the charge base. The Income Benefit rider is automatically included in the contract at issue and cannot be added to a contract after issue.

*Allianz Life and Zeldis Research conducted an online survey in February and March of 2021 with a nationally representative sample of 289 financial advisors. Respondents included IARs and hybrid advisors with 5+ years of experience who make product recommendations to clients, have at least half of their business from individual clients, as well as an AUM of more than $25 million and 97 percent with AUM of more than $50 million.

As with any investment vehicle, index variable annuities are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate with market conditions so that contract values, upon distribution, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

Withdrawals will reduce the contract value and the value of any protection benefits. Withdrawals taken within the contract withdrawal charge schedule will be subject to a market value adjustment. All withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax and, if taken prior to age 59½, may be subject to a 10 percent federal additional tax.

For more complete information about Allianz Index Advantage Income ADV Variable Annuity and the variable option, call your financial professional or Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC at 800.624.0197 for a prospectus. The prospectuses contain details on investment objectives, risks, fees, and expenses, as well as other information about the variable annuity and thee variable option, which you should carefully consider. Please read the prospectuses thoroughly before sending money.

Guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and do not apply to the performance of the variable subaccounts, which will fluctuate with market conditions.

Products are issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and are distributed by its affiliate, Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, member FINRA, 5701 Golden Hills Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55416-1297. (L40538-IAI)

Product and feature availability may vary by state and broker/dealer.

Allianz

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Allianz

In honor of their 125th anniversary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) today announced a $125,000 matching donation to Midway-area food shelf provider Keystone Community Services. This matching gift will be used to renovate and equip a new 20,000 square-foot Community Food Site in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood that will help Keystone bring more food and resources to more people.

The new Keystone facility, located at 1800 University W. in St. Paul, will offer:

  • A large shopping area for people to select foods that meet their needs
  • Increased capacity to receive and store donated food and household essentials
  • Space for staff to meet people privately to discuss crisis assistance and connect to other resources
  • Large areas to offer more volunteer opportunities for people to support hunger relief efforts
  • Space to offer community programs like tax assistance preparation and classes

“We can think of no better way to celebrate this milestone anniversary for Allianz Life than by reinforcing our commitment to making a positive difference in the community through giving and volunteerism,” said Allianz Life President and CEO Walter White. “As naming rights sponsor of Allianz Field, we have a true connection to the Midway and a responsibility to support our neighbors in need. Keystone has been a crucial community resource for more than 80 years, so we’re proud to support their continued efforts to fight hunger in Minnesota.”

Today, one in nine Minnesotans face hunger and experience food insecurity, a situation that has only intensified since the start of the pandemic. Those interested in donating to support a new community food site that will provide more healthy food for people living in St. Paul and the Midway Neighborhood can visit donorbox.org/AllianzLifeKeystone125 and have their gift immediately doubled.

“The face of hunger in Minnesota is changing rapidly, with increasing numbers of youth and seniors experiencing food insecurity,” said Mary McKeown, president and CEO, Keystone Community Services. “As more of our neighbors find themselves in need of our services, we’re grateful for our strong partnership with Allianz Life. Their support of our new community food site in the Midway will help more families, individuals and seniors have access to healthy food.”

Allianz Life started working with Keystone to help address food insecurity in 2018, helping to stock their food shelves during the pivotal summer months when donations are typically lower. Since then, the two organizations have partnered to stage multiple food donation and distribution events, including six “Free Farmers Market In a Box” events at Allianz Field. To date, those events have delivered more than 250,000 pounds of food to more than 4,000 households in the Midway and surrounding communities.

Minnesota United has also been a key partner in supporting Midway residents through the Free Farmers Market In a Box events, and will be making a $75,000 donation to Keystone’s capital campaign. For more information about Minnesota United’s work in the community, visit mnufc.com/news/articles and click on “Community News.”

In addition to celebrating 125 years, the $125,000 matching gift donation is part of Allianz Life’s Spirit of Summer Giving campaign. Running from July 13-22, this charitable giving campaign supportted local charities, including PRISM and Keystone, with food, clothing and cash donations. In 2020, Allianz Life employees contributed more than 8,500 volunteer hours and more than $4 million to support the community.

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® and one of the Ethisphere World’s Most Ethical Companies®, has been keeping its promises since 1896 by helping Americans achieve their retirement income and protection goals with a variety of annuity and life insurance products. In 2020, Allianz Life provided additional value to its policyholders via distributions of more than $10.1 billion. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, Allianz Life is part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services industry with approximately 150,000 employees in more than 70 countries. Allianz Life is a proud sponsor of Allianz Field® in St. Paul, Minnesota, home of Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United.

Foresters Financial

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Foresters Financial

Foresters Financial™ (Foresters), the fraternal life insurer that’s boldly redefining the life insurance industry through innovation, purpose and wellness, and Whole Kids Foundation, a nonprofit established by Whole Foods Market and dedicated to helping to improve children’s nutrition, are joining forces to help Henderson-area elementary schools expand their edible learning spaces through $9,000 in garden grants and hands-on support.

Through the partnership, Robert L. Taylor Elementary School, Nate Mack Elementary School and CT Sewell Elementary School are each receiving a jointly funded $3,000 grant, along with volunteer support from local members of Foresters to help bring their proposed garden project to fruition. They reflect the unique needs and desires of each school and the students, teachers, and communities they serve.

  • CT Sewell Elementary School—On Saturday, August 7, Foresters member volunteers joined teaching staff, students and parents to help repair fencing and an existing strawberry tower, and to construct raised planter boxes to make the outdoor garden more accessible to students. The school plans to provide garden lessons to its more than 700 students at least once per month, as well as tasting and cooking demonstrations at least twice per year.
  • Nate Mack Elementary School—On Saturday, September 25, member volunteers, teachers and students came together to add a “Niki Franklin Memorial Butterfly Garden” to the school’s existing edible garden in honor of a beloved fourth-grade teacher who passed away in September of 2020. It was built next to the outdoor garden located at the entrance of the playground where families can gather daily. The butterfly garden includes native flowering plants, including milkweed plants so it can qualify as a certified “Monarch WayStation”—a stop on the typical flyway for Monarchs wintering in California. The garden also serves as a sanctuary and living classroom for students and teachers to enjoy year-round.
  • Robert L. Taylor Elementary School—On Sunday, October 24, member volunteers, staff, students and parents helped the school reach its goal of making its desert garden a usable field trip area for neighboring schools, as well as enhancing its existing edible garden to grow more produce for students to enjoy. The school’s garden serves as outdoor classrooms as well as an eating area for students and staff to enjoy. The school also runs an after-school Garden Club, attends farmer’s markets with students and features its garden during family nights and carnivals so the community has regular access to enjoy the space.

“We love supporting edible school gardens because we know that the more connected kids feel to their food, the more curious they become about how things grow or taste, and the more willing they are to try new foods,” said Chanta Williams, a senior program manager for Whole Kids Foundation. “We are so inspired by the Foresters commitment to sustainability. We truly value this budding partnership that allows us to achieve more together than any one organization could achieve on its own.”

Grants were funded in part by the foundation and in part by Foresters in a new partnership model.

Foresters Member Coordinator Janice Darby said, “Providing opportunities to give back, including through community grants, is integral to Foresters’ purpose and we are pleased to partner with Whole Kids Foundation to help in Henderson.”

All three schools are part of Green Our Planet’s network of schools. Green Our Planet is a nonprofit that runs the largest and one of the most comprehensive STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) school garden and hydroponics programs in the United States. The nonprofit’s Outdoor Garden STEM Program helps public and private schools build outdoor school gardens and implements comprehensive programming so that students can learn a variety of subjects including STEM, nutrition, and conservation.

Since its founding ten years ago, Whole Kids Foundation has served more than 10 million children by supporting more than 12,000 schools through more than $42 million in grants. In addition to Garden Grants, the Foundation funds salad bars in schools, Bee Grants to support educational beehives at schools, health and wellness education for teachers and school food service workers, and scratch cooking initiatives.

Life Insurance with a Larger Purpose
Foresters goal is to develop innovative member benefits, products, and service offerings that promote a lifetime of well-being, and align with Foresters’ fraternal purpose to enrich the lives of families and their communities. That’s life insurance with a larger purpose.

Bringing a better, new normal to everyday North American families, Foresters offers a suite of unique member benefits and is redefining the conventional life insurance model. Member benefits include opportunities for scholarships, orphan benefits, community volunteer grants, Wills and other legal documents, Lifelong Learning, MemberDeals, and more.

Foresters Financial is quietly redefining the life insurance and individual savings industry across the U.S., Canada and UK by enriching the lives, communities, and overall well-being of its members. Agents and members alike appreciate the turnkey-decisioned product offerings and end-to-end digitized processes that make it easy to get life insurance without traditional medical exams. State-of-the-art mobile tools help agents deliver tailored plans to prospective and current members. Dedicated to its members’ well-being, Foresters offers a suite of member benefits and is redefining the conventional life insurance model, bringing improved financial security and overall wellness to everyday North American families. Foresters recently merged with Canada Protection Plan to become a leading life insurance distributor in Canada. Foresters Financial is the trade name for The Independent Order of Foresters, the oldest non-denominational fraternal benefit society. For 20 straight years, The Independent Order of Foresters has received an “A” (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best.

Whole Kids Foundation supports schools and inspires families to improve children’s nutrition and wellness. Founded by Whole Foods Market in 2011, the independent, nonprofit organization is based in Austin, TX, and serves schools and organizations in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. For more information on the Foundation’s school programs including school gardens, salad bars, beehives, and nutrition education for teachers, visit wholekidsfoundation.org. For ongoing news and updates, follow Whole Kids Foundation on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Aetna

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Aetna

OneSight, a leading global vision care nonprofit, collaborated with Aetna, a CVS Health company, to offer free eye exams and glasses to 333 children and adults in the Pittsburgh area. Out of the patients seen, 96 percent needed glasses. The three-day charitable clinic was sponsored by Aetna.

The event addressed unresolved vision needs for individuals and families throughout Pittsburgh who may otherwise lack access to eye exams and glasses. Leveraging OneSight’s proven clinic model and manufacturing capabilities, most participants in need of glasses received their newly prescribed, quality eyewear on-site. The vision clinic took place at the CVS Health Workforce Innovation and Talent Center located inside of Ebenezer Baptist Church.

“Given the barriers many Pittsburgh families face in accessing necessary health care services, such as vision care, Aetna recognizes the need to meet people where they are and facilitate access to eye exams and glasses at a location that is convenient to them,” said Mike Cole, Keystone President and North Atlantic Territory Lead, Aetna. “Collaborating with providers such as OneSight allows us to continue to deliver on our commitment to communities to bring our heart to every moment of their health.”

According to a study by OneSight and Deloitte, there are more than one billion people globally who need glasses, but don’t have access to get them. Studies show that clear sight can dramatically impact learning, job performance and earning potential. Clear sight can help students learn up to twice as much in school and can help increase a worker’s productivity by 35 percent and enable them to earn 20 percent more.

“Thanks to Aetna’s dedicated partnership and generous support we’ve been able to provide access to eye exams and glasses to those in need in the Pittsburgh community,” said K-T Overbey, President and Executive Director, OneSight. “We know that access to vision care can be life changing, and we’re grateful to Aetna and our doctors and volunteers for helping us ensure that lack of access to vision care is not a barrier for the Pittsburgh community.”

For more information about vision care and how to get involved, visit OneSight.org.

OneSight is a leading global nonprofit dedicated to creating a world where lack of access to vision care is no longer a barrier to human achievement and potential. From one-week charitable clinics to long-term self-sustaining vision centers, OneSight delivers quality eye exams and glasses to underserved populations globally. In 33 years, OneSight has served 10 million people in 50+ countries and has provided permanent vision care access to more than 42 million people.

Aetna, a CVS Health business, serves an estimated 34 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers’ compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna’s customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, visit aetna.com and explore how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world.

OneAmerica

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OneAmerica

The Individual Life and Financial Services (ILFS) line of business at OneAmerica® is positioning the business for growth by making three key leadership appointments in distribution, recruiting and business development. Mark Scalercio, senior vice president and head of distribution for ILFS, recently announced the personnel moves and how they positively impact strategic growth:

Jeff Levin was promoted to vice president of distribution for Care Solutions. The 25-year financial professional, a thought leader in the long term care industry, now leads a team of divisional vice presidents, regional sales directors and managers. Levin also oversees the account management team in the distribution, sale, and support of the company’s Care Solutions product line. Levin, who joined OneAmerica in 2019, previously was a divisional vice president, responsible for expansion of Care Solutions products, including life and annuity asset-based long term care products.

A winning business leader with deep commercial experience, Levin is regarded as a collaborative, hands-on leader with a passion for helping others achieve their goals. He is certified in long term care and Six Sigma. He is a sought-after panelist and thought leader among the industry’s associations and trade publications. Levin is a board member for the Intercompany Long-Term Care Insurance Conference Association, Inc. (ILTCi), participates in the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisor’s (NAIFA) Long Term Care Legislative Working Group, and is a member of the Bank Insurance & Securities Association (BISA) Steering Committee. Levin is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Kristin Dorm was promoted to ILFS vice president of agency growth and development. Dorm joined OneAmerica in 2020 as the national director of recruiting and agent development, in which she made a great impact recruiting for the company’s Career Distribution channel and increased diversity among its general agents. In her new role, Dorm is leading the charge in driving growth, creating recruiting excellence and supporting the deployment and adoption of innovative recruiting and agent development initiatives. With nearly 20 years of recruiting experience in the financial services industry, she excels in connecting the right people with the right opportunity. Dorm is a thought leader on diversity, equity and inclusion. She recently joined NAIFA’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Council to provide guidance, advice and support to important diversity initiatives in the financial services industry. She has been active in promoting and supporting The American College’s Conference of African American Financial Professionals (CAAFP). Dorm has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Isenberg School of Management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

David Junker joined OneAmerica in September as ILFS vice president of business development. Junker is overseeing the entire internal sales organization, including advanced markets, field sales training and the sales development teams. In addition, Junker will be critical to driving strategy and translating that strategy into action plans. Junker has nearly three decades’ experience through various roles that include sales director, director of advanced strategies and vice president of insurance sales. Junker holds a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University.

OneAmerica® is the marketing name for the companies of OneAmerica.

MDRT

Broker World
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MDRT

During the MDRT Annual Meeting in June, the association highlighted and announced its latest expansion of in-person and digital offerings that bring the renowned innovative ideas and opportunities for limitless growth to its global membership base in more accessible formats.

“Over the last four years we have seen exponential member growth, which has inspired us to dig deeper and ask how we can better tailor our resources to match our evolving members’ needs,” said MDRT President Ross Vanderwolf, CFP. “We’ve delivered on that commitment through new in-person events like MDRT EDGE and more digital content than ever before.”

MDRT’s quintessential offering—its North America-based Annual Meeting— drew 9,800 members eager to learn from industry speakers, business coaches and fellow MDRT member experts. During 200+ sessions they gathered innovative approaches to client planning, better practice management, staying ahead of industry changes, finding an optimal work-life balance and more.

This year, members have endless possibilities to connect with peers, grow in their profession and give back to the global and local communities through the second-annual MDRT EDGE, the first-ever MDRT Global Conference, multimedia Resource Zone in 11 languages and the newly launched MDRT App with content added daily.

MDRT EDGE
Ninety-six percent of those who attended the 2018 MDRT EDGE plan to attend again this year, and 96 percent want to bring a colleague along with them. Leveraging the success of the inaugural event, the 2019 MDRT EDGE will deliver similar individualized learning experiences that emphasize peer-to-peer networking to its U.S. and Canadian members. For more about last year’s experiences and insights into this year’s meeting, programming and pricing in advance of the registration open on July 29, 2019, visit www.imdrt.org/2019edge.

Inaugural MDRT Global Conference
MDRT will also bring the Annual Meeting’s renowned event experience closer to home for many members with its inaugural MDRT Global Conference, September 1-4, 2019, in Sydney. More than 8,000 members will get to experience MDRT’s quintessential offering with more than 100 sessions in seven languages.

More Content than Ever Before
More than a meeting, members have access to these innovative ideas anytime through MDRT’s digital offerings through the Resource Zone with over 5,500 multimedia resources in 11 languages and 2,200 pieces of content added annually. This content, much of which is sourced from MDRT conferences, includes tools and expertise members need to continually learn and evolve, and is also available via the newly launched MDRT App.

For more information, please visit mdrt.org and follow them on Twitter @MDRtweet.

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