Broker World

John Hancock announced two key leadership appointments recently, naming Brooks Tingle president and CEO of John Hancock Insurance and Linda Levyne senior vice president, head of Sales and Distribution also for John Hancock Insurance. Tingle and Levyne, who have served in these roles on an interim basis since last summer, assume them permanently effective immediately. Tingle reports to Marianne Harrison, president and CEO, John Hancock; Ms. Levyne reports to Mr. Tingle.

“As John Hancock continues on its journey of reinventing the life insurance experience for U.S. consumers, Brooks and Linda bring the vision, depth of experience, and proven execution strength that make them ideally suited to lead our company’s transformation of the life insurance industry,” said Harrison.

“With a sharp focus on customer experience and engagement, Brooks has been integral to the success of John Hancock Vitality, the only life insurance in the U.S. that is integrated with a technology-based wellness program, and ExpressTrack, a new underwriting approach that significantly simplifies the life insurance purchasing process.

“Linda’s extensive experience, including as head of sales for John Hancock Vitality since the groundbreaking product was first introduced in 2015, provides a unique perspective that will prove valuable in continuing John Hancock’s market leadership,” said Harrison.

Since joining John Hancock in 1987, Tingle has held diverse roles in the company’s life, annuity and long-term care insurance businesses. Most recently, as senior vice president, Marketing and Strategy for John Hancock Insurance, he had overall management responsibility for John Hancock’s insurance marketing activities as well as the development and implementation of John Hancock’s market expansion strategy. Previously, he served as senior vice president and COO for John Hancock Life Insurance Company and was responsible for all operations including new business, underwriting, claims, information technology, policy administration, customer service and reinsurance administration.

Levyne most recently served as vice president, National Accounts and Vitality Sales and Distribution for John Hancock Insurance. In this role, she led the National Accounts team that supports all of John Hancock’s distribution partners nationwide and the John Hancock Vitality sales team across all accounts and relationships. Previously, she served as vice president, Regional Sales Management, responsible for leading John Hancock Insurance’s Regional Directors nationwide. Before joining John Hancock in 2011, Levyne spent over twenty years in various management and wholesaling positions in the life insurance industry. She holds Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations from the American College.

John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada, and the United States. Operating as Manulife in Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, the group of companies offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents, and distribution partners.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers and administers a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at www.johnhancock.com.

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life®) announced the launch of two new fixed index universal life (FIUL) insurance products, Allianz Life Pro+ EliteSM and Allianz Asset Pro+SM. Allianz Life Pro+ Elite, for traditional life insurance agents and financial professionals familiar with selling life insurance, is an enhanced version of the popular Allianz Life Pro+ product, now offering more proprietary index allocation options including bonused allocation options. Allianz Asset Pro+ is a new product designed specifically for broker/dealers and financial professionals focused on helping meet their clients’ holistic planning needs with a simplified solution offering death benefit protection, flexibility and tax advantages.

“The latest additions to our suite of FIUL products provide all financial professionals the opportunity to offer their clients life insurance solutions with the appropriate combination of protection and accumulation potential,” said Jason Wellmann, senior vice president of Life Insurance Sales for Allianz Life. “With more financial professionals looking to expand their offerings, Allianz Life Pro+ Elite and Allianz Asset Pro+ can help strengthen a financial strategy with protection for a lifetime and potential benefits for the future.”

These new products help meet the need for an increased level of education about life insurance, particularly the living benefits that can help people access the available life insurance cash value through policy loans and withdrawals to help fund college education, supplement retirement or other financial needs.1 According to the Allianz Life 2018 Life Insurance Needs Survey, more than half (51 percent) of all respondents said they were either unsure or did not believe permanent life insurance could provide these benefits.

Allianz Life Pro+ Elite can help people prepare for all stages of life by providing their beneficiaries with a death benefit that is generally income tax free as well as the ability to accumulate cash value tax-deferred without losses due to market volatility, although fees and charges will reduce policy values. Policy holders can utilize multiple index allocation options, including a fixed interest option, with several only offered by Allianz Life, including the Bloomberg US Dynamic Balance Index II, Allianz True BalanceSM and the new volatility controlled PIMCO Tactical Balanced Index. Also new with Allianz Life Pro+ Elite, policyholders can choose between bonused index allocation options that include the opportunity to earn an interest bonus each year (starting in year one) dependent on interest credited to a policy, or standard index allocation options that do not include an interest bonus. For those that choose the interest bonus option, a multiplier bonus of 15 percent will be applied on the current value after interest is credited starting in year one.2

Allianz Asset Pro+, a more streamlined version of Allianz Life Pro+ Elite with fewer index allocation options, provides a simpler solution for those financial professionals who are just beginning to offer life insurance options within a holistic financial planning model. Like Allianz Life Pro+ Elite, Allianz Asset Pro+ offers the interest bonus opportunity as well as a number of tax advantages including tax-deferred cash value accumulation potential, income-tax-free loans and withdrawals1 and a death benefit that is generally income tax free.

“Nearly 95 percent of respondents in our survey said the ability to save enough to retire comfortably was a top priority when planning for their financial future. Americans’ need a diverse mix of financial products to help them achieve that goal,” added Wellmann. “It’s imperative that all financial professionals have access to a variety of innovative options—including FIUL—that can help their clients add both protection and opportunity to their long term financial strategy.”

For more information about Allianz Life Pro+ Elite and Allianz Asset Pro+ as well as important index information and disclosure, visit www.allianzlife.com/life-insurance.

Most life insurance policies require health underwriting and financial underwriting. Life insurance involves certain fees and expenses. Individuals should discuss with their financial professional whether a life insurance policy meets their needs.

No single index or crediting method produces the best results in all market conditions. Although an external index may affect the interest credited, the policy does not directly participate in any equity or fixed income investments. Clients are not buying shares in an index.

Notes:
1. Policy loans and withdrawals will reduce available cash values and death benefits, and may cause the policy to lapse or affect any guarantees against lapse. Additional premium payments may be required to keep the policy in force. In the event of a lapse, outstanding policy loans in excess of unrecovered cost basis will be subject to ordinary income tax. . If a policy is a modified endowment contract (MEC), policy loans and withdrawals will be taxable as ordinary income to the extent there are earnings in the policy. If any of these features are exercised prior to age 59½ on a MEC, a 10% federal additional tax may be imposed. Tax laws are subject to change. You should consult a tax professional.

2. Bonus products may include higher surrender charges, longer surrender periods, lower caps, or other restrictions that are not included in similar products that don’t offer a bonus. There is no guarantee that a policy will be credited with an interest bonus every year as it is based on the growth of an external index.

Guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing company.

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life®) announced the launch of the Allianz Accumulation AdvantageSM Annuity, the newest addition to their fixed index annuity (FIA) suite of products. Accumulation Advantage offers principal and credited interest protection from market downturns, tax-deferral, a death benefit for beneficiaries, and opportunities to accumulate wealth for retirement. Additionally, Accumulation Advantage offers various index allocation options including a new volatility controlled index from BlackRock®, the BlackRock iBLD ClariaTM Index, which has also been added to other select Allianz Life FIAs.

Accumulation Advantage can help clients address their accumulation needs using a variety of crediting methods including annual point-to-point with a participation rate. This FIA offers growth potential provided by eight index allocation options (plus a fixed interest allocation). Additional features of Accumulation Advantage include a Nursing Home Benefit and a Flexible Annuity Option Rider.

“Accumulation Advantage can be a valuable addition to a client’s portfolio because it gives them many options for growth,” said Allianz Life Chief Distribution Officer Tom Burns. “In addition to the new accumulation product, we are excited to announce an exclusive partnership with BlackRock adding the BlackRock iBLD Claria Index to select FIAs. With this index, clients can utilize BlackRock’s hands-on asset management expertise and take advantage of current marketplace trends.”

The BlackRock iBLD Claria Index is Allianz Life’s newest index from the world’s largest asset manager1 and will be available on Accumulation Advantage as well as newly issued Allianz 222® Annuity and Allianz 360SM Annuity contracts in states where it is approved. The BlackRock iBLD Claria Index provides daily, rules-based weighting between equity and fixed income components and cash. The equity and fixed income components are composed of a variety of iShares Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that provide exposure to different asset classes. These components are weighted on an annual basis by BlackRock’s Portfolio Strategy Team depending upon their forward-looking view of the market environment, which in turn gives clients broader diversification for more growth opportunities.

“Built with iShares, the Claria Index takes BlackRock’s market insights and combines them with the innovation of our Multi-Asset Portfolio Solutions Team,” said BlackRock Financial Institutions Group Head of Index Strategies Ben Woloshin. “By utilizing an annual adjustment, Claria can be better positioned in this changing market environment, which should provide clients with increased confidence in their index choice.”  Head of BlackRock Retail Financial Institutions Group Michael Ferraro added, “Allianz Life has long been an innovator in the annuity space and BlackRock is thrilled to partner with them by providing this unique index solution.”

For more information about Allianz Accumulation Advantage visit www.allianzlife.com/annuities/fixed-index-annuities.

Notes:
1. Source: P&I/Towers Watson World 500, October 2017, ranked by total AUM.

LifePro Asset Management (LPAM) is proud to announce and welcome the newest member to their growing team, Emily Zerbato. As the firm’s Compliance Analyst, Emily will be responsible for developing and managing a robust compliance platform to allow their advisors to protect and safely grow their current investment business.

Prior to joining the LPAM team, Zerbato was a regulatory consultant for seven years with a focus on educating advisors on the applicable rules and regulations to protect them from the pitfalls of inadequate compliance programs and ultimately prevent significant deficiencies during future examinations by state and federal regulators.

“A strong compliance platform serves as a protective shield while equipping your business with a set of tools that can unlock years of sustainable, high quality production growth,” describes Zerbato. The LifePro Asset Management Compliance Platform is designed to be a solutions provider for an advisory practice, a platform that provides a compliant path to effectively drive potential business across the finish line.  The goal of the LPAM Compliance Platform is to help increase an advisor’s long-term production potential by developing a best interest solution for their clients that will meet their long term financial objectives.

Robert Reaburn, executive VP of LPAM, described why he feels a compliance platform is an essential component to their firm: “One of the common misconceptions that we have been encountering is that since the DOL Fiduciary Rule has been delayed until 2019, the need for a robust compliance program has eased in urgency. The truth is that the DOL Fiduciary Rule is only a small component of your overall compliance requirements as a financial advisor. When it comes to investments and financial planning, these rules and requirements are not going away, they are simply evolving.”

LifePro Asset Management (LPAM) is a turnkey advisory platform that helps advisors navigate regulation while easily implementing advanced tools and retirement strategies to enhance client solutions while increasing fixed and fee-based production. LPAM is fiercely determined to simplify and improve the practices of their advisors by providing solutions that enhance and achieve the financial goals and dreams of their clients. For more information, email info@lifeproassetmanagement.com.

Ash Brokerage, the largest privately held insurance brokerage in the United States, continues to grow with the acquisition of Zenith Marketing Group, the companies recently announced. Leaders say the deal comes as a result of a long-standing relationship between the two firms, and they are excited for the opportunities ahead for both companies.

“We’re extremely proud to partner with the team at Zenith, who are well respected in the insurance industry and share our core values and culture,” said Tim Ash, CEO of Ash Brokerage. “Our scale, infrastructure and technology will give their team even more opportunities to help advisors and their clients with risk management solutions. With the Ash platform, we have no doubt Zenith will continue to thrive and reach new levels of success.”

Jim Ash, founder of Ash Brokerage, added, “We’ve known the people at Zenith for many years, and we’re excited to take the next steps to deepen our relationship. Together, we’ll continue our commitment to be a positive force in the insurance industry.”

Mike Gorlick, president and CEO of Zenith Marketing Group, echoed those sentiments. “Ash and Zenith are two like-minded, growth-oriented organizations, and we believe our combined reputations will make us a formidable influence in the industry,” Gorlick said. “With access to Ash’s enhanced resources, our advisors and employees will see greater opportunities and be in a better position for the future. In this case, one plus one clearly equals three.”

Zenith Marketing Group, headquartered in Freehold, NJ, will continue operating under the same name. The firm and its clients will have access to Ash Brokerage’s tools and business strategies, including enhanced technology for compliance and security in the wake of regulatory and marketplace demands. Zenith’s 55 employees will join the 350-plus employees of Ash, creating a team of more than 400 professionals nationwide. This acquisition is the first since Ash Brokerage announced its partnership with Century Equity Partners in 2017, as a commitment to growth, both organically and strategically. Ash Brokerage is seeking additional opportunities for mergers and acquisitions with successful firms.

Ash Brokerage is a brokerage general agency based in Fort Wayne, IN, answering the needs of financial professionals nationwide. For life insurance, annuities, long term care or disability income, Ash provides the tools and, more importantly, the people needed to get the job done right. For more than 45 years the firm has built its success on strong, personal relationships with its clients and partners. For more information about Ash Brokerage, visit www.ashbrokerage.com.

Zenith Marketing Group has been helping producers grow their practices since 1995. With extensive experience in insurance products and sales support, as well as a strong commitment to customer service, Zenith takes pride in delivering the entire spectrum of tools necessary to assist independent insurance professionals to achieving outstanding results. For more information about Zenith Marketing Group, visit www.zenithmarketing.com. 

Two of the biggest insurance marketing organizations (IMOs), AMZ Financial Insurance Services and Partners Advantage Insurance Services, today announced their definitive merger to further enhance and extend their insurance distribution network. The new company will be called Partners Advantage Insurance Services. The merger went effective March 1, 2018, with the companies planning to fully integrate by September 30, 2018.

The new IMO will operate out of four main office locations including three offices in California; Riverside, Irvine and El Dorado Hills; as well as an office in Urbandale, Iowa. The new company will have the breadth and reach to serve life, annuities and linked benefits at the absolute top levels. The CEO of Partners Advantage, Scott Tietz said, “With the merger, we believe we have created a robust IMO that can provide assistance to any agent, agency owner or IMO regardless of the insurance products they sell.”

“This merger is a critical piece in our long-term growth strategy,” said Allie Miller, Partners Advantage president. “This is a very exciting time for us, and we believe that merging allows us to elevate the overall insurance industry with innovative financial products, technology, marketing strategies, practice management and sales support, while still holding meaningful relationships with our valued distribution partners.”

The merger will usher in a revolution in the independent insurance distribution marketplace and the new services provided through the company will result in greater efficiencies. “Our clients will continue to enjoy the same quality services,” commented Joe Zuccolotto, Chief Operations Officer of Partners Advantage. “We have been working together for months to make this transition as smooth as possible for our agencies and agents.”

Founded in 2000, AMZ Financial is the only independent marketing organization with a proven track record in developing and distributing indexed universal life products. To date, they have developed 10 products with the industry’s most recognized life insurance carriers.

Partners Advantage is an independent insurance marketing organization and nationally recognized leader in the life insurance, annuity and linked benefit products marketplace.

Ohio National donated more than $19,000 in 2017 to help grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses through an ongoing agreement with Make-A-Wish, bringing a total of more than $274,000 donated to Make-A-Wish since the program’s introduction in 2010.

Ohio National makes a $10 donation to Make-A-Wish for every individual variable product owner who switches to e-delivery of product and fund prospectuses, quarterly statements or fund reports for the first time. During 2017, 1,927 Ohio National individual variable product owners elected this eco-friendly option.*  

More than 27,000 Ohio National product owners have participated, raising $274,480 to help grant 34 wishes for wish kids throughout the United States.

“Everyone benefits from this program, from the environment to Ohio National product owners, and especially Make-A-Wish kids in Cincinnati and throughout the country,” said Gary T. “Doc” Huffman, Ohio National chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Due to its popularity, Ohio National is continuing its ninth year of the program. 

Make-A-Wish® creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. They are on a quest to bring every eligible child’s wish to life, because a wish is an integral part of a child’s treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, Make-A-Wish is the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, serving children in every community in the United States and in 50 countries worldwide. Together, generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 35,000 volunteers across the U.S., grant a wish every 34 minutes, on average, somewhere in the country. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 300,000 wishes to children in the U.S. and its territories; more than 15,400 in 2017 alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish, visit www.wish.org.

*Total contributions made by Ohio National Financial Services, Inc. through its subsidiaries including National Security for 2010-2017. Various state laws prohibit offering incentives for electing e-delivery, among other things. Donations to charitable organizations are excluded from these rules. From March 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018, Ohio National will donate $10 to Make-A-Wish for every individual variable product owner the first time e-delivery delivery is elected.

Tracing its corporate origins to 1909, Ohio National markets a variety of insurance and financial products through more than 50,000 representatives in 49 states (all except New York), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and through affiliated operations in South America. An additional subsidiary operates in New York. As of December 31, 2017, its affiliated companies have $42.0 billion total assets under management. Products are issued by The Ohio National Life Insurance Company and Ohio National Life Assurance Corporation. Ohio National is proud to be named a “Top Workplace” in Cincinnati for eight consecutive years by Enquirer Media (June 2010-2017) and employs nearly 1,300 associates. Visit www.ohionational.com for more information.

Alliance Group, a large national life insurance marketing organization based out of Atlanta, GA, and Ponte Vedra, FL, recently announced a wave of title changes and promotions for several key employees.

On the marketing side, Peter Goldfine assumed a new role as Director of Digital Innovation, where he will be tasked with driving the growth of Alliance Group’s digital marketing and training efforts through the continued use of cutting-edge technology, with a focus on data analytics.  Chrissy Disco was promoted to Creative Director, where she will be responsible for overseeing the aesthetics of Alliance’s multiplatform branding, advertising campaigns, and marketing messages.  On the operations side, Andrea Buffo was announced as the new Business Development Manager, serving as the key liaison between agents, agencies,  insurance carrier partners and the Alliance Group home office.

“Growing outward means we also need to grow inward, and these three have been key drivers of our success,” said Alliance Group Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Lee Duncan.  “They’ve proven that they’re ready for their new roles, and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow and develop in their careers with Alliance Group”.  

As a company, Alliance Group enjoyed another year of double-digit percentage increases in revenue in 2017, their fifth consecutive year of such growth, and marking 375 percent growth since 2008.  

Alliance Group is a large independent marketing organization in the life insurance industry.  Since 1998, they have been the driving force behind the rising popularity of living benefits life insurance in the marketplace.  Alliance Group works with independent life insurance agencies and their agents to create marketing and training tools designed to help tell the story of Living Benefits to their clients.  More information on Alliance Group can be found at their website, www.alliancegrouplife.com. 

LifeMark Partners, Inc., one of the nation’s largest independent national insurance marketing organizations, today announced that a complimentary cancer genomic profiling program will be exclusively available to its partner BGAs. This first of its kind offer will allow BGAs affiliated with LifeMark Partners to initially provide 250,000 Americans, who purchased new life insurance policies, with instant complimentary access for one year to Wamberg Genomic Advisors’ Cancer Guardian program. Cancer Guardian is for the sequencing of a cancer tumor to learn about coding mutations that contribute to tumor progression.

In addition, the Cancer Guardian program will be offered at a discount to 2,000,000 existing policyholders who have purchased life insurance through LifeMark and its affiliated BGAs. “It is truly an honor for us to be the first insurance marketing organization to offer this type of advanced program to our partner BGAs. This progressive program is a vital tool that will allow our partners to help clients of their advisors, producers and agents should they suffer the unfortunate diagnosis of cancer,” said William Shelow, CLU®, ChFC®, CPCU®, LLIF, president and chief executive officer, LifeMark Partners. “As our partners have come to expect, this is another innovative step we take in order to provide the most advanced tools and technology to our BGAs so they in turn have the most up-to-date services for the clients of their advisors, producers and agents.”

The information provided by Wamberg Genomic Advisors Cancer Guardian program can be used to increase the accuracy of the diagnosis and highlight more effective and appropriate treatment options, including clinical trials, based on the genetic profile of an individual’s cancer. The 2017 MOSCATO trial showed that half of cancers have actionable genetic mutations that are potentially treatable with targeted cancer drugs that currently exist.1 When obtaining these comprehensive genomic tests outside of Wamberg Genomic Advisors’ innovative program, the price is in excess of $7,000 and are not covered by health insurance in most cases.

“What LifeMark is doing is unprecedented and invaluable. An individual’s cancer genomic profile, first and foremost, can be instrumental in helping patients beat cancer by helping physicians create powerful, personalized care paths,” said Tom Wamberg, president and CEO of Wamberg Genomic Advisors. “LifeMark and its BGAs are also part of a much greater societal good. As more people with cancer receive comprehensive genomic profiling tests, the more scientific data we have to move towards a cure for cancer.”

Underwriters Brokerage Service, an independent life and health brokerage agency located in Pittsburgh, PA, is a LifeMark Partner agency. Its president, Mark Rosen, CLU, chairman of LifeMark, said, “This gives our BGA, and all LifeMark’s affiliated BGAs, an incredible new product. But, more important, we can truly help clients of our advisors, producers and agents.”

The Cancer Guardian program is complimentary for one year when offered to new policyholders of an advisor, producer and agent who works through a LifeMark Partner agency to meet their insurance needs. The program is then priced at less than $20 per month from that point on—family members can also be included in this program. The program officially launched March 1, 2018.

Note:
1. Massard C et al. High-Throughput Genomics and Clinical Outcome in Hard-to-Treat Advanced Cancers: Results of the MOSCATO 01 Trial. Cancer Discov. 2017 Jun;7(6):586-595

Wamberg Genomic Advisors is the first company dedicated to making genomic testing readily available at prices everyone can afford. Genomic testing can provide insights to individuals and healthcare providers for better informed decisions about overall health, patient care paths and the quality and longevity of life. Wamberg Genomic Advisors is focused on delivering genomic products and services to employers and their employees via their trusted benefit brokers, and policyholders of life insurance companies. To discover more about Wamberg Genomic Advisors and the future of genomics, visit www.wamberggenomic.com.

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. As an independent insurance marketing organization, LifeMark is dedicated to the ongoing development and enhancement of BGA partner resources to help undeniably differentiate partner agencies from the competition. Affiliates benefit from some of the most robust service offerings in the market today, including expansive underwriting capabilities, advanced case design support, sales and product benchmarking tools, and turnkey sales and marketing systems. At its core, LifeMark Partners was founded as a study group more than 40 years ago and is celebrating more than 20 years as a leading IMO. This foundation provides a unique opportunity to form strategic alliances and share best practices for partners to grow their agencies together through regular training, networking and educational opportunities. With unparalleled partnership, expertise and access to these industry-leading resources, LifeMark Partners provides affiliates The strength of many. The power of one. To learn more about the qualifications necessary to become a LifeMark partner, visit www.LifeMarkPartners.com or call 410.837.3022. 

Insurance Designers of America, LLC, (IDA), announced recently that J. Craig Collins has joined the firm as president.  In his role, Collins will direct general business development including creating strategic business initiatives and expanding sales and marketing activity for the organization.  Additionally, he will have primary responsibility for managing relationships with partner insurance carriers.

“We are thrilled to have Craig join our team,” said Craig Waldenmaier, chairman of the board at Insurance Designers.  “He is widely known and respected in our industry.  His leadership will be invaluable.  Craig’s tireless energy, passion for the insurance business and his vast knowledge and experience will enhance our efforts to grow our business from independent producers and institutional clients.”

With more than 40 years experience, Collins brings broad-based knowledge of the financial services industry and leadership experience in managing and developing independent distribution.  He comes to Insurance Designers from Highland Capital Brokerage, where he was senior vice president, business development and head of HighCap Financial, an elite producer group.  He previously served as senior vice president at Voya Financial (formerly ING US) and was responsible for independent life insurance sales, Voya’s largest life insurance distribution channel. Collins began his insurance career as an agent in 1977 and held several positions with major U.S. insurance companies.  He has been actively involved in the industry including participation in several associations. He was a long-standing member of LIMRA’s Brokerage Committee, which he chaired in 2010 and 2011, LIMRA’s Distribution Leaders Round Table, NAILBA and AALU.  He studied Business Administration at the University of Kentucky and holds FINRA series 6 and 26 licenses.

“I am honored and excited to be with Insurance Designers,” noted Collins.  “I have enjoyed a great relationship and been very familiar with the organization and its members for many years.  They are highly respected in our industry for their professionalism and integrity.   As one of the largest insurance marketing organizations they are recognized for their superior support of their distribution partners.  I am looking forward to working with the membership.”

Collins will be replacing Dick Schuettner who will be retiring March 31. Greg Patterson, principal at Advisors Financial Group and immediate past chairman at Insurance Designers, commented, “Dick has done an excellent job during his time with us.  We are grateful for his contributions as Dick has been instrumental in helping to lay a foundation for Craig and our membership to continue on our growth trajectory.”

Formed in 1986, IDA is among the oldest, largest and most well-respected insurance marketing organizations (IMOs) in the country.  Founded by former agency heads of a national insurance carrier that was exiting the agency distribution system, IDA was conceived to fill the distribution void as insurance companies narrowed their scope solely to the manufacture of products.

For more information about Insurance Designers of America, visit www.ida-national.com.