Broker World

Petersen International Underwriters

Petersen International Underwriters has announced a disability insurance plan available to active duty military doctors, including those who are deployed in war zones.

Doctors, dentists and other professionals whose current income is underinsured and whose future income is not even considered now have the ability to adequately protect their families. The government protects only the base pay of these professional officers; it does not protect any additional compensation, bonus income, housing allowances or future income these doctors stand to make once they transition from the military to private practice.

Monthly disability benefits can insure up to two thirds of the income of these professionals with this new plan and, in addition, a lump sum benefit can be obtained which will indemnify loss of future earnings with a benefit amount as much as ten times annual income.

PLUS Financial Network

Professional Life Underwriters Services, LLC (PLUS) and Midwest Financial Network (MFN) have merged to become PLUS Financial Network. This consolidation has resulted in an agency with some 60 years of corporate experience for the firms’ roughly 1,600 independent insurance agent partners in the life insurance, long term care, disability income and annuity marketplace.

“The new PLUS Financial Network is positioned to benefit both our stakeholders and insurance advisors, as well as their clients,” said Lloyd West, FLMI, president, PLUS Financial Network.

“There is a tremendous synergy between our two organizations Both agencies have exemplary reputations for customer service, and this is an opportunity to build even stronger relationships with our partners,” said Ted Kotsakis, chief executive officer, PLUS Financial Network.”

Known for in-house underwriting expertise, the firm specializes in creative plan designs and is a leader in the impaired risk arena. PLUS Financial Network is a member of AimcoR Group and proudly represents some 40 insurance carriers.

After spending more than 25 years in the life insurance business as an agent, a brokerage manager and a regional sales director, Ted Kotsakis founded Midwest Financial Network in 2002.

Professional Life Underwriters Services, LLC was founded in 1965 by Lloyd West, at the very beginning of the brokerage distribution channel when impaired risk business was difficult to place with many companies.

Prudential/LifeMark Partners

Prudential presented the 2010 “Top of the Rock Award” to LifeMark Partners for being Pru’s number one ranked national brokerage account, based on individual life insurance application count and scheduled premium. The award was presented to Nancy Bosley and Malcolm Sklar of LifeMark Partners at Prudential’s headquarters in Newark, NJ.

Banner Life

Banner Life Insurance Company, one of the Legal & General America companies, has introduced 10, 15 and 20 year level term riders that can be laddered on its OPTerm policy base plans. Banner’s no-lapse guarantee portfolio, Life Choice UL, Life Change UL and Life Step UL plans, now allow for a partial surrender benefit.

College funding, mortgage payoff and income replacement can be addressed in the rider coverage—a 10-year plan for the college funding costs of teenagers, a 20-year plan to retire a mortgage, and a 30-year plan for income replacement. This strategy lowers the overall cost of initial coverage and helps the client buy the total amount needed today.

The cost reduction comes from the elimination of policy fees on the riders. Coverage and premiums drop off as the rider coverage expires. Rider premiums are banded and use the same rate scale as OPTerm policies, based on the face amount of each individual rider. The riders are separately convertible while in force. Lower issue age maximums apply to the riders: age 50 for the 20 year rider, 55 for the 15 year, and 60 for the 10 year.

Also effective now, an endorsement will be issued with all Life Choice UL, Life Change UL and Life Step UL plans (where available) that allows the policyowner to effect a partial surrender of the cash surrender value. The specified amount, guaranteed cash values and coverage guarantee account are reduced proportionately; the guaranteed premium requirement is similarly reduced. The remaining specified amount must satisfy the minimum for the contract, and Section 7702 constraints must be followed.

American General Life

American General Life Companies (American General) has introduced AG Choice Index GUL, a fixed index interest, flexible premium, adjustable universal life insurance product with secondary guarantee provisions.

AG Choice Index GUL offers policyholders long term guarantees along with the ability to allocate premium to index accounts providing the potential to accumulate significant cash value. The product offers a combination of strong death benefit protection, options to customize coverage guarantees to fit individual circumstances, and policy features that provide the potential to build cash value that can be accessed in the future as needs change.

AG Choice Index GUL provides the opportunity to capture some of the upside of the equity markets while providing a minimum 1 percent guarantee to help lessen this volatility. Key benefits of AG Choice Index GUL include: Guaranteed death benefit coverage up to age 121, with issue ages from 0-90 (in most states); a flexible continuation guarantee that allows policyowners to select their guarantee period and premium funding period; one-year index interest crediting based in part on the one-year, point-to-point growth of a domestic index with cap rate and guaranteed interest rate of 1 percent (index does not reflect dividends); five-year index interest crediting based in part on three global indices with automatic overweighting of the two best-performing indices; minimum death benefit protection of $100,000, with a choice of two death benefit options (level or increasing); a combination of death benefit guarantees with the ability to accumulate significant cash value; two loan options that provide policyholders
with more flexibility than most competing products; monthly index accounts that allow flexible scheduling of premium payments; and the option of 24-month rolling targets (may not be available in all states).

Also for purposes of maintaining the death benefit guarantee, 1035 exchange premiums received during the first 12 months after the date of issue are treated as if received on the date of issue. Policy withdrawals are allowed (subject to certain restrictions and conditions) anytime after the first policy year, and clients have a variety of loan options to access cash values; an overloan protection rider ensures policies won’t lapse with large outstanding loan balances. Multiple other riders are available to meet individual needs.

Petersen International

Petersen International Underwriters, a 29-year cover holder for Lloyd’s, has announced an improvement of their business contingent lines of coverage. Contingent Bank Loan Protection, Contingent Key Person Protection, Contingent Buy Sell Protection, and Contingent Confidential Asset Protection are all designed for business uses in providing high limits of coverage. Perils covered may include both death and disability insurance.

With any of the business contingent plans, coverage can range from $100,000 to $100 million, with most cases approved and bound within 24 to 48 hours. These programs solve unique problems, especially for the corporate world. Mergers and acquisitions, bank loans, difficult to place cases, short term needs, and venture capital investments are some of the regular uses. Typical examples of the daily needs for business contingent plans include: a key person portfolio manager who needs to be insured for many millions of dollars, a private equity firm closing a deal involving the purchase of a firm whose principal asset is a research doctor, a medical group that is purchasing a new piece of diagnostic equipment for $2 million and the bank has asked for death and disability coverage to be in place prior to funding.

Aetna/Genworth Financial

Aetna has entered into an agreement with Genworth Financial, Inc., to acquire Genworth’s Medicare supplement and related blocks of in-force business. The business has more than 145,000 Medicare supplement members.

Aetna will acquire 100 percent of the stock of Continental Life Insurance Company of Brentwood, TN (CLI), and reinsure certain related blocks of in-force business. The purchase price is approximately $290 million. The transaction will be treated as an asset purchase for tax purposes and is subject to customary closing conditions, including federal Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust and state regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2011. Ë›

Guarantee Trust Life

Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company (GTLIC) is celebrating 75 years. Founded in 1936, GTLIC is a legal mutual reserve company located in Glenview, IL, which provides a portfolio of competitive health, accident, life and special risk insurance programs. GTLIC continues to build upon its core family values of personal customer service, quality products and successful relationships. Through the company’s independent agents and brokers, GTLIC serves individuals and families in 49 states and the District of Columbia.

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 Victoria “Tori” Van Dusen–Roos.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com

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.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.riskappraisalforum.com

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 service 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.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.subcenters.com
 

MARKETING GROUPS

AimcoR Group LLC
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: An organization dedicated to providing marketing strategies and resources to penetrate new markets, defray individual agency costs and implement the goals and objectives for our member BGA agencies.
Year Group Established: 2011 (AIMCO & RGroup merged as of January 1, 2011)
Products Offered: Universal life, term life, variable life, annuities, long term care, disability.
Companies Represented: American National, American General, AXA Equitable, Aviva, Banner Life, Fidelity Life, Genworth, ING, John Hancock, Lincoln Benefit Life, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Prudential, Transamerica, West Coast Life/Protective Life, Principal Life.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Three times a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Brokerage general agencies committed to a multi-carrier platform, producing more than $1 million of target production.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.aimcorgroup.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.
Companies Represented: Allianz, American Equity, American General, American Memorial, American National, Aviva, AXA Equitable, Banner Life, Fidelity & Guaranty Life, Foresters, Genworth, Great American, ING, Lafayette Life, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Mutual of Omaha, National Western, NACOLAH, Prudential, Transamerica, United Home Life, West Coast Life, Western Reserve.
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 Rick Kisser.
Website: www.AIPonline.net

American Brokerage Centers, LLC
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: An association of life and health insurance general agencies that helps its members grow their business faster and more profitably than they could individually. ABC’s member program offers: access to insurance company contracts and products to diversify and enhance members’ portfolios; the ability to remain independent and respond to new opportunities; idea sharing and networking with ABC members; central processing, when required; underwriting consulting and support; information warehousing, marketing programs and support, and increased member income by combining production for bonus purposes and distributing it on a fair and equitable basis.
Year Group Established: 2000
Products Offered: Wide range of life and annuities, disability, health, impaired risk, long term care.
Companies Represented: American General, Aviva, Banner Life, Genworth, ING, John Hancock, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Mutual of Omaha, Prudential, Transamerica, West Coast Life.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times a year plus monthly conference calls.
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: All brokerage agencies welcome
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.abc4brokerage.com

America’s Long Term Care Insurance Experts
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: There is a need for marketing direction and sales leadership in long term care insurance brokerage. Now is absolutely the best time to become committed to this line of business. It is impossible to avoid the long term care insurance conversation in any insurance sales situation that evaluates risk. Multi-life and group long term care insurance is the growth industry. We offer top contracts with all front line companies, as well as direct marketing and sales assistance and focused marketing and direct sales assistance.
Year Established: 2008
Products Offered: Long term care insurance in all forms, stand alone, life insurance with ADBR, and combo life and annuity products.
Companies Represented: Assurity, MedAmerica, Mutual of Omaha, Genworth, John Hancock, LifeSecure, Prudential, Transamerica.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Annual
Looking for New Members: Yes
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.ltcicentral.com

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 insurance, life insurance, long term care
Companies Represented: American General, Lincoln Financial, Principal Life, Protective Life.
Doing Business In: CA, FL, IL, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, TX
Meeting Frequency: Two times a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Dues
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
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, and various financial instruments designed to suit an array of funding needs.
Companies Represented: American General, AXA Equit­able, American National, Banner Life, Genworth, ING, John Hancock, Lincoln Benefit Life, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Nationwide, Principal, Prudential, Transamerica, United of Omaha, West Coast Life/Protective Life.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Three times a year
Looking for New Members: Selectively
Member Qualifications: Contact Chris Soniat at 205-868-4622.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.bramcofinancial.com

Brokers Health Insurance Network, Inc.
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: We provide our members with a diverse portfolio of health insurance products and related services. Our members enjoy top deals and bonus opportunities with carriers in the senior, underage, small and large group markets. Our focus is to find opportunities that benefit our members, and we are constantly adding to the offers our members enjoy.
Year Group Established: 1988
Products Offered: Group insurance, employee benefits, individual health, long term care insurance, critical illness, dental, disability, health savings accounts, Medicare supplements, Part C and Part D plans.
Companies Represented: American National, Allied, Assurity, Bravo, Capital Benefits Group, Coventry, Fidelity Life, HPA, IMG, Medico, Mutual of Omaha, Reliance Standard, Standard Life, United of Omaha.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Contact Joe Pittman at 402-397-0280 or bhini@cam-omaha.com.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.bhini.com

Capitas Financial, LLC
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: Disability, long term care, life settlements, private placement, a wide range of life insurance, variable products and annuities.
Companies Represented: Allianz, American General, American National, Aviva, AXA Equitable, Banner, Genworth, ING, John Hancock, Lincoln Benefit Life, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Minnesota Life, Mutual of Omaha, Nationwide, Pacific Life, Principal, Protective Life, Prudential, Sun Life, Transamerica, West Coast Life. 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: Multiple meetings throughout year (partners meeting, annual meeting, monthly training meetings).
Looking for New Partners: No, but recruiting for brokerage managers.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.capitasfinancial.com

Century 2000
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: Century 2000’s focus is to provide members with the highest compensation possible, extremely competitive products, and quality service while maintaining a long term relationship with the companies within our portfolio.
Year Group Established: 1996
Products Offered: All life insurance and annuities, disability insurance, medicare supplement, tax-sheltered and payroll-deduction plans.
Companies Represented: American General, American Amicable, Americo, Assurity, Banner Life, Fidelity Life, Genworth, Life of the Southwest, Lincoln Financial, NACOLAH, RBC/Liberty Life, Symetra, West Coast Life.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Annual
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Minimum annualized premium and dues.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.c2000life.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; long term care; term life, universal life, indexed life and whole life.
Companies Represented: American General, American National, Aviva, AXA Equitable, Fidelity & Guaranty Life, Fidelity Life, ING Reliastar, ING US Annuity & Life, John Hancock, Lafayette Life,  Life of the Southwest, Lincoln National, NACOLAH, National Life of VT, Prudential.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Contact admin@cmginfo.com.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.cmginfo.com, 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, disability income.
Companies Represented: American General, Aviva, AXA Equitable, American National, Banner Life, Genworth, Hartford, ING, John Hancock, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, New York Life, NACOLAH, Nationwide, Principal, Protective Life, Prudential, SBLI, Sun Life of Canada, Transamerica, United of Omaha, West Coast Life, Western Reserve, 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.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
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, long term care.
Companies Represented: AGL Assurance, Allianz, American General, American Memorial, American National, Americo, AmerUS, Assurity Life, Aviva, AXA Equitable, Banner Life, Cincinnati Life, Fidelity & Guaranty Life, Fidelity Life, First MetLife Investors, Genworth, Gleaner Life, Great American, Hartford Life, ING, Jackson National Life, John Hancock, Life of the Southwest, LifeSecure, Lincoln Benefit Life, Lincoln Financial, MassMutual, MedAmerica, MetLife Investors, Motorists Life, Mutual of Omaha, Mutual Trust, NACOLAH, National Western, Nationwide, New York Life, Penn Mutual, Presidential Life, Principal Life, Protective Life, Prudential Financial, Security Mutual of NY, Sun Life, Transamerica, Union Central/Ameritas, United Home Life, United of Omaha, West Coast Life, Western & Southern Life, Western Reserve, William Penn.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times a year
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: BGAs
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.dmgusa.org

Insurance Designers of America, LLC
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: IDA’s strength lies in the independence of its member agencies and at the same time, their interdependence. IDA is committed to providing local service and assistance while maintaining the strength of a national organization. As one of the nation’s oldest and most successful life insurance marketing organizations, superior pre- and post-sale service to the upscale life insurance producer comes naturally. IDA is also committed to maintaining the integrity and reputation of the organization, recruiting only well-established brokerage general agencies who want to make an individual commitment to a group effort—thereby affording the best service to not only upscale producers but potential clients as well. With 51 member BGA offices located in key metropolitan areas, IDA’s footprint is nationwide.
Year Group Established: 1988
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, and health supplements.
Companies Represented: American General/US Life, American National, Aviva, AXA Equitable, Banner Life/William Penn, Fidelity Life, Guardian, Genworth, ING, John Hancock, Lincoln Benefit Life/Allstate, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Minnesota Life, Mutual of Omaha/Companion, Nationwide, New York Life, NACOLAH, Protective/West Coast Life, Prudential, Reliance Standard, SBLI, Transamerica.
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.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.ida-national.com

LifeMark Partners, Inc.
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: LifeMark is a provider of specialized insurance solutions. Founded in the 1990s, we have grown to become a recognized brand in legacy and business planning, with an approach characterized by regional service, sophisticated compliance and underwriting, and centralized administrative infrastructure.
LifeMark operates exclusively in partnership with retail insurance producers, regional broker dealers, independent financial planner networks, P&C agencies, and banks that serve the wealth management marketplace. In all of these partnerships, LifeMark understands its supporting role in helping financial professionals grow their client relationships.
Year Group Established: 1995
Products Offered: Annuities, disability insurance, long term care, term, universal life, variable universal life.
Companies Represented: American General/US Life of NY, American National, Aviva, AXA Equitable, Banner Life/William Penn, Genworth, ING, John Hancock, Lincoln Benefit Life/Allstate of NY, MetLife, Nationwide, Prudential, Sun Life of Canada, Transamerica, United of Omaha/Companion Life, West Coast Life.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Three times a year
Looking for New Members: No
Member Qualifications: N/A
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.lifemarkpartners.com

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 insurance (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, American General Life, Assurant Solutions, Assurity Life, Capital Benefits Group, General Agents Center, Health Insurance Innovations, HPA, IMG, Lincoln Financial, NACOLAH, Petersen International, Securian Dental, West Coast Life.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times 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.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
Website: www.NAIM.com

National Brokerage Agencies, Inc.
Group Classification: Marketing Group
Mission Statement: The National Brokerage Agency, 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 product, worksite products, disability income, asset transfer products, long term care (individual and group), life settlements.
Companies Represented: American General Life Companies, American Memorial, American National, Assurity, Aviva, AXA Equitable, Banner, Capital Benefits Group, Coventry, Fidelity Life, Fidelity & Guaranty Life, Foresters, Genworth, IHC Solutions, ING, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Merchants Benefit Administration, Minnesota Life, Mutual of Omaha, Mutual Trust Life, NACOLAH, OneAmerica, Phoenix Life, Presidential Life, Prudential, Reliance Standard Life, Securian Dental, Security Mutual, Transamerica, Welcome Funds, West Coast Life/Protective.
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.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
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 personal 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. Representing 40+ nationally recognized companies offers a complete product base to the agencies that comprise the membership of NBC.
Year Group Established: 1989
Products Offered: All varieties of annuities and life insurance, disability income, long term care, impaired risk underwriting services, administration, marketing, training and sales support for agencies, regional broker/dealers, and community banks.
Companies Represented: Allianz, American Amicable, American General, American Equity, American National, Assurity Life, Aviva, Aviva NY, AXA Equitable, AXA NY, Banner Life, Companion NY, Equitrust, Fidelity Life, Genworth Life, Genworth NY, Great American, Hartford Life, ING/Reliastar, John Hancock, John Hancock NY, Illinois Mutual, Lafayette Life, Lincoln National Life, Lincoln National Life NY, MetLife Advisors, Minnesota Life, Mutual of Omaha, Nationwide Life, New York Life, NACOLAH, Penn Mutual, Phoenix, Phoenix NY, Principal, Protective Life and Annuity NY, Prudential, SBLI, Sun Life, Sun Life NY, Symetra Life, Transamerica, Transamerica NY, United of Omaha, US Life Insurance, West Coast Life/Protective, Western Reserve.
Doing Business In: All states
Meeting Frequency: Two times a year—usually April and October
Looking for New Members: Yes
Member Qualifications: Seeking agencies that derive the majority of their production from brokerage business in life, health, annuity, disability, retirement planning and long term care insurance. We recognize the difficulties small, medium and even large sized agencies face in solving the needs for access to leading companies, adequate compensation, and the support of their peers.
Membership List: www.brokerworldmag.com
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. 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 n

Hyatt Legal Plans

Hyatt Legal Plans, a MetLife company, announced that it has released a new resource designed to help employers understand the impact that employees’ personal legal matters have on the workplace.

Quantifying the Workplace Impact of Employees’ Personal Legal Matters: Five Issues Addressed with Group Legal Plans reveals how employees’ routine legal matters can affect workplace productivity and illustrates how group legal plans as a voluntary benefit may help mitigate the impact, while contributing toward achieving objectives of employee retention and cost control.

The guide outlines five ways employers can be impacted by their employees’ personal legal problems, including decreased productivity (distractions, duration of issues, and missed work days on the part of employees), as well as the emotional and physical toll. For example, nearly half (47 percent) of female employees and more than a third of male employees (37 percent) surveyed reported having their physical or emotional health negatively impacted when dealing with their personal legal issue, which can lead to an erosion in work performance.

The study highlighted in the guide found that just 30 percent of employees who used a group legal plan reported taking vacation days toward resolving their legal issue, versus 50 percent who do not have a legal plan. In addition, employees who used a group legal plan resolved their issue in 4.4 weeks on average, compared to 6.1 weeks for those who did not. Loyalty toward their employers is higher among those employees with access to group legal plans.