In Memoriam
Alfred Rosen
May 2, 1928 — April 15, 2010
It is with sadness that Underwriters Brokerage Service announced the passing of founder Al Rosen on Thursday, April 15, 2010, after a long illness.
Rosen was one of the strong early proponents of independent insurance brokerage, founding Katzen Rosen Associates (Underwriters Brokerage Service) with his partner Bob Katzen in 1970. He was active in the local life underwriters association in those early days and was a leader in the formation of the national study group, LIFE, Inc., which ultimately morphed into Lifemark Partners, today’s pre-eminent national insurance marketing organization. He was also one of the original seven brokerage general agents who initially met to lay the groundwork for establishing NAILBA.
Rosen was a gifted salesman and marketer and, although he retired nearly 20 years ago, his efforts, integrity and business philosophy still permeate Underwriters Brokerage to this day. Given the early foundation of success that he developed, the agency continues to thrive under the current leadership of his sons, Mark and Steve, and his partner, Bob Katzen.
Rosen truly leaves behind a tremendous legacy in business and with family and friends.
According to a recent study done by AXA Equitable, the “golden years just got a little shorter for Americans.” Recent market volatility has forced many to adjust retirement plans and expectations:
• More than four in ten polled (42 percent) plan to delay retirement, on average, by six years. Their planned retirement age is now 68, ballooning from a previously planned age of 62;
• Almost three in ten Americans (27 percent) plan to go back to work after retiring;
• Approximately two in ten retirees (17 percent) have already gone back to work, up from 9 percent of those polled in February 2009.
The study, Retirement in America: A Survey of Concerns and Expectations, is part of AXA Equitable’s ongoing commitment to understanding the financial concerns of consumers and how market volatility has impacted their retirement planning. The study, which polled 1,000 Americans between the ages of 25 and 70, was conducted in December 2009. Respondents included financial decision-makers with household income of at least $75,000 or investable assets between $250,000 and $999,999.
Retirement planning will certainly continue to be a top priority for boomer consumers until the economy recovers, and your financial planning skills are the answer to this pressing need. With that said, in this month’s issue, which focuses on the senior market, you will find some great resources on important topics such as long term care insurance, new Roth IRA rules, health care costs for seniors, etc. The exclusive online editorial will continue the discussion about linked products. Also, don’t miss the insights about health care reform in this month’s Monthly Commentary section.
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Each month you will have access to exclusive online editorial, in addition to what appears in the print version of the magazine. You will also have the capability of creating your own reference briefcase where you can store articles and advertisements of interest that you can refer back to at a later date.
Go to www.brokerworldmag.com/account and follow the sign-up instructions. If you’re having problems, don’t hesitate to call 800-762-3387 and we will “talk you through” the sign-up process. This is an opportunity you do not want to miss!
Broker World is pleased to announce that Hope Howard has officially joined our staff as Marketing Coordinator. Quite possibly you have already met Hope at an industry event, in the company of our illustrious Publisher—yes, she happens to be Stephen Howard’s partner and wife.
Prior to moving to Kansas City from Moorhead City, NC, in 2007, Hope was operations manager for the National Association of Insurance Marketers (NAIM), a marketing group for life and health insurance brokerage general agents. Her financial services experience also includes being a property & casualty representative for Farm Bureau Insurance, as well as working in the mortgage finance business.
Hope’s new role at Broker World will include extensive work with marketing programs for advertising, circulation and our online initiatives.
