Hexure, a provider of sales and regulatory automation solutions for the life and annuity industry, announced the addition of annuity products to its quoting solution. Annuity quoting with side-by-side comparisons within Hexure’s platform makes finding the right product easier and faster, improving advisor productivity and client satisfaction.

“We are excited to expand our quoting capabilities to enable our clients and their advisors to quickly and easily run quotes for various lines of business and product types from a single platform,” said Kevin Pohmer, chief product officer for Hexure. “By adding annuity quoting to the Hexure platform, advisors no longer need to jump from one system to another to quote and submit life and annuity business. Now from one platform, advisors can quickly quote and compare products and then seamlessly flow into the e-application process for a streamlined, connected and accelerated sales experience.”

Hexure’s comparative quoting solution allows advisors to quickly compare product rates, fees, as well as a host of product and carrier details. With the expansion to include annuities, advisors can now access and filter annuity products based on product type or features and generate proposals to help clients make informed and confident buying decisions.

“Disjointed sales tools and fragmented sales data are a significant hindrance within our industry. In today’s digital landscape, advisors require sales tools that simplify their workflow and provide the necessary capabilities for efficient and effective business operations,” said Pohmer. “At Hexure, we are focused on continually expanding and refining our solutions. The enhancement to our quoting solutions is just one step in our commitment this year to empower our clients and their sales force with connected and streamlined sales processes and data, ultimately ensuring a superior experience for advisors and clients and operational efficiencies.”

The Hexure quoting solution can be accessed through Hexure’s FireLight platform or embedded into any third-party web application, website, or proprietary sales solution where sales need to happen.

Founded in 1995, Hexure provides digital sales solutions to the insurance and financial services industry across various lines of life insurance, annuities, retirement, and wealth management products. Carriers and distributors use its solutions to build customer-centric sales experiences, accelerate submissions, reduce paper processes, meet regulatory requirements, and improve in-good-order sales.

Financial professionals who sell life insurance policies for Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) can now use a new tool to create customized, interactive policy proposals.

The tool, Illustrations with Impact, powered by the EnsightTM technology platform, helps financial professionals create strong proposals for their clients.

Designed to accompany and expand on a policy proposal, Illustrations with Impact create full presentations that walk clients through all the ways that fixed index universal life insurance (FIUL) can help secure their financial future. With the click of a button, the tool generates personalized client content, including interactive charts, using value drawn from the details of that client’s policy illustration. The tool also shows the potential over time for accumulation, loans and withdrawals and even a death benefit.

“It’s a powerful way to help clients see the positive financial impact in their own life,” said Jason Wellmann, head of Life Distribution for Allianz Life. “But Illustrations with Impact goes beyond the numbers, instantly putting the proposal into a form that’s easier for the financial professional to explain–and easier for the client to understand.”

The tool pulls from the clients’ information to show how a policy can help address concerns like inflation, taxation, market volatility, and longer life expectancies. It also helps clearly explain signature features of an Allianz Life Pro+® Advantage Fixed Index Universal Life Policy like Index Lock and Auto Lock that can grow the policy’s cash value over time and can help ensure a positive index return in volatile markets.

“Illustrations with Impact helps financial professionals show their clients why they are recommending our life policy,” said Wellmann. “It’s another way we keep adding more value to our relationship with the people who sell our products.”

“Allianz has been at the very forefront of the digital transformation shift over the last several years. We are extremely proud to be helping Allianz enable a better sales experience for Allianz producers and advisors,” said Bill Unrue, CEO, Ensight.

Ensight™ is the leading cloud-based insurance sales acceleration platform for more than 500 life, long term care (LTC) and annuity distributors, thousands of financial professionals, as well as many of the largest North American insurance carriers. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Ensight helps drive sales growth and productivity, while addressing the entire sales lifecycle experience–from prospect to policyholder, new business to inforce.

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, one of the Ethisphere World’s Most Ethical Companies®, has been trusted since 1896 to help millions of Americans prepare for financial uncertainties and retirement with a variety of innovative risk management solutions. In 2023, Allianz Life provided additional value to its policyholders via distributions of more than $13.73 billion. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, registered index-linked annuities, and fixed index universal life insurance, Allianz Life is part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services industry with approximately 157,000 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.

Allianz Life and Ensight are not affiliated companies.

Guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.
Products are issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America. www.allianzlife.com.
This content does not apply to the state of New York.

Swiss Re launches an augmented version of its Life & Health underwriting manual Life Guide. The new version comes equipped with Swiss Re Life Guide Scout, a Generative AI-powered underwriting assistant, developed by Swiss Re, that integrates Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service. Swiss Re Life Guide Scout aims to help increase the efficiency and quality of underwriting by generating swift answers compiled from curated expert knowledge in response to questions asked by the underwriter in natural language.

Life and health insurance underwriting is a complex process that requires accurate and up-to-date information to assess an insurance applicant’s risk. To make the right decisions, underwriters invest a significant amount of time to search and review information using standard search tools to identify relevant sources and facts.

Life Guide, the world’s number one life and health underwriting manual, helps clients understand current and future risks, so they can make informed decisions, and build strong, sustainable portfolios.

The augmented version of Life Guide is now equipped with Swiss Re Life Guide Scout, a new functionality powered by Generative AI, that supports underwriters in speeding up risk assessment. Swiss Re Life Guide Scout allows underwriters to make professional queries, receiving an AI-generated answer and the source of information, within seconds. This facilitates them to make faster, more precise decisions and improves knowledge transfer. With a solid data foundation and advanced analytics capabilities, the integration of Azure OpenAI Service unlocks deeper insights for improved human decision making.

Swiss Re Life Guide Scout is launched as a pilot programme in English. A wider roll-out is planned for later this year.

Julien Descombes, Swiss Re’s chief underwriting officer L&H Re, said: “We are excited to bring Generative AI to our clients who can now leverage this new feature to improve their underwriting process. Our ambition is to provide insurers access to the risk perspective we have built into Life Guide in an even more efficient and user-friendly way to help them continue to write sustainable business and deliver on their promises.”

Catrin Hinkel, CEO Microsoft Switzerland, said: “By integrating Microsoft Azure OpenAI, Swiss Re can unlock the power of advanced analytics and Generative AI to provide new capabilities to the insurance market through a secure, compliant, and reliable cloud environment. This powerful combination empowers Swiss Re to share their risk insights with clients, transforming the way they manage risk.”

About Life Guide
Life Guide has continuously ranked as the industry’s number one global underwriting manual based on the NMG Consulting study. Its underwriting philosophy and embedded trainings are backed by Swiss Re experts who monitor the latest medical, regulatory and technological developments. Packed with up-to-date information, Life Guide combines medical and underwriting expertise with analytics and actuarial know-how to deliver confidence to the decisions clients make. Life Guide helps users understand risks and how they interact with each other through functionalities like the cardiovascular risk calculator, which is used, on average, every five seconds by an underwriter seeking to assess heart disease risk. Every day, thousands of underwriters in over 100 countries access Life Guide adding up to more than 23 million hits per year.

The Swiss Re Group is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. It anticipates and manages risk–from natural catastrophes to climate change, from aging populations to cyber crime. The aim of the Swiss Re Group is to enable society to thrive and progress, creating new opportunities and solutions for its clients. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1863, the Swiss Re Group operates through a network of around 80 offices globally.

Cautionary note on forward-looking statements
The information provided and forward-looking statements made are for informational purposes only. In no event shall Swiss Re be liable for any loss or damage arising in connection with the use of this information and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements (the cautionary note on forward-looking statements are available under https://www.swissre.com/terms-of-use.html). Swiss Re undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This communication is not intended to be a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and does not constitute an offer for the sale of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in any jurisdiction, including the United States. Any such offer will only be made by means of a prospectus or offering memorandum, and in compliance with applicable securities laws. This document does not constitute an invitation to effect any transaction in securities or make investments.

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) announced today that its newest accumulation-focused product, Allianz Accumulation Advantage+™ Annuity, is now available.

Allianz Accumulation Advantage+™ is a fixed index annuity that combines powerful accumulation potential with a premium bonus¹, signature Allianz innovations and flexible design. Allianz has also recently added a new FIA with a shorter, seven-year withdrawal charge period, Allianz Accumulation Advantage 7™ Annuity, to its suite of products.

“We are expanding our options to help more people accumulate money for retirement,” said Heidi Vanderkloot, head of FMO distribution, Allianz Life. “Many people are looking for ways to grow their retirement assets while mitigating potential risks. Our new FIAs offer protection of principal and growth potential to help people move toward their ideal retirement.”

Two in three Americans (66 percent) said they need to accumulate more money to retire but are too nervous to invest more in the market in a recent study from Allianz Life*. Yet, fear of market volatility is keeping Americans from taking actions that could grow their retirement assets. The majority of Americans (61 percent) said they would rather have their money sit in cash than endure market swings.

Allianz Accumulation Advantage+™ includes signature innovations like Index Lock, which gives clients the control to lock in an index value at any point once per crediting period² and multi-year point-to-point crediting with participation rates that are designed to start higher than one-year allocation options and increase each year³. Full accumulation value is available to the Allianz Accumulation Advantage+™ contract owner after 10 years.

The flexible design of Allianz Accumulation Advantage+™ offers 10 percent free withdrawals annually available as soon as the contract year following any contract year a premium payment was made. Plus, any unused free withdrawal percentage carries over into the following contract year, up to a maximum of 20 percent.

*Allianz Life conducted an online survey, the 2023 Q4 Quarterly Market Perceptions Study in November 2023 with a nationally representative sample of 1,005 Respondents age 18+.

Guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America only.
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, one of the Ethisphere World’s Most Ethical Companies®, has been trusted since 1896 to help millions of Americans prepare for financial uncertainties and retirement with a variety of innovative risk management solutions. In 2023, Allianz Life provided additional value to its policyholders via distributions of more than $13.73 billion. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, registered index-linked annuities, and fixed index universal life insurance, Allianz Life is part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services industry with approximately 157,000 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.

1. Bonus products may include higher withdrawal charges, longer withdrawal charge periods, lower caps, lower participation rates, higher spreads or other restrictions that are not included in similar products that don’t offer a bonus.
2. Exercising an Index Lock may result in an interest credit higher or lower than if a lock had not been exercised.
3. Although MY (multi-year) point-to-point crediting is designed to offer higher rates than its one-year counterpart, there is no guarantee rates will be higher or that rates will increase year over year. Rates will vary due to market conditions. The renewal participation rate may differ significantly—up or down—at the company’s discretion, relative to the initial participation rate.

Allianz Investment Management LLC (AllianzIM), a subsidiary of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, has created a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) product line tailored for investors who want to manage their wealth against unexpected market and economic events. The 6 Month Floor5 series launched with the AllianzIM U.S. Equity 6 Month Floor5 Jan/Jul ETF (NYSE: FLJJ). This spring, it will be followed by the AllianzIM U.S. Equity 6 Month Floor5 Apr/Oct ETF (NYSE: FLAO), set to launch April 1, 2024.

The Floor5 series marks a significant expansion in AllianzIM’s ETF offerings and complements the firm’s comprehensive suite of risk mitigation tools, including the firm’s lineup of Buffered ETFs. AllianzIM created these ETFs for investors who want to shield their portfolios against abrupt market fluctuations, mitigate sequence of return risk, and build long-term wealth. The Allianz Life suite of Buffered ETFs recently exceeded $2 billion in assets under management.

AllianzIM drew on its extensive familiarity with derivatives and the use of options to create the signature risk mitigation traits of the Floor5 ETF series. The ETFs seek to provide a floor with a maximum loss of five percent of the SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust losses for the duration of the outcome period, with upside returns subject to a cap.

“The Floor5 ETF series embodies our commitment to providing adaptable and forward-thinking risk management solutions,” says Chris Chambs, CEO, Allianz Investment Management LLC. “Risk is an inevitable part of the investing journey, particularly in today’s uncertain macroeconomic environment. This expanded ETF portfolio helps meet a growing investor demand for robust tools designed to weather ever-changing market cycles.”

Charlie Champagne, vice president of AllianzIM ETF Strategy noted “We are excited to broaden the scope of our risk mitigation solutions. Two of the features the Floor5 series offers are a known level of downside protection to secure years of asset accumulation for retirees and risk averse investors plus it removes timing risk that is inherent with other solutions.”

AllianzIM’s Floor5 ETFs are offered with an expense ratio of 74 basis points, and portfolio management conducted in-house by AllianzIM. The initial Outcome Period for FLJJ will be Feb. 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024, with subsequent Outcome Periods from July 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. The initial 6-month Outcome Period for FLAO will be April 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2024. Each Outcome Period reflects a new stated Cap commensurate with prevailing market conditions.

AllianzIM ETFs provide outcome oriented solutions with 27 ETFs and more than $2 billion in assets under management. The AllianzIM Floor5 ETF product line taps into AllianzIM’s core strengths, which include risk management experience and in-house hedging capabilities. As part of one of the largest asset management and diversified insurance companies in the world (Allianz SE), AllianzIM uses the same proprietary in-house hedging platform that is used among affiliates to help manage more than $149 billion (as of 12/31/23) in hedged assets for institutional and retail investors around the globe. Offering a new way to help investors mitigate risk and reduce volatility, these ETFs complement Allianz Life’s suite of annuity and life insurance products.

For more information on the AllianzIM 6 Month Floor5 ETF series, please visit www.AllianzIMetfs.com.

AllianzIM, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, is a registered investment adviser. AllianzIM provides hedging and other derivatives-based risk management solutions through its proprietary platform.

Recognized as one of the Ethisphere World’s Most Ethical Companies®, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America has been steadfast in its commitments since 1896, concentrating on retirement income and protection goals through various annuity and life insurance products. As a part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services industry, Allianz Life employs approximately 150,000 professionals across over 70 countries.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. For more information on investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses, please visit www.allianzIMetfs.com or call 877.429.3837. Investors should read the prospectus carefully before investing. There is no guarantee the funds will achieve their investment objectives, and investors may lose their entire investment. Holding Fund Shares for the entire Outcome Period is necessary to achieve the target outcomes.

The Buffered Outcome and Floor ETFs investment strategies are different from more typical investment products, and the Funds may be unsuitable for some investors. It is important that investors understand the investment strategy before making an investment. For more information regarding whether an investment in the Funds is right for you, please see the prospectus including “Investor Considerations.”
The Funds seek to deliver returns that match, at the end of a specified six-month or one-year period (Outcome Period), the returns of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust up to a predetermined Cap, while limiting downside losses by the amount of a specified Buffer or Floor, before fees and expenses.

The Fund will utilize FLEX Options issued and guaranteed for settlement by the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”). The Fund bears the risk that the OCC will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the FLEX Options contracts. In the unlikely event that the OCC becomes insolvent or is otherwise unable to meet its settlement obligations, the Fund could suffer significant losses.
ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Allianz Investment Management LLC and Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America are not affiliated with Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

Haven Life recently announced a coverage increase of its no-medical Simplified Issue product, Haven Simple, from a maximum of $500,000 to $1,000,000. With this expansion, Haven Simple is closing the gap between the Haven Term policy which offers up to $3 million in coverage and requires a medical exam for most applicants, giving consumers more freedom to apply for the policy that best suits their needs and budget.

“Being able to increase the Haven Simple coverage was an important mission for us this year. Taking time to get a medical exam and waiting for results represents a significant obstacle for some people and may actually prevent them from purchasing a life insurance policy,” shared Ben Newland, head of Product at Haven Life. “Giving consumers the option to opt out of a medical exam, fast issuance speeds, and improved coverage allows us to bring more American households closer to achieving their goals of financial security.”

A general rule of thumb is to have coverage at least five to ten times your annual salary. By increasing coverage maximum to $1 million, those making over $100,000 per year can now apply for a Haven Simple policy that reflects their financial needs.

Consumers may also be surprised to find out that a $1 million policy is still affordable. For example, a healthy 25-year-old woman could purchase a 20-year, $1 million Haven Simple policy for about $29 per month, or a little less than $1 per day . Consumers can calculate how much their ideal life insurance policy would cost with Haven Life’s online quote tool.

With this change, Haven Simple offers:

• New up to $1 million in coverage (up from $500,000).
• A quick, easy and simple digital application that you can fill out in the same time it takes to eat lunch–and average issuance of coverage in as little as 15 minutes.
• Term policies of 5, 10, 15 and 20 years.
• Additional features of level premiums, accelerated death benefit, paperless processing, no obligation free-look period, and credit card payments.
• Policies are issued by C.M. Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of MassMutual, one of the country’s oldest and most respected insurers and an A++ A.M. Best Rating for financial strength and claims-paying ability.

Haven Simple is a Simplified Issue Term Life Insurance Policy (ICC20 HAVEN SIMPLE in certain states, including NC) issued by C.M. Life Insurance Company, Enfield, CT 06082. Policy and rider form numbers and features may vary by state and may not be available in all states. Our Agency license number in California is OK71922 and in Arkansas 100139527.

Issuing the policy or paying its benefits depends on the applicant’s insurability, based on their answers to the health questions in the application, and their truthfulness.

MassMutual’s financial strength ratings are as of February 21, 2023: A.M. Best Company: A++ (Superior; top category of 15); Fitch Ratings: AA+ (Very Strong; second category of 21); Moody’s Investors Service: Aa3 (High Quality; fourth category of 21); Standard & Poor’s: AA+ (Very Strong, second category of 21). Ratings are for MassMutual (Springfield, MA 01111) and its subsidiaries, C.M. Life Insurance Co. and MML Bay State Life Insurance Co. (Enfield, CT 06082). Ratings are subject to change.

Haven Life Insurance Agency, LLC (Haven Life) is re-thinking how people financially protect the ones they love. Haven Life is committed to delivering exceptional products, delightful purchasing experiences, and meaningful moments of service to the modern life insurance customer.

The companies of OneAmerica announce the expansion of their product portfolio to offer OneAmerica^® Variable Universal Life (VUL) insurance. Distributed through the Individual Life and Financial Services (ILFS) line of business, this new product provides customers with a strong vehicle for protection, while also offering them the opportunity to invest in the financial markets. VUL customers have the flexibility to use the policy for life insurance protection, cash value accumulation or other financial needs.

“We’re excited to bring our unique VUL product to today’s marketplace,” said Dennis Martin, president of ILFS. “The product’s guarantees and transparency make it an attractive, new option for people to help protect their loved ones and create an opportunity for potential financial growth.”

The OneAmerica VUL life insurance policy includes a guaranteed death benefit provision and fully guaranteed policy charges, which are first-of-its-kind in the VUL space. These guarantees offer customers confidence that their policy charge structure won’t change in the future. They also add an additional layer of protection against policy lapse and loss of the death benefit.

In addition, the OneAmerica VUL offers two investment-related differentiators to the marketplace. The product offers a low-cost, transparent fund lineup of well-known industry asset managers, and it includes two defined outcome funds—again, a first in the industry for a VUL product. The investment lineup offers customers more than 50 diverse investment options, customizable to their portfolios and goals. These innovations reflect the client-centered approach that OneAmerica brings to the marketplace.

“VUL will give our distribution channels a strong product to match the needs of new and existing customers,” said Mark Scalercio, senior vice president and head of distribution for ILFS. “Ultimately, our VUL is a robust product built on our strong foundation and commitment to deliver on our promises when customers need us most.”

The new product also includes extra protection and added benefits through optional riders.

OneAmerica VUL is currently available through the OneAmerica career agency distribution channel in all states except California, Florida, New York, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Products issued and underwritten by American United Life Insurance Company^® (AUL), Indianapolis, IN, a OneAmerica company and registered variable products distributed by OneAmerica Securities, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA, SIPC. Form number ICC21 VUL21. Not available in all states or may vary by state. • All guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of AUL. • Variable investment options are subject to market risk which includes the potential loss of principal.

Variable products are sold by prospectus. Both the product prospectus and underlying fund prospectuses can be obtained from your investment professional or by writing to One American Square, Indianapolis, IN 46282, oneamerica.com. Before investing, carefully consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. The product prospectus and underlying fund prospectus contain this and other important information. Read the prospectuses carefully before investing.

A national provider of insurance and financial services for more than 140 years, the companies of OneAmerica help customers build and protect their financial futures. OneAmerica offers a variety of products and services to serve the financial needs of their policyholders and customers. These products include retirement plan products and recordkeeping services, individual life insurance, annuities, asset-based long term care solutions and employee benefit plan products. Products are issued and underwritten by the companies of OneAmerica and distributed through a nationwide network of employees, agents, brokers and other sources who are committed to providing value to our customers. To learn more about our products, services and the companies of OneAmerica, visit OneAmerica.com/companies.

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

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) recently announced that its latest guaranteed income product, Allianz Lifetime Income+ Annuity with the Lifetime Income Benefit, is now available in defined contribution plans nationwide.

Lifetime Income+ puts Allianz Life’s depth of retirement income experience to work in a solution tailored for defined contribution plans. Allianz Lifetime Income+ is a fixed index annuity that offers innovative design features including growth potential, protection from market loss, and guaranteed lifetime income through the Lifetime Income Benefit. This benefit has the potential to increase annually for life to help address the effects of inflation.

The product is delivered with a seamless customer experience through coordination among recordkeepers, enrollers, managed account providers, middleware providers and other defined contribution plan partners.

Plans offering the product are already live within the LDI-MAP (d.b.a. iJoin) and IPX Retirement network of recordkeepers. Recordkeepers and advisors networks can offer the Allianz Lifetime Income+ Annuity with the Lifetime Income Benefit as a protected accumulation and decumulation option in 401(k)s and other defined contribution plans.

“We designed this new guaranteed lifetime income product to work for real people and the reality of retirement today,” said Matt Gray, head of employer markets, Allianz Life. “The Allianz Lifetime Income+ Annuity marks a new way to design in-plan annuities with a flexible product design, streamlined connections with plan partners, and increasing income potential.”

Allianz is expanding into the defined contribution market as Americans say they want guaranteed income options in their employer-sponsored plan. In a 2022 Allianz Life study,* a majority of respondents (60 percent) said they would consider adding an annuity to their employer-sponsored plan if it was available. The vast majority of respondents (80 percent) said they would be interested in a product that can serve as a supplemental source of guaranteed income along with Social Security. Nearly three in four Americans (74 percent) said having an option that allowed them to build a protected foundation for lifetime income would increase their loyalty to their employer.

*Allianz Life conducted an online survey, the 2022 Q2 Quarterly Market Perceptions Study in June 2022 with a nationally representative sample of 1,004 Respondents age 18+.
C-64712-MVA issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America.

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

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 2021, Allianz Life provided additional value to its policyholders via distributions of more than $10.6 billion. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, registered index-linked annuities and fixed index universal life insurance, 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.

Protective Life Corporation, a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Dai‑ichi Life Holdings, Inc. (TSE:8750) recently announced the launch of its Protective® Aspirations Variable Annuity product, issued by its principal subsidiary Protective Life Insurance Company (“Protective”).

According to a 2022 consumer survey,1 the most important service consumers of all ages seek from a financial professional is “understand how much [they] can safely spend in retirement.” As clients prepare for retirement, they are planning for their retirement lifestyle goals and the legacy they would like to leave for loved ones.

“Whatever you aspire to achieve in retirement, it should be protected,” said Jim Wagner, chief distribution officer for Protective. “Whether you need protected lifetime income to cover the essentials during retirement or protection of market gains to help you get the most out of retirement, Protective Aspirations’ variable annuity income options can meet a variety of unique consumer needs.”

The Protective Aspirations variable annuity offers tax-deferred growth powered by quality investment options in a broad range of asset classes, along with multiple living and enhanced death benefit options so clients can protect what is most important to them.

Highlights of Protective Aspirations variable annuity includes its choice of two new optional protected lifetime benefits designed with clients’ unique needs in mind. These two optional benefits were developed to help customers either maximize their retirement income or investment growth potential. Both living benefits also include a feature that allows the customer to defer a portion of their annual withdrawal amount for use at a later time.

With an ultimate goal of protecting more customers, this solution allows Protective to build its variable annuity product suite and help more customers retire with more confidence.

Licensed financial professionals can learn more about Protective Aspirations variable annuity by visiting www.finpro.protective.com/retirement/variable-annuities/protective-aspirations.

1. Browning, Guo, Cheng and Finke (2016). Spending in Retirement: Determining the Consumption Gap, Journal of Financial Planning, 29(2), 42-53.

Protective has helped people achieve protection and security in their lives for 115 years. Through its subsidiaries, Protective offers life insurance, annuity and asset protection solutions and is helping more than 12 million people protect what matters most. Variable products are distributed by affiliate Investment Distributor, Inc., a registered broker-dealer and principal underwriter for registered products issued by Protective Life Insurance Company. Protective’s more than 3,700 employees put people first and deliver on the company’s promises to customers, partners, colleagues and communities—because we’re all protectors. With a long term focus, financial stability and commitment to doing the right thing, Protective Life Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dai‑ichi Life Holdings, Inc. (TSE:8750), has grown to about $132 billion in assets, as of Dec. 31, 2021. Protective is headquartered in Birmingham, AL, and supported by both a robust virtual workforce and core sites in Cincinnati and St. Louis. For more information about Protective, visit www.protective.com.

To help clients who are looking for growth potential paired with a level of protection from market volatility, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) has released enhancements on its Allianz Accumulation Advantage^® fixed index annuity (FIA).

The FIA has been re-engineered to offer more competitive rates, along with the addition of the new Multi-Year (MY) point-to-point crediting method, which can offer higher participation rates over two or five years. Accumulation Advantage also offers the innovative Index Lock feature along with multiple index options and crediting methods that provide clients greater potential to earn interest.

“Ongoing and extreme market volatility over the past few months have many Americans looking for ways to better protect their savings, without giving up the potential for growth,” said Sherri Du Mond, head of FMO distribution, Allianz Life.

According to the Allianz Life Q2 Quarterly Market Perceptions Study,* 66 percent of Americans say they need to accumulate more money to retire, but are too nervous to invest more in the market.

“These enhancements to Allianz Accumulation Advantage help address market risks while still providing upside potential as clients continue to accumulate and save for retirement,” said Du Mond.

*Allianz Life conducted an online survey, the 2022 Q2 Quarterly Market Perceptions Study in June 2022 with a nationally representative sample of 1,004 Respondents age 18+.

Fixed indexed annuities are designed to meet long-term needs for retirement income. They provide guarantees against the loss of principal and credited interest, tax deferred accumulation potential and the reassurance of a death benefit for beneficiaries.

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