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As the severity of COVID-19 continues to alter America’s workforce, investment advisories across the country have transitioned to the work-from-home model. From Wall Street to Main Street, we have seen a seismic shift in culture to ensure safety among employees and the public.

When it comes to Social Security, it is a veritable mantra for advisors to counsel their clients to plan for the latest start date for the maximum benefit payment. But that might not be to the optimal maximum benefit for the client.

It’s vital to start your career off the right way to avoid the pitfalls that eliminate many insurance agents from the industry. Here’s a list of Top 10 tips to combat the high rate of new agent drop-out rates. Following these recommendations may make the difference between failure and success.

Historically, buyouts have not been offered policyholders facing a rate increase, said Jan Graeber, senior actuary with the American Council of Life Insurers. LTCi rate increases have been a sore spot for longtime policyholders, while carriers say there is little they can do to avoid them.

The rule would replace the controversial fiduciary rule published by the Obama administration. The Trump replacement has two main parts: a new exemption allowing advisors to provide conflicted advice for commissions; and a reinstatement of the “five-part test” from 1975 to determine what constitutes investment advice.

A second term for President Donald Trump would likely feature a continuation of the pro-growth policies from the first term of his administration, and importantly for financial markets, a continuation of the status quo.

The onus is on employers — your clients — to ensure they are communicating their offerings effectively and are prepared to handle an influx of questions. This is difficult in a normal year, but COVID-19 has added the complexity of doing almost, if not all, of it remotely.

The Department of Labor was urged this morning to create a safe harbor to protect plan sponsors from having to “scrutinize” and “second guess” rollover communications. The comments came during a public hearing on the DOL’s investment advice rule proposal.

The life/annuity industry’s net income fell by 66% in the first half of 2020, compared with the year-ago period, A.M. Best reported today, driven by a major reinsurance agreement inked between Jackson National and Athene. The deal had the effect of moving approximately $27 billion of premium out of the U.S. statutory industry population.

Nearly half (49%) of respondents say their monthly spending has decreased over the course of the last year. Among that group, more than half (53%) say they are spending less because they are worried about the current economic situation and another 26% are spending less because they say their monthly income has decreased.

Scott Brennan tells how he learned the fundamentals of effective sales and combined that with a genuine caring about his community in South Bend, Ind.