Congress has a lot of its plate, but financial services would like to see a retirement income security bill get passed before the end of the year.

The difference between a threat and an opportunity is whether you see yourself as the leader of your clients’ success.

Up to 14 states are ramping up efforts to put agents under a fiduciary duty. New York is furthest along with a best interest rule, which faces an industry lawsuit that could be decided early in 2019. Otherwise, the NY rule is slated to take effect in August 2019.

Tuesday’s stock market sell-off worried investors, who are also concerned about the so-called “yield curve.” But other indicators point to a cooling economy that should remain solid for a few years to come, says Brad McMillan of Commonwealth Financial Network.

LIMRA and Wink were both correct with last week’s “universal life is up” and “universal life is down” reports, respectively. The key is how the data is viewed. Overall, new premium rose quarter-over-quarter from 2017.

The Trump administration wants to see the nation’s health-care system move away from government mandates and toward a more free-market direction. A report outlines some recommendations, including expanding availability of health savings accounts (HSAs).

A recent survey revealed that 95 percent of agents think digital technology is important to their success. This is an increase from 58 percent in 2016. These digital must-haves will keep you in touch with the times and in touch with customers’ needs, so you can connect in the ways that matter.

A.M. Best recently met with the Ohio National management team to discuss a series of recent events, including the insurer being sued several times for a decision to end trail commissions on certain annuities. A.M. Best is sticking with its strong ratings for now.

Under this new guidance, states are empowered to innovate new health care programs aimed at strengthening their health insurance markets, expanding choices of coverage, and targeting public resources to those most in need.

Market conditions continue to be favorable for IUL products, which are up 12 percent so far in 2018. IUL premium has increased for the past eight consecutive quarters, LIMRA reports. Overall, life insurance new premium was up 3 percent in the third quarter.

Through this new fully integrated platform, consumers and brokers will be able to go directly to the approved enrollment partner’s website to for the entire application and enrollment experience without being redirected to HealthCare.gov.

State insurance commissioners are wrestling with whether to adopt a ‘best-interest’ standard, either explicitly or implied. What would the implications of that move be?

Third-quarter fixed indexed annuity sales were $18 billion, 38 percent higher than 3Q 2017 and 2 percent higher than second-quarter sales results.

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors’ New York chapter filed a lawsuit to stop the state’s controversial best-interest rule. The rule is “arbitrary and capricious” and was crafted outside of the New York Legislature, the lawsuit claims, which has the proper authority.

Annuity sales continue to hit the highs, according to Wink’s Sales & Market Report.

Ohio National has no plans to reverse its controversial decision to end trail commissions for select variable annuity contracts, a company spokesman said today. The company announced the surprise departure Tuesday of president and chief operations officer Christopher Carlson after just three months.

Humana and Walgreens are reportedly in talks to expand their current partnership, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Ohio National named a new president/COO Tuesday and announced the surprise departure of Christopher Carlson just three months after he ascended to the top post. The company has had a turbulent fall after announcing in September that it would end trail commissions on certain variable annuities.