Allianz Life Bolsters Allianz Life Pro+ Fixed Index Universal Life Insurance Policy [Professional Services Close – Up]

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) announced enhancements to the Allianz Life Pro+ Fixed Index Universal Life (FIUL) Insurance Policy.

In addition to helping agents provide income-tax-free death benefit protection for beneficiaries, the enhancements to Allianz Life Pro+ are designed to provide more flexibility to clients, particularly Transition Boomers, those ages 55-65 who are close to or beginning retirement. Launching in 39 states, the enhancements feature a new trigger method for determining potential indexed interest. Among a variety of options, this crediting method is unique to the FIUL industry, which can provide the opportunity for clients to earn 9 percent credited interest annually on their policy when the index experiences flat or positive performance.

"We're constantly working to offer consumers new innovations with our products and these enhancements to Allianz Life Pro+ allow us to continue to provide protection for policyholders' life, cash value accumulation potential and purchasing power," said Jason Wellmann, senior vice president of Life Insurance Sales for Allianz Life. "The new trigger method really stands out since it leverages Allianz Life's indexing expertise and in-house dynamic hedging capabilities, passing the savings generated by those activities along to the end customer."

The trigger method is only available with the S&P 500 index allocation with annual point-to-point crediting, tracking changes in that index from one policy anniversary to the next. Any change greater than or equal to zero will result in 9 percent (the Trigger Interest Rate) credited interest to the policy, which is subject to change on an annual basis, and guaranteed not to go below 2.50 percent. If the result is negative (less than zero), 0 percent will be credited to the policy. In years when the index return exceeds the Trigger Interest Rate, the potential credited interest would be capped at 9 percent.

According to the company, other new enhancements include:

-Built-in Chronic Illness Accelerated Benefit Rider - Clients can access a portion of their death benefit if they become chronically ill. This feature is built-in and added to the policy at issue, and can help clients prepare financially should they become chronically ill.

-Shorter surrender charge period - The surrender charge period is now decreased from 15 years to 10 years, giving clients access to the available cash value of the policy sooner, if needed. Surrender charges are based on age, gender, risk class, and death benefit.

-Enhanced Additional Term Rider - Offers an option for death benefit protection.

The death benefit, which is provided income-tax-free to beneficiaries, can address immediate needs that may include income replacement, a college funding strategy, paying down a mortgage or other debts, estate tax coverage, final expenses, and business succession. In addition to the death benefit, Allianz Life Pro+ provides the policyholder access to the available cash value income- tax-free via policy loans and withdrawals.

In 2012, Allianz Life announced initial enhancements to Allianz Life Pro+, including the availability of an optional no additional cost Premium Deposit Fund (PDF) Rider which allows clients to fund the PDF with a single payment with annual planned premiums automatically transferred from the PDF to the life insurance policy. A new blended index allocation option with a 2 percent annual floor (subject to change on an annual basis) not to go below 1 percent was also added, and designed to offer more choice and flexibility for policyholders who want to increase the potential for cash value accumulation in their policy.

Launched in the second quarter of 2011, advantages of Allianz Life Pro+ include:

-Tax advantages, including income-tax-free death benefit to beneficiaries, potential to build cash value on a tax-deferred basis, and policy loans from the available cash value that are income-tax-free while the policy remains in force.

-Optional Inflation Protection Rider that helps loan amounts keep pace with the effects of inflation, which is available at an additional cost (based on age, gender, risk class and death benefit) at the time it is exercised. There is no additional cost if the rider is not exercised.

-Cash value accumulation potential that can earn credited interest based on a variety of index allocations that include the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, and an exclusive blended index. With the built- in annual reset feature, any indexed interest credited is locked in and can never be lost due to market volatility, meaning the policy's cash value is guaranteed to never decrease due to negative index changes. Certain fees and expenses will reduce cash value.

-Select index allocation options that offer higher caps or participation rates (available at an additional cost of 1 percent).

-Customization via optional riders, including an Inflation Protection Rider that can help protect purchasing power.

-Flexible premium payments to help meet financial goals. Premiums can be paid at any time and in any amount (subject to some limits), as long as policy expenses and cost coverage are met.

-Policy loans - including a low 5.3 percent guaranteed participating loan interest rate - that can help supplement retirement income, supplemental college funding, financial emergencies or business succession planning. The 5.3 percent fixed participating loan rate is guaranteed, and among some of the most competitive participating loan rates available within the life insurance industry.

Keep in mind that most life insurance policies require health underwriting and, in some cases, financial underwriting. Life insurance involves certain fees and expenses. Individuals should discuss with their financial professional to determine if a life insurance policy meets their needs.

Allianz Life Insurance Company is a provider of fixed index annuities, Allianz Life is part of Allianz SE, a company focused on the financial services industry with 142,000 employees worldwide.

More Information:

http://www.allianzlife.com

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