Annexus Partners with Highland Capital on Exclusive Life Insurance Distribution Opportunity

Business Wire

Annexus IUL Offers Potential for Greater Client Value

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Annexus, a leading designer of fixed indexed annuities and indexed universal life insurance (IUL), announced today a new distribution partnership with Highland Capital Brokerage. The partnership adds a new distribution opportunity for Balanced Growth Advantage IUL (BGA), designed by Annexus and issued by Minnesota Life Insurance Company.

“The indexed crediting strategies in Annexus’ fixed indexed annuities have a decade-plus success record of delivering greater client value,” said Highland Capital Brokerage CEO Jim Gelder. “It’s exciting to join the exclusive group of Independent Distribution Companies with access to that same innovation in a competitive IUL product.”

“Indexed Universal Life insurance sales topped $1.86 billion in 2016¹—an all-time high,” said Ron Shurts, Annexus co-founder. “Highland Capital is committed to our vision of connecting the top financial professionals with exclusive access to innovative client-centric products. We believe the BGA product design and this partnership will continue to fuel record IUL growth in 2017 and beyond.”

“An accumulation IUL product like BGA gives clients life insurance that can do much more than provide an income tax-free death benefit,” said James Hahn, EVP of life insurance sales at Annexus. “BGA provides a unique opportunity for clients to potentially accumulate even more assets to help supplement retirement income and offset other financial needs that may arise,” he said.

BGA IUL is available to independent insurance agents and financial advisors through the Annexus network of Independent Distribution Companies.

¹Source: Wink Sales & Market Report 4^th Quarter 2016, published February 2017.

About Annexus

Annexus designs solutions to help Americans grow and protect their retirement savings. For over a decade, Annexus has developed market-leading fixed indexed annuities and indexed universal life insurance products. In close collaboration with design partner Genesis Financial, Annexus has forged relationships with Athene, Nationwide^® and Securian Financial Group, as well as Barclays and Merrill Lynch. Find out more about Annexus and our products at www.annexus.com.

About Highland Capital Brokerage

Highland Capital Brokerage is a national brokerage company providing point-of-sale support, advanced marketing, and creative estate and business planning techniques to financial advisors and insurance professionals. We deliver these services in an efficient, client-focused environment that extends to carrier and product expertise, underwriting negotiation, and complete back office processing. Our core competencies include life insurance, annuities, and long term care. HCB delivers objective access to major insurance carriers, advanced planning support, expertise in risk underwriting, and back office processing to insurance brokers, financial planners, and various institutions such as banks, wirehouses, and certified public accountant firms. To learn more about Highland Capital Brokerage, visit www.highlandbrokerage.com. Securities by Licensed Individuals Offered Through Investacorp, Inc. A Registered Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA, SIPC.

About Securian Financial Group

Since 1880, Securian Financial Group and its affiliates, including Minnesota Life Insurance Company, have provided financial security for individuals and businesses in the form of insurance, investments and retirement plans. Now one of the nation's largest financial services providers, Securian is the holding company parent of a group of companies that offer a broad range of financial services.

Insurance products described here are underwritten and issued by Minnesota Life Insurance Company. Annexus Enterprises, LLC serves as a distributor of these products and is independently owned and operated.

Balanced Growth Advantage Indexed Universal Life Series is designed first and foremost to provide life insurance protection. While the interest crediting options are attractive for cash accumulation, the product should always be promoted to first meet the death benefit needs of families and businesses with cash accumulation as a secondary benefit. One cannot invest directly in an index. One can lose money in this product.

The Balanced Indexed Accounts employ a Balanced Allocation Strategy with one-year, two-year, and five-year index segments - except where noted - established monthly. The Balanced Allocation Strategy blends an equity indexed component, a declared rate component, a segment spread component and a participation rate component. Interest credits for any Balanced Indexed Account segment will never be less than zero. All other Indexed Accounts available with BGA employ a point-to-point interest crediting method with one-year index segments – except where noted – established monthly. Interest credits for any index segment may range from 0% up to the maximum for that segment. These policies guarantee that upon surrender, lapse or death of the insured interest will be calculated using an annual minimum interest rate of at least 2.00%.

Policy loans and withdrawals may create an adverse tax result in the event of lapse or policy surrender, and will reduce both the surrender value and death benefit. You should consult your tax advisor when considering taking a policy loan.

The underlying indices only recognize the changes in stock prices and do not include any dividend returns. While the policy and the Indexed Accounts do not actually participate in the stock market, and one cannot invest directly in an Index, the performance of the underlying index may exceed the offered indexed growth caps. Interest crediting within these accounts will vary based on the movement of the equities within the underlying index. If the index experiences growth less than or equal to 0%, no index credit will be applied to the account.

Administrative and insurance charges are deducted every month, regardless of whether premium outlays are made. Depending upon actual policy experience, the Owner may need to increase premium payments. Any policy loans and partial surrenders will affect policy values and may require additional premiums to avoid policy termination.

This is a general communication for informational and educational purposes. The materials and the information are not designed, or intended, to be applicable to any person's individual circumstances. It should not be considered investment advice, nor does it constitute a recommendation that anyone engage in (or refrain from) a particular course of action. If you are seeking investment advice or recommendations, please contact your financial professional.
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