When 2022 began, the industry was in the process of adjusting to the changes made to IRC Section 7702 Regulations. As new policies began to emerge, another element of concern began brewing — an unsettling economic environment.

Jeff Waddington believes outsourced insurance desks (OIDs) are exactly what full-service advisors need to ensure their clients are protected for life. While OIDs have been around for years, they are now becoming more important as distribution firms evolve to serve the needs of today’s advisors.

Advisors today face more demands than ever. You must keep up with an ever-expanding array of products while serving a greater variety of clients. You must maintain an efficient back office, adhere to compliance regulations and stay on top of today’s marketing and prospecting trends.

Back in 2006, Dean Zayed identified an opportunity in the financial advisory industry, which was fragmented, principally between insurance-based professionals who worked largely on commissions and securities-based professionals who primarily charged fees. “I had a vision of converging these disciplines under a platform that provided coordinated, holistic support to transcend all types of financial advisory practices,” Zayed recalls.

What do the fastest-growing and most successful companies like Tesla, Apple, and Amazon have in common? They all find afford-able ways to fund their working capital in order to grow rapidly.

The only technology-enabled IMO, Signal Advisors is now the fastest-growing IMO, too. “It’s becoming the operating system for my insurance business,” says Bob Smith, founder of RCS Wealth. “Having everything in one place has been a game-changer. My firm is way more efficient and the platform is simple to use.”

As a life insurance producer for more than 30 years, Chuck Scrafano was accustomed to getting invited to all sorts of unique events. But, something about a gift box invitation he received in June of 2021 caught his eye. It was an invite from Signal Advisors to attend the Rocket Mortgage Classic PGA Tournament.

In September 2021, Protective Life Corporation (Protective) began showcasing its new visual identity and updated voice, forging a stronger connection to its purpose and audiences. This new brand recognizes “the protector in all of us” and exemplifies the company’s 114-year commitment to putting people first, delivering on promises and striving to do more for its customers, employees, business partners and communities.

Foresters Financial™, the purpose driven fraternal life insurer, is enjoying record sales as it pursues its mission to enhance the well-being of its insureds (members) and their communities. On the back of several new member benefit launches over the past 18 months, Foresters just announced a holistic wellness app called Foresters Go™, available to all members.

According to data from the Secure Retirement Institute, strong equity market gains and lower volatility — as well as rising interest rates — are all contributing factors to annuity sales reaching $129 billion year to date, a 29% increase over 2020.

In the heart of the Motor City — a town not known as a hotbed for insurance innovation — a young company called Signal Advisors is hard at work. Patrick Kelly, 31, now the co-founder and CEO of Signal Advisors, started his career as a financial advisor. In just a few short years, Signal Advisors has managed to raise tens of millions of dollars from some of the nation’s most successful entrepreneurs and investors. So what is the secret to Signal’s success?

Big changes are underway in the industry. And they could soon elevate your production and your clients’ satisfaction. As you read this, paper apps, products taking months to issue, invasive underwriting and legacy systems are on their way out the door.

As more life insurance customers seek a carefully balanced blend of security and opportunity, John Hancock is now offering its
all-new Protection VUL, (a variable universal life insurance product).

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz) is helping producers position themselves as highly-experienced and knowledgeable in various industries. David R. Foster, JD, AEP, CLU, ChFC, CAP, FLMI, Advanced Markets attorney and Senior Director of Advanced Markets at Allianz, explains how.