What are the barriers keeping women from entering and staying in the financial services industry? One industry leader shares her experiences in identifying roadblocks and knocking them down.
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But as we hit the one-year anniversary of pandemic-related lockdowns, the lack of clarity in applying business interruption insurance persists as insurance carriers and courts apply policy considerations in strikingly differing manners. This is resulting in wildly varying outcomes for insureds.
The realization that most Americans arenât ready for retirement has caused many states across our country to take initiative to help increase retirement plan access and savings by implementing state-run programs.
In a competitive market in which advisors are squeezed for costs, the means for differentiation are an advisorâs time and attention.
Some of the proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act could fundamentally shift the way people in our country get their health insurance.
Think about clients who have money in IRAs, annuities or other brokerage accounts that they are using for emergency funds. Instead of leaving the money in a taxable account, consider repositioning those tax-inefficient dollars into a tax-free solution that offers additional leverage.
Although no insurance professional should provide legal advice to clients, they often can provide a nudge to clue the client in on issues that may require legal representation or, at minimum, some legal advice.
Every American knows how critical video meeting platforms like Zoom have been holding our families and workplaces together in the past year. For many agents, learning how to use such programs was the push they needed to catch up with a key technological trend.
There are benefits to controlling an indexâs volatility for purposes of index-linked annuities and life insurance.
COVID-19 shed light on several overlooked aspects of health care, such as employee well-being benefits and telemedicine services. In turn, workers started paying closer attention to their health care benefits and asking, âDo I have the coverage I need?â
In our evolving digital world, there is a growing demand from consumers to meet them where they want â and increasingly they want to meet in the social space.
Planners spend their days meeting with clients, working on plans, educating themselves, keeping up with responses to calls and emails, marketing, and trying to find moments to gather their thoughts. The to-do list can feel overwhelming and unapproachable. But, it is possible to organize these tasks and take back control of your time.
To the surprise of many, the Department of Labor allowed the previous administrationâs final fiduciary advice regulation to take effect. Financial professionals should consult with their compliance officers or legal advisors for specifics, but here are some key items to address.
Given the current constraints of COVID-19, face-to-face meetings are logistically impossible, and the market is increasingly unpredictable. So how do registered investment advisors learn to navigate the current virtual M&A market?
The outlook for the year ahead is on the upswing. With the Federal Reserve continuing to maintain short-term interest rates near zero and vaccinations increasing in number and availability, the prospect for reopening the economy and returning to normalized growth seems likely.
Digitalizing processes should not be seen as a replacement for the existing agency model. On the contrary: Digital technology should help insurers to automate standard processes and enable the agent as they advise the client to add an extra layer of personalized services.
The Securities and Exchange Commission released the first proposed changes in the rules affecting advisor advertising in 40 years. But what did they change?
Here are four ways to calibrate your team’s culture and help your clients find success.
According to estimates from recordkeepers and employee benefit research organizations, the average retired couple will spend over a quarter million dollars for healthcare and medical expenses in retirement.
If clients become disabled and no longer have an income, it hinders their ability to afford other financial products and can throw a wrench into their retirement planning.
When you consider the real returns of indexed products over a long period of time, including those magic zeros, how much has the purchaser really gained or lost relative to other options such as whole life?
Retirement planning is a long-term strategy. Here are some ways advisors can support their clientsâ retirement readiness during times of market uncertainty.
The pandemic has brought numerous struggles and challenges for advisors. But it has opened new opportunities to make connections and to communicate with prospects.
Since todayâs customer expects fast and relevant services from any provider, it is time for insurers to ask themselves what they know about their customers, and what they can predict from their customersâ behavior.
If a customer reaches out to you, desperate to manage rising cost-of-insurance costs that are in excess of the policy’s investment income, what recommendations do you provide? That customer could surrender all or part of the insurance to reduce the premium burden. A life settlement is also an option, however. And often, it’s an option with better financial outcomes for your customer.
COVID-19 was an unexpected catalyst, pushing the need for paid family medical leave laws more urgently than ever before.
The spike in cybercrime has driven demand for cyber insurance, and prospective buyers are requesting higher limits. Price and capacity remain notable barriers, however, and it is too early to say if demand will translate into sustained market growth.
The diversity of penultimate moments can make them difficult to recognize if you arenât looking for them. Many people in various industries focus only on an envisioned finish line instead of their personal or professional journeys. Aside from making life duller, this outlook also turns life events from steps to evaluate into obstacles to overcome.
The SECURE Act opens new opportunities for advisors to discuss long-term care planning, life insurance and guaranteed income with clients.
Itâs no secret that insurers have been hit by a wave of COVID-19-related litigation. The most recent count shows 1,328 lawsuits have been filed on behalf of policyholders.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increased demand for benefits like telehealth, employee assistance programs (EAP) and mental health services for employees. Employers will need to move beyond traditional employee benefits to gain a competitive advantage in the talent marketplace.
 How the pandemic has elevated the advisorâs role in helping employees remain on course for retirement.
Social determinants of health are rapidly becoming more important to employers looking to provide new benefits and more attractive policies…
The implications of the pandemic are far-reaching, but one that we already see in the life insurance industry is the impact on mental health.
A way better than expected earnings season, a likely split Congress, and major breakthroughs on the vaccine front all helped stocks soar last month. Add ongoing support from the Federal Reserve as the cherry on top and we are looking at a truly historic month on many levels. But what now?
A new wave of COVID-19 cases threatens to trip up the economy. Increasing cases in Europe and the United States have brought new restrictions on activities, but the market doesnât appear to be fazed by the recent outbreaks.
Insurance companies are creating more products that grow with their customersâ finances and needs. Term life insurance has proven itself to be one of these versatile products.
It is up to us to seize this moment and be a resource for the ânew normalâ so that clients are prepared to get back to business, and life, as quickly and safely as possible.
COVID-19 has shifted consumer behavior, but most auto insurers have struggled to respond to those behaviors quickly enough. Moreover, providing consumers with the insurance bundle they need, at the time they need it and at a rate they can afford remains a long-lasting challenge for many insurers.
In general, AG 49 reduced illustrated rates in the industry, producing customer expectations that are more likely to be met. However, IUL is still relatively new and, because the industry is innovative, new IUL designs were introduced that had not been contemplated when AG 49 was passed.
As we head into our first COVID-19 winter, and with a vaccine at least several months away, advisors and clients alike must prepare for increased social distancing and additional reliance on virtual meetings.
Although open enrollment season is the logical opportunity to start this journey with workers, the effort should not end there â employers must educate and support workers all year round.
Heading into the election, polling data and market signals disagreed on how close the presidential election would be, with market signals calling the race much closerâwhich turned out to be accurate. Now that we have more clarity on the results of the election, we can review what we believe will be some of the key market implications going forward.
In July, 69% of consumers said they had a greater need for adequate health insurance, while 58% said they had a heightened need for adequate life insurance. This level of concern was almost as high as the 72% of people who were concerned about having enough paper products (tissue, toilet paper and paper towels)!
As shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, since 1952, with surprising regularity, US voters have given each party a second term in the White House to complete its legislative agenda. With equal regularity, they have flipped the party in the White House after eight years, resetting the balance of power in our two-party system.
An income tax increase is more likely than an estate tax increase. And it all depends on whether the Senate flips to Democratic control.
At some point in their career, a financial advisor is likely going to feel professionally lost. Theyâll feel stuck, and most critically, they wonât know how to move forward. These situations can be frustrating and frightening, but with the right balance of acceptance and action, advisors in these situations can get back on track.
Many protection specialists will agree that the most valuable asset for working-age clients is their income. Without an income stream,…
If you ever have presented an annuity solution to a client or prospect, you have probably heard the reasons why they didnât think an annuity was the best solution. Here are some reasons why an annuity is the best solution.
As we race toward the end of 2020, one thing remains pretty clear: Things arenât going back to normal. In…
Research shows that people with a guaranteed lifetime income source tend to be happier and live longer. I still remember The Wall Street Journal headline âThe Secret to a Happier Retirement is Friends, Neighbors and a Fixed Annuity.â The article said those surrounded by friends and had sources of guaranteed lifetime income were happiest in retirement.
Imagine this: youâre great at your job. You make sales, you manage your clientsâ assets well and youâre an attentive advisor who makes sure to follow up. But you canât get a call back from referrals and your prospects arenât scheduling appointments. You canât figure out why.
