October 2019 Carrier Updates
Last Updated: October 30
AIG
- Introducing our new Platinum Choice VUL 2. A new direction for Platinum Choice VUL 2, with a focus on guarantees. Death Benefit: Built-in death benefit protection for your clients' lifetime (up to age 121). Cash Value Protection: Built-in minimum cash value that endows at lifetime regardless of changes in market condition. Return of Premium: Built-in no cost option to receive up to all premiums back. Chronic Illness Protection: Optional chronic illness rider (Accelerated Access Solution®) that provides access to the death benefit if your client suffers from a qualifying condition, even if the condition is not permanent. Other features include growth (access to 46 investment options managed by well-known investment advisors) and flexibility (access to cash, potential for exam-free underwriting, optional customizable riders to meet your specific needs).
Need help with any of AIG's products?
Call us at 1-800-823-4852 or click here to email our Brokerage Sales Support team.
Gerber
- Important Changes to all Gerber Life Email Addresses. As you know, Gerber Life Insurance Company was acquired by Western & Southern Financial Group, effective December 31, 2018. As part of the transition, the domain name is changing for all Gerber Life emails, including individual email addresses. On October 21, 2019, the domain name for all email addresses will change from @us.nestle.com to @gerberlife.com.
- Important Changes to the Gerber Life College Plan Effective 10/16/2019. Product changes include elimination of the 5-year payment options. Effective 10/16/2019, the 5 year payment option will be eliminated. Going forward, the available payment options will include: Pay to Maturity (issue ages 18-60) and Single Pay (18-75 for females, 18-70 for males). The Gerber Life College Plan applications have been updated to reflect the removal of the 5 year payment option. The updated paper applications and the application kits will be available for download on the Agent Portal and FormsPipe on 10/16/2019. The electronic applications will also be updated for applications submitted on 10/16/2019. Please Note: Applications requesting the five year payment option received on or after 10/16/2019 will not be processed.
Need help with any of Gerber's products?
Call us at 1-800-823-4852 or click here to email our Brokerage Sales Support team.
John Hancock
- John Hancock Vitality: Apple Watch Series 5 Now Available to Order. With a commitment to enhancing John Hancock Vitality as technology changes and consumers’ needs evolve, we’re happy to announce that Apple Watch® Series 5 is now available for Vitality PLUS customers.* The Series 3 is also still available, now with lower pricing. Talk to your clients today about this exciting offering.
- NEW Updates to Underwriting Capacity and Retention Limits. New Super Pool combined with our existing Jumbo Plus offers the potential of over $100 million in total capacity.
- Enhanced Savings for Substandard Risks. Based on the many success stories we’ve heard, we’re making changes to improve customer value for clients with substandard ratings:
- We'll continue to offer the automatic one-table upgrade for clients approved with substandard ratings who submit John Hancock Vitality PLUS applications before December 6, 2019, and have a paid, placed policy by December 31, 2019. Clients who engage in Vitality PLUS will continue to receive the higher level of Vitality Credits that come with participating in the program.
- As we launch new products, instead of a table upgrade, customers will benefit from built-in pricing that captures those savings and further increases the Vitality Credits available when clients with substandard ratings engage in Vitality PLUS. Those clients will be able to save more than ever before — as much as 20% (at Gold status).
- Important Details about Transitioning to the 2017 CSO Table. Beginning January 1, 2020, all life insurance, including John Hancock, must issue new life insurance policies based on the 2017 Commissioners Standard Ordinary (CSO) Table. For transition information, such as key deadlines and impacted products, please refer to the following FAQs:
Need help with any of John Hancock's products?
Call us at 1-800-823-4852 or click here to email our Brokerage Sales Support team.
Nationwide
- NLG SUL II Sunset EOY. Our NLG SUL II Sunset EOY – must be submitted by 12/6 and issued by 12/31.
- It's Time to Prepare for 2019 Year-End Closing. We are excited to announce that we are offering lower (in most cases), more competitive rates on our Nationwide YourLife® Guaranteed Level Term product that offers term options of 10,15, 20, or 30 years. The new pricing on these products will decrease or remain unchanged. Also, commission rates have increased as well!
- Year-End Dates. December 13: deadline to receive applications. December 27 - deadline to receive premium.
Need help with any of Nationwide's products?
Call us at 1-800-823-4852 or click here to email our Brokerage Sales Support team.
Pacific Life
- It's Time to Prepare for 2019 Year-End Closing. As always, our goal is to make this a successful year-end for everyone. Important dates and information about year-end closing are highlighted in the attached PDF.
Need help with any of Pacific Life's products?
Call us at 1-800-823-4852 or click here to email our Brokerage Sales Support team.
Principal
- New product alert: Term 2020. Affordable options for 10, 15, 20, and 30 years (plus One-Year Term). Level term premium rates are the same as the current version. Post-level rates have changed. New: No underwriting is required for the Chronic Illness Death Benefit Advance Rider (CIDBAR) when a Term policy is converted within the first five policy years to a new policy offering the rider.* This practice will also be made available on the prior Term product (introduced May 1, 2017). Compliant with 2017 Commissioner’s Standard Ordinary (CSO) table and Principle-Based Reserving (PBR) requirements, and they replace the current products in approved states.
- New product alert: UL Protector V. Guaranteed coverage up to lifetime. Premium rates are 1–2% lower, on average, than UL Protector IV. Cost of Living Increase Rider has been discontinued due to low usage.
- New product alert: VUL Income IV. Valuable protection with attractive growth potential. Moderate income-out and target premium changes compared to VUL Income III. New: Chronic Illness and Terminal Illness Death Benefit Advance Riders have been added. These replace the Death Benefit Advance Rider.
- UL Flex III now available in New York. UL Flex III features the new 2017 CSO rates and offers affordable protection, flexible coverage options, and attractive cash-value growth. There are a few differences in the New York product to note, compared to the standard version, including: Guaranteed cost of insurance rates and surrender charge rates are higher (surrender period is the same); Maximum face amount is lower; The following features/programs aren’t available: Business underwriting programs (guaranteed issue/simplified issue), Flat extra ratings (these ratings will be available at a later time), and Chronic Illness Death Benefit Advance Rider.
- Two upcoming regs will affect business in New York. Early next year, the second component of Reg 187, specific to life insurance, and new cybersecurity requirements will take effect for business written in New York — whether it’s new or existing business. Your partnership is important to us. We’re here to support you, as you help your producers do business in NY. We’re working on changes to help your advisors meet the requirements and avoid potential business processing delays. Later, we’ll share specific action steps. For now, put this on your radar so you understand how the regulations impact you and your advisors.
Need help with any of Principal's products?
Call us at 1-800-823-4852 or click here to email our Brokerage Sales Support team.
Prudential
- Term Reprice Postponed to November. Due to a delay in ICC approvals, Term Essential® and Term Elite® will no longer reprice on October 28, 2019. The new reprice date is November 11, 2019. To view the updated Transition Rules please click below.
Need help with any of Prudential's products?
Call us at 1-800-823-4852 or click here to email our Brokerage Sales Support team.
Symetra
- Reminder: Important 2017 CSO updates and year-end business processing timelines. Like all carriers, Symetra is required to transition our products to 2017 Commissioners Standard Ordinary (CSO) Tables by Jan. 1, 2020. To meet this regulatory deadline, this is a reminder that we have established the following transition dates for our Accumulator IUL, UL-G and CAUL products (Symetra Protector IUL and Term products are already on the 2017 CSO Tables).
- Important CSO 2017 dates and timelines:
- Oct. 31, 2019: New 2017 CSO versions of Accumulator IUL, UL-G and CAUL will be available in Winflex and Symetra Life Illustrator.
- Dec. 6, 2016: Non-CSO compliant versions will be removed, and only 2017 CSO versions of Accumulator IUL, UL-G and CAUL will be available for illustration.
- Dec. 13, 2019: Symetra will no longer issue non-2017 CSO policies. Please note that all non-2017 compliant products must be in-force by Dec. 31, 2019.
- Important year-end business deadlines (all products)
- Dec. 9, 2019: Final underwriting requirements must be received by Symetra.
- Dec. 20, 2019: To ensure timely processing, final issue requirements for new business should be received for both daily and weekly commission schedules.
- Dec. 31, 2019: Final business day of 2019.
- Is your PIUL designed for maximum performance?. Take a look under the hood to make sure it’s firing on all cylinders. Does it have: Guaranteed death benefit protection? Policy flexibility? Growth potential? Competitive premiums? Client-friendly features? Strong target premiums? Let Symetra’s market-leading Protector IUL (PDF) drive your guaranteed-death-benefit-focused sales.
- Symetra’s Preferred Cancer Program. Every October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month helps increase awareness of the disease and efforts to research its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. Thanks to progress by the world’s leading researchers, cancer treatments are improving, cures are being discovered, and patients today are living longer than ever before—many in full remission. At Symetra, we believe your clients deserve a second look when it comes to qualifying for life insurance coverage. That’s why we developed our Preferred Cancer Program for clients with low-grade cancer histories. The underwriting program provides opportunities for these clients to receive up to a Preferred underwriting rate, so they can get more affordable life insurance coverage. Check out our Symetra Preferred Cancer Program flyer (PDF) to learn more about this underwriting innovation and qualifying cancers.
- New HNWFN microsite and non-resident alien client profile. Do you have high-net-worth foreign national (HNWFN) clients and need help navigating this important marketplace? Our new HNWFN microsite provides information on Symetra’s HNWFN program, product materials, client profiles, tools to help you get started and more. Visit our HNWFN site today! Looking to help provide your non-resident alien clients with financial security? Check out our new client profile (PDF) to see the value U.S.-based life insurance can offer them.
Need help with any of Symetra's products?
Call us at 1-800-823-4852 or click here to email our Brokerage Sales Support team.
