Please click here to read important information regarding Genworth's GenGuard UL product. Effective February 16, 2015, GenGuard UL will no longer be offered as part of the life insurance product suite. The attached bulletin includes the transition rules. Please keep these dates in mind as you scrub and submit applications.
Also, February 9, 2015, Genworth Life Insurance Company (Genworth Life) and in New York, Genworth Life Insurance Company of New York (Genworth Life of New York) will reduce Total Living Coverage® (TLC) commission in all states. The commission rate will be reduced to 6.5%.
The Company will also be lowering the Total Living Coverage® credited interest rate from 3.85% to 3.60% on new policies. The TLC Advantage
With these product updates, TLC still has an advantage with, on average, 22% higher leverage on both long term care and life insurance benefits than the leading competitor through the insured’s attained age of 88. TLC offers, on average, higher credited interest rates, stronger guarantees and better protection than its leading competitors.
...IN WITH THE NEW
Introducing the Genworth R70
Helping families understand the effects of aging and prompting "the talk" about long term care planning. Experience the R70 Suit
Available January 7, 2015
We're excited to introduce a new way of thinking with the launch of the revolutionary NAC BenefitSolutions! The industry's newest innovation offers a unique fixed index annuity and Benefits Rider combination (for an annual cost1) providing a single Benefit Base and "Key Three" feature trilogy. Experience the NAC BenefitSolutions revolutionary design.
The Benefit Base - Strong Guarantees with Benefit Base Floor!
Unique 120/140/160 design
Benefit Base "steps-up" immediately to 120% of premium at issue
Additional "step-ups" available on contract anniversaries 5 and 10
Plus...Strong growth potential with possible Benefit Base increases!
The Key Three Features of the Benefits Rider
Lifetime Payment Amount (LPA): Retirement Income Clients Can't Outlive
Nursing Home Multiplier: Five doubled LPAs when your clients need it most
Death Benefit: Option to receive Benefit Base in five equal periodic payments
Guaranteed Benefits Statement
Simple ONE PAGE sales tool to help showcase the features of the
NAC BenefitSolutions
Product Training
As with all new product releases, product training can be found online at www.NorthAmericanCompany.com by visiting My Annuities and the Agent Certification link under the Training Center section.
In the competitive world of insurance, financial professionals are always looking for new and innovative marketing ideas to stay ahead of their competitors. This can be challenging in an industry with similar products and solutions, but as an insurance marketer you must dig deeper to find ways to distinguish your business and convince the customer they should place their trust in you not only today, but for many years to come.
To reach customers and ultimately help grow your sales, it helps to add several new approaches to your overall strategy. This can be done by:
1. Create Your Elevator Speech - Have a mission or focus statement that describe your goals and share how your business can help the consumer.
2. Identify Your Key Clients - Pinpoint top clients and market to these individuals regularly. By analyzing your customer base, it helps you focus marketing efforts and identify key links in business development activities.
3. Schedule Yearly Check-ups - Regularly make contact with policyholders throughout the year. Find at least one way that may make your client happy with your service, whether it's a new discount or improved coverage.*
4. Rate Your Service - Asking your clients for input can help you determine what services or products are important to them. If you receive constructive criticism, take it in stride and use it as an opportunity to make it right.
5. Skip the Elevator Music - When your clients are on hold at your office, utilize the time to expose them to a wider array of your services.
6. Make a Phone Connection - Know your market, including what makes
it tick and the areas of opportunity for financial education.
7. Go Beyond the Birthday - Watch for significant life events in your clients' lives to acknowledge and celebrate. This can help set you apart from the crowd.
8. Fill in the Blank - When out in public, carry blank cards for people to fill in their name and contact information. This exchange could aid in strengthening connections and helps you stay prepared and organized.
By adding several new approaches to your sales repertoire, it can help you rise above the competition in 2015.
*Gifting laws can vary by carrier and state. Review the regulations in the states in which you do business prior to implementing a gifting strategy.
Open Doors to More Sales Opportunities Get Informed!
Prospecting & Mining Your Client Database for New Sales Opportunities
Product Positioning: Determining How Products Can Help Meet Clients' Needs
Single Premium Life Sales Concepts
Linked Benefit Products (Life & Annuity)
If you previously joined in on My Training Partners training, you can use your same username and password to login at MySalesInsights.com
Training provided compliments of The Achievement Group and Partners Advantage
Other upcoming opportunities: North American|Annuity: BeneficSolutions! Learn about NAC BenefitSolutions revolutionary design.
Wednesday, January 14, 3:00- 4:00 PM CST Register here.
Great American: American Custom 10 Webinar Help clients maximize their retirement income with the new American Custom 10 fixed-indexed annuity.
Thursday, January 15, 2:00 pm CST Register here.
Assurity: Life Sales Made Easy Up to 350,000 in non medical life insurance. Learn more about asset protection with life insurance & living benefits
Thursday, January 22, 12:00 pm CST Register here.
INFORMATION FOR TAX YEAR 2015 2015 Tax Facts At-A-Glance
Planning ahead for next year? The 2015 Tax Facts At-A-Glance provides you with the details you will need to add value to your planning discussions with clients by keeping the latest information at your fingertips, such as:
Increase in lifetime gift and estate tax exemption to $5.43 million per person
Increase in annual gift tax exclusion to a non-US citizen spouse to $147,000
2015 tax rate tables
PEP & Pease limitations
Medicare Surtax income thresholds
IRA phase-outs
Capital gains taxes
Click the the image below to download the 2015 Tax Facts At-A-Glance
For producer use only. Not for distribution to the public. OLA 2345 1214
Beginning in 2015, you can make only one rollover from an IRA to another IRA in any 12-month period, regardless of the number of IRAs you own. The limit will apply by aggregating all of an individual's IRAs, including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs as well as traditional and Roth IRAs, effectively treating them as one IRA for purposes of the limit.
Trustee-to-trustee transfers between IRAs are not limited
Rollovers from traditional to Roth IRAs ("conversions") are not limited
Transition rule ignores some 2014 distributions IRA distributions rolled over to another IRA in 2014 will not prevent a 2015 distribution from being rolled over provided the 2015 distribution is from a different IRA involved in the 2014 rollover.
The History and the case that changed it
Under the basic rollover rule, you don't have to include in your gross income any amount distributed to you from an IRA if you deposit the amount into another eligible plan (including an IRA) within 60 days (Internal Revenue Code Section 408(d)(3)). Internal Revenue Code Section 408(d)(3)(B) limits taxpayers to one IRA-to-IRA rollover in any 12-month period. Traditionally this limitation was applied on an IRA-by-IRA basis, meaning a rollover from one IRA to another would not affect a rollover involving other IRAs of the same individual. However, the Tax Court held in 2014 that you can't make a non-taxable rollover from one IRA to another if you have already made a rollover from any of your IRAs in the preceding 1-year period (Bobrow v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2014-21).
Tax consequences of the one-rollover-per-year limit
Beginning in 2015, if you receive a distribution from an IRA of previously untaxed amounts:
you must include the amounts in gross income if you made an IRA-to-IRA rollover in the preceding 12 months (unless the transition rule above applies), and
you may be subject to the 10% early withdrawal tax on the amounts you include in gross income.
Additionally, if you pay the distributed amounts into another (or the same) IRA, the amounts may be:
treated as an excess contribution, and
taxed at 6% per year as long as they remain in the IRA.
Direct transfers of IRA money are not limited
This change won't affect your ability to transfer funds from one IRA trustee directly to another, But make sure to use the carrier's paperwork and designate the FBO check for the benefit of the clients IRA. In this way your clients will be well served.
Please 
IRA distributions rolled over to another IRA in 2014 will not prevent a 2015 distribution from being rolled over provided the 2015 distribution is from a different IRA involved in the 2014 rollover.