Many retirees will see premiums for their Medicare Part B coverage go up next year. Income from such sources as life insurance and non-qualified annuities, however, isn’t counted in the calculation used to set premiums and can help minimize the effects of the upcoming increases. CNBC (9/1)
Products combining life insurance or annuities with long-term-care insurance give people a wider range of options, such as the ability to get in-home care, experts say. The policies, however, can come with drawbacks such as reduced benefits and high surrender charges, experts say. Financial-Planning.com (9/1)
Life insurance premiums experienced a fourth straight quarterly increase as they rose 8% during in the second quarter, LIMRA says. BenefitsPro.com (8/31)
Variable universal life insurance accounted for 8% of life insurance sales last year, but sales are growing, LIMRA says. Experts say clients need to understand such policies’ pros and cons, including tax treatment, income guarantees, fees and exposure to market swings. National Underwriter Life & Health (8/28)
Emerging-market corporate bonds, middle-market loans and private-equity assets are some of the investments life insurance companies might be able to use to enhance their investment returns, writes Mike Siegel of Goldman Sachs Asset Management. National Underwriter Life & Health (8/27)
Financial advisers’ leading concerns include preparing clients for a potentially imminent interest-rate increase and helping them generate income in a low-rate environment, according to a survey by Eaton Vance. The survey says 34% of advisers have acted to ready clients for higher rates. ThinkAdvisor (8/27)
Agents selling long-term-care insurance are facing a nearly 40% rate of declines for policy applications, Margie Barrie writes. They can take steps to reduce declines by ensuring they are asking clients the right questions and educating themselves about underwriting standards, says Bob Starek of ACSIA Partners. National Underwriter Life &…
Brokers and agents who help clients choose the most appropriate voluntary benefits become trusted advisers, says Kathy O’Brien of Unum National Client Group. Voluntary benefits fill gaps in coverage and can boost employee engagement, she says. Brokers “need to understand how the benefits coordinate with other benefits and the best…
Examinations are uncovering a significant number of broker sales of structured securities products that were inappropriate for the buyers, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission alert. “In these examinations, staff observed not only indications that the examined firms’ suitability controls may be weak, but also significant weaknesses in supervision…
The week’s stock volatility is a good thing for retirement savers because it offers the chance to buy stocks at discounted prices, certified financial planner Hal Bundrick writes. Savers should hope for a bear market, Bundrick writes. MainStreet.com (8/25)
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