Late Fall 2009
Meet Our New Sales Support Team Member
The Annuity Sales Support team is happy to introduce its newest member. Rob Hershinow recently joined the team as a sales training and development consultant, but he isn’t new to The Standard. Rob started as a member of the Individual Communications Team almost seven years ago, providing support for Annuities.
“I’m very excited to join the annuity family, renew relationships and make new ones,” Rob said. “It feels like coming home. I’m here to provide whatever our customers need.”
Rob will provide phone and electronic support, create new business illustrations, and will be a great resource for information on annuity products, rates, applications and support materials. Call him for answers or just to say hello at 800.378.4578 ext. 6409. Or email him at rob.hershinow@standard.com.
Sincerely,
Rich Lane, Director
Sales & Marketing
The Annuity Advantage: Help Clients Say “Yes”
Current annuity rates exceed most bank CDs and money market accounts.1 They also deliver a wealth of unique advantages, including tax-deferred growth, Social Security benefit tax avoidance, lifetime income options, guaranteed survivor benefits and probate avoidance.
1 Based on published annuity, CD and money market rates, Nov. 11, 2009
US Individual Annuity Sales Drop in Second Quarter
by Martina Fialova, from LIMRA’s Volume 16 - Number 3 2009 issue of U.S. Marketplace
In the first half of 2009, total individual annuity sales fell 3 percent to $126.8 billion. Fixed annuity sales were up 39 percent reaching $64.2 billion, and variable annuity (VA) sales declined 25 percent to $62.6 billion for the year to date. All fixed annuity sales components, except for Structured Settlements, rose year-to-date as a result of strong growth in fixed deferred annuity sales. Sales of book value products, the largest fixed annuity product type, jumped 53 percent, and MVA product sales increased 76 percent. Indexed annuity sales improved 20 percent. Fixed immediate annuity sales remained steady at 3 percent growth.
StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Earnings
StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:SFG) reported net income for the third quarter of 2009 of $59.9 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, compared to net income for the third quarter of 2008 of $40.2 million, or $0.82 per diluted share.2 After-tax net capital gains were $2.2 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared to after-tax net capital losses of $31.6 million for the third quarter of 2008. The Company recorded one-time costs of $3.2 million, or $2.1 million after-tax, for the third quarter of 2009 for severance costs and other expenses associated with enhancing operating efficiencies.
2 Earnings were released on October 20, 2009.
New Sales Packets for IGA, SRA and FGA: Clean and Simple
Just launched at NAILBA 28, November 12-14, The Standard’s new sales support packets are designed to make your job and client presentations easier. Starting with Secured Rate Annuity, Index Growth Annuity and Focused Growth Annuity, each annuity product will have its own sleek presentation packet, condensing multiple pieces into one — no folder required.
Producer Advisories
Read recent compliance alerts for Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and Washington.
Holiday Schedule at The Standard
We know how important it is for you and your clients to plan for the end for the year. Following is a timeline for processing annuity requests. We have always been able to stand behind our promises and plan on doing so this year.
Annuity News is an online newsletter for annuities producers of The Standard.
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Upcoming Webinars
Networking 2.0: Growing Your Business in the Digital Age
Thursday, December 3 at noon Eastern time
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Thursday, December 10 at noon Eastern time
Blog Your Way to Success
Thursday, January 7 at noon Eastern time