Digital Benefit Advisors (DBA), an employee benefits-only firm, has entered into a strategic alliance with True North Insurance. The firm will continue to operate under the True North banner and utilize an expanded DBA team and extensive resources to better serve client needs in all size markets. “DBA’s national footprint will offer a myriad of advantages to True North clients, providing a broader, more comprehensive offering of products and services,” said Brian Driscoll, managing principal of the Farmington, Conn., DBA office. Services will include a private exchange for employee benefits, custom employee communications, worksite wellness consulting and expanded insurance plan options, especially for voluntary benefits.
The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc. (GIAC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), introduced its first Qualifying Longevity Annuity Contract (QLAC) for The Guardian SecureFuture Income Annuity SM. Now individuals can designate a portion of their Individual Retirement Account (IRA) assets for use later in retirement so that these funds will not be subject to required minimum distributions (RMDs) beginning at age 70½. As Americans’ life expectancy continues to rise, there are growing fears of outliving savings and a heightened need for guaranteed lifetime income solutions. At the same time, many baby boomers are working longer and do not have an immediate income need for the RMD funds. Guardian SecureFuture Income Annuity SM with the QLAC option addresses these issues by allowing clients to defer a portion of their IRA income up to age 85.
Life Trust3D™, a life insurance policy monitoring, management and consulting firm, along with its sister company, Colton Groome & Company, a provider of financial strategies since 1950, and its strategic alliance partner TOLI Vault™ announced its 15-year, $1 million+ sponsorship of the First Citizens Financial Markets Technology Center at the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business at Campbell University. As part of this sponsorship LifeTrust3D™ will provide Campbell students with the TOLI Vault™ software program, copies of Tate Groome’s new book, “…The Best Policy”, which will become part of the trust and wealth management degree curriculum, internship opportunities for students to get real-world experience and educational / guest lecturer presentations.
Purchasing Power is now providing a financial wellness platform through its employee purchase program offered as a voluntary benefit. The platform is a holistic approach to financial wellness and allows employees to access a wealth of tools and resources focusing on budgeting, saving, paying down debt, setting goals and practicing healthy financial habits. The services are available at no cost to employers and are free to their employees with the exception of a fee to use alternative credit reporting. The platform is an online service provided to workers whose employers or organizations offer Purchasing Power’s employee purchase program as a voluntary benefit.
The U.S. business group of Sun Life Financial has joined Mercer MarketplaceSM , making its short-term disability, long-term disability, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance products available on one of the largest and fastest-growing private benefits exchanges in the country. Sun Life continues to expand its presence on private exchanges to give more customers access to its employee benefits solutions. With a full range of benefits, including traditional, supplemental and voluntary products, as well as robust decision-support tools, Mercer Marketplace provides a single point of access for employees to meet all their insurance needs.
American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, an issuer of fixed indexed annuities, celebrated its 100th Client Appreciation Event recently in Louisville, Kentucky. American Equity representatives hosted more than 300 policyholders and guests for an informal luncheon. The attendees enjoyed an opportunity to learn more about the industry, their individual annuities and ask Company leaders their specific questions.