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Magazine: October 19, 2009 Issue

Cover Story

Industry Groups Fighting Fiduciary Standard

This week will tell whether the insurance industry has been able to persuade the House Financial Services Committee that a proposed "one-size-fits-all" fiduciary standard governing the sale of securities products. ...

Focus

Short-Term Premium Financing May Work for Affluent Clients

Exploring The Many Uses Of Grantor Trusts

Making The Case For DI To The Business Owner

Credit Shelter Trusts: It's Time To Consider An Annuity

In Recession’s Wake, The Affluent Get Back to Basics

Features

Health Reform Bill Gets Senate Finance OK But Faces Many More Hurdles

After passing a critical test last week, legislation reforming the U.S. health care delivery system is now dealing with its next hurdle, floor action in both the House and Senate....

California Enacts Settlement Law

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill aimed at regulating life settlements and imposing a state ban on stranger-originated life insurance policies....

The View From Outside The Industry

Suitability aside, industry representatives remain divided as to what a “harmonized” standard should specify....

The Life Settlement Business After The Storm

The past 12 months have been, to say the least, dramatic. Global financial markets came perilously close to a total meltdown, and in the aftermath the world is mired in a deep recession. ...

Close The Case With Cash Flow Analysis

Given today’s economic climate, clients are more careful than ever about planning for the future....

Full Disclosure Indexed Universal Life Report

One of the challenges in evaluating indexed universal life products is determining how the individual pricing components affect policyholder values....

Dental And Vision Are Being Bundled More

The Great Recession may be increasing pressure on insurers and producers to sell vision plans together with dental plans....

Are Attending Physician Statement Summaries Poised For Take-Off?

The attending physician’s statement (APS) is a core underwriting asset. ...

Opinion

Hail Mary Pass

America’s Health Insurance Plans threw a Hail Mary pass when it issued an eleventh-hour report that it apparently hoped would throw a giant-sized monkey wrench on legislation aimed at reform. ...

The Importance Of Stewardship

The notion that we can remain neutral while others are engaged in practices that reflect poorly upon our business completely ignores the issue of stewardship....