Pennsylvania based Custom Benefit Plans (CBP) has signed a partnership agreement with Ritter Insurance Marketing to distribute senior market insurance products through independent insurance agents.
The combination offers unique value not only to insurance companies seeking distribution, but also to independent insurance agents looking for training, marketing, sales and product support.
Ritter Insurance Marketing president Craig Ritter said the partnership with CBP enhances efficiency, reduces redundancy and improves compliance by allowing the local management to focus on agent training, education and local marketing.
“In addition, Custom Benefit Plans is expanding their footprint beyond the pre-65 aged market into the post-65/Medicare market place. We’re happy to help them in these efforts,” Ritter added.
Custom Benefit Plans president Sal Dinardo said a number of Ritter Insurance’s tools such as for lead management, product analysis tools and Part D drug cost estimators will help enrich the opportunity for its agent team.
“Ritter provides web-based ‘back office’ tools including agent commission payment systems, management of licensing paperwork, tracking of agent’s active appointments and in-house agent training/consulting services. All these systems reinforce our back office efforts and free up valuable staff time,” Dinardo added.
Custom Benefit Plans also provides its agents with product and compliance training, sales and marketing training, lead support, ongoing coaching and mentorship.
As historic as the Supreme Court hearing regarding the constitutionality of all or parts of the Affordable Care Act this week might be, there’s a narrow neck the justices must travel that could block any further deliberations or unleash the expected heated discussions.
That thin line is an 1867 federal law barring courts from ruling on measures until they are fully implemented by the federal government. The justices heard arguments today on just that issue given that the new health care law is not fully effective until 2014. Proponents of a decision to proceed with the hearings have said all along that since aspects of the law are already operable and impacting individuals, businesses, and state and local governments, the court is well within its rights to hear the case.
If the nine justices decide they can move forward with hearings, the crux of the matter will be whether the federal government can compel anyone to purchase a product – in this case, health insurance. U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, who will argue the case for the Obama administration, said today the 1867 law did not apply because Congress was imposing a penalty, not a tax.
The designation one attaches to the Affordable Care Act is key. Department of Health and Human Services staff members have referred to the law as both a tax and a penalty depending on the Congressional hearing. They have backed away from the tax nomenclature when the Obama administration has highlighted its record of no tax increases. On
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Marriage no longer offers people many additional financial benefits that differ from those available to people who co-habit, it has been explained.
In a BBC Womans Hour podcast, director of research and family policy at the Family and Parenting Institute Peter Grieg explained how there is “little that distinguishes” between the two relationship situations.
When it comes to the government tax and benefits system, both marriage and co-habiting are viewed as very similar.
However, those who are looking to invest in cheap wedding insurance ahead of their big day may be pleased to hear tying the knot can have financial benefits elsewhere.
“Economies of scale mean you dont have to pay twice for electricity bills and fuel and of course who can put a price on the happiness of being married in the first place?” Mr Grieg remarked.
Compared with the 20th century, living as a couple before marriage is commonplace in many western nations and is no longer deemed controversial by many cultures.
An Oklahoma insurance agent confessed to embezzling an estimated $62,000 from her clients and surrendered her insurance license.
The agent, Amanda Sue Wilson of Lawton, Okla., was found to have created unauthorized life loan checks and credit/debit charges, misapplied escrow checks from house closings and misapplied premium refunds and premium payment checks to cover cash payments she embezzled, according to Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak and Comanche County District Attorney Fred Smith.
A criminal case is expected to be filed in connection with Wilsons actions, for which she signed a confession, Doak and Smith said.
The investigation of Wilson began when the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s Anti-Fraud Unit received a referral from an audit consultant retained by a large Oklahoma insurance company, which was not identified. The auditor’s report revealed a number of discrepancies in the insurance transactions made by Wilson from October 2009 to February 2011.
About 100 policyholders were affected by Wilsons criminal activity, officials said in a statement.
Personable Holdings, a provider of non-standard auto insurance has acquired Network Holding, the parent company of First Insurance Network and Peachtree Casualty Insurance Company.
First Insurance Network is a managing general insurance agency and Peachtree Casualty Insurance Company is a P&C insurance company licensed to write private passenger automobile insurance in 38 states.
The transaction has been approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.
The acquisition expands Personable’s geographic footprint into Florida and Georgia states in the US and will bring 18,000 policyholders to the company and will add 400 new independent agent partners.
Personable chairman Kieran Sweeney said that the company is well positioned to execute its long-term growth strategy following this acquisition.
“Personable now has a strategic presence in four of the five largest states for non-standard auto insurance in the US, over 45,000 customers and 3,000 quality retail partnerships,” Sweeney said.
Making the decision to purchase life insurance is the first step on the road to protecting your financial future. While many people are initially hesitant to discuss end-of-life plans, life insurance is a sure-fire way to make sure your loved ones are accounted for down the road. You’ve made the choice to invest, but now what?
The cost of investing in your future leaves some people feeling overwhelmed. Between figuring out the cost variables involved in different policies and plans, the numbers can look more intimidating than what they have to be. There are a few things you can do now that will help lower your life insurance premiums and keep them manageable in the long-run.
What are premiums based on?
In the best case scenario, a life insurance policy will carry you through many fulfilling years of life. Policies are established under the context of caring for you, your family and your future endeavors. However, when it comes to cost, the line is drawn in the sand according to some very finite factors. These include:
- Your health and what you are at risk for
- Your age and estimated life span
- Your overall lifestyle
Premium payments are established when these and other factors are taken under consideration. Essentially, a premium is the estimated financial cost of the risks you entail as a person within the scope of your lifetime.
How can I lower my premiums?
While there is nothing you can do about your age when it comes to premium costs, there is always something you can do about your health and habits. H
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