BOSTON, Jan. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — John Hancock Life Insurance today announced the launch of a new current assumption life insurance product—Protection UL.

Protection UL offers a premium often lower than leading lifetime guaranteed universal life policies while also providing the opportunity for cash value growth potential.

“With interest rates staying near historic all time lows, we have seen the industry product cycle shifting away from lifetime guaranteed universal life products. At John Hancock, we see this as an opportunity to provide a new product that can deliver more value to the consumer,” said Steve Finch, President, John Hancock Life Insurance. “Our low-cost Protection UL product offers important flexibility through cash values as well as the opportunity for policy performance to improve if crediting rates later increase. At the same time, the policy offers consumers the certainty of a minimum period of coverage. In total, we think this is a compelling package in the marketplace.”

The new Protection UL demonstrates John Hancock’s commitment to offering products that provide real value and respond to the needs of today’s consumers. Protection UL is backed by a financially strong company that has been providing economic security for families and businesses for more than 140 years.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation

John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canadian-based financial services group operating in 22 countries and territories worldwide. For more than 120 years, clients worldwide have looked to Manulife for strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients around the world. We provide asset management services to institutional customers worldwide as well as reinsurance solutions, specializing in life and property and casualty retrocession. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$474 billion (US$460 billion) as at September 30, 2010. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ’945′ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. JohnHancock offers a broad range of financial products and services, including life insurance, fixed and variable annuities, fixed products, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at www.johnhancock.com.

Protection UL policies automatically include a no-lapse guarantee called Death Benefit Protection. This feature guarantees that the policy will not default, even if the cash surrender value falls to zero or below, provided that the Death Benefit Protection Value remains greater than zero and policy debt never exceeds the Policy Value. Policyholders who pay only the minimum premium required to keep the Death Benefit Protection in effect may forego the advantage of building significant cash value in this policy. The no-lapse guarantee under the Death Benefit Protection has a maximum duration to age 121. The duration of the no-lapse guarantee coverage may be less, depending upon the funding level chosen by the policyholder. The NLG duration is stated in the contract and reflected in the illustration’s guaranteed net death benefit column. At the end of the NLG duration, premiums greater than those originally illustrated may be required to maintain coverage. Factors such as, but not limited to, the amount and timing of premium payments, loans, withdrawals, or any other change allowed under the contract could potentially terminate the no-lapse guarantee. Once terminated, the Death Benefit Protection feature cannot be reinstated.

Guaranteed product features are dependent upon the claims-paying ability of the issuer.

Insurance policies and/or associated riders and features may not be available in all states. Some riders may have additional fees and expenses associated with them.

Insurance products are issued by John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Boston, MA 02116 (not licensed in New York) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, Valhalla, NY 10595.

SOURCE John Hancock Life Insurance

http://www.wholesaleinsurance.net/

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ –

A universal life insurance plan can be an ideal way for someone to financially protect their family. Because every personal situation is unique, a potential policy holder should consider their specific needs, weigh various plan options and then determine which is best for them. Here are some considerations when evaluating a universal life insurance plan.

Life circumstances change frequently and life insurance should change along with these milestones. One advantage of a universal life insurance policy is that these plans are flexible and adjust to changing needs. These personal situations can include a job promotion, a marriage or the birth of a child.

This type of policy is more transparent than other options because it does not invest funds in the stock market. Plus, account values can be watched as they increase with earned interest or decrease when charges are deducted. There is also a cash value component, which grows on a tax-deferred basis and can be accessed nearly any time. This earns interest based on the company’s current interest rate.

When considering universal life insurance, a potential holder should be aware of their greater personal responsibility. The policy holder is responsible for making coverage changes and must take on the investment and mortality risks. Rates vary depending on a person’s sex, health, age and other factors. People must consider their long-term needs and weigh their options before choosing any type of plan.

About UniversalLifeInsurance.net:

UniversalLifeInsurance.net connects you to knowledgeable and experienced universal life insurance agents who can assist you in finding the right plan for your unique situation. Choosing the right coverage is an important decision. These qualified agents will help evaluate your specific needs and recommend plans that will fit these requirements. Simply visit the website to fill out the basic form. You will be on your way to protecting your loved ones.

Karachi, Aug. 23 — The Individual Life segment of Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE: LNC) today announced the enhancement of its comprehensive life insurance line with the launch of Lincoln Duration Guarantee(SM) UL. Issued by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, this new hybrid product further expands Lincoln’s comprehensiveinsurance solution set by combining the flexibility and guarantees of universal life with the affordability of term insurance.

“Lincoln is an industry leader in the creation of innovative, quality, life insurance solutions,” said Michael Burns, Senior Vice President, Individual Life Product Management, Insurance Solutions. “We are very excited to introduce this new universal life offering that will further complement our traditional term and universal life solutions ‘ helping us reach a market that is becoming increasingly relevant as a result of clients’ changing financial dynamics.”

Lincoln DurationGuarantee(SM) UL offers affordable guaranteed coverage for clients, specifically designed for the duration they need, including:

* Shorter coverage durations offered at ages not typically covered by term insurance;

* Affordable short guarantee coverage for selected periods of 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years, or to age 95;

* 1035 rollover capability for short duration coverage at all ages; and

* Flexibility to decrease face amount or premium payment options (charges may apply).

“With Lincoln DurationGuarantee(SM) UL, we now offer the most comprehensive solutions for fixed universal life needs,” said Michael Parker, Assistant Vice President, Fixed Life Product Leader. “From true term insurance coverage to guaranteed UL with lifetime guarantees or shorter durations, Lincoln has the right product solution.”

Important disclosures. Please read.

Issued by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Fort Wayne, IN, on policy form UL5026 and state variations. Products and features subject to state availability. Limitations and exclusions may apply. Not available in New York.

About Lincoln Financial Group

Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE: LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in the Philadelphia region, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $140 billion as of June 30, 2010. Through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; life, group life and disability insurance; 401(k) and 403(b) plans; savings plans; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services Published by HT Syndication with permission from Daily Pak Banker.

August 25, 2010

http://www.wholesaleinsurance.net/

NEW YORK, July 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, a leading U.S. life insurer with a 150-year history, has introduced Athena Indexed Universal Life (Athena IUL), a new permanent life insurance policy with enhanced cash-value accumulation potential and downside protection. Athena IUL offers interest crediting linked to the movement of three major market indices (up to a cap) with a built-in guaranteed floor to help protect against index declines.

“In light of recent market volatility, historic low interest rates, and concerns about the potential for rising taxes, Athena IUL represents a new permanent life insurance product that addresses multiple needs, including beneficiary protection, cash value accumulation and down market risk management,” said Christopher M. “Kip” Condron, chairman and chief executive officer of AXA Equitable. “For individuals and business owners who are juggling a desire to reduce equity risk with a need to build future income, we believe this new solution offers the right blend of benefits.”

Diversification by Market and Time Period

Athena IUL policyholders can allocate net premiums (after expenses) to any combination of four indexed options where cash value can grow (up to a cap) based on the movement of major equity indices. Policyholders have access to indexed options driven by three different equity indices, enabling participation in a broad scope of market opportunities – U.S. large-cap stocks, U.S. small-cap stocks and foreign stocks. Policyholders can also diversify by time period, choosing between three indexed options structured with a one-year maturity and one with a three-year maturity:

– The 1-Year S&P 500 Price Return Index Indexed Option

Based on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Price Return index (S&P 500), which tracks the market capitalization (the aggregate price, or value) of the 500 most widely held large-cap U.S. stocks and is generally regarded as the benchmark for broad U.S. stock market performance.

– The 1-Year Russell 2000 Indexed Option

Based on the Russell 2000 Index, which is generally regarded as the benchmark for U.S. small-cap funds. Russell 2000 tracks the market capitalization of the 2,000 smallest companies listed on the Russell 3000 index, which includes the 3,000 largest companies in the U.S., based on market capitalization.

– The 1-Year MSCI EAFE Indexed Option

Based on the MSCI EAFE Index, which, as of July 2010, tracks the market capitalization of 22 individual country indices in Europe, Australasia and the Far East and is broadly accepted as a benchmark of international equity shares.

  -- The 3-Year S&P 500 Price Return Index Indexed Option
  Also based on the Standard & Poor's 500 Price Return Index (S&P 500).

In addition to these indexed options, policyholders can allocate premium to a Guaranteed Interest Account, which credits a rate of interest guaranteed to never be less than 2%.

Simplified Crediting Rate Strategy

The Athena IUL indexed options deliver growth potential (up to a cap) based on index movements, without exposing policyholders to the possible downside risk typically associated with equity markets. This is accomplished through the beneficial way the index options interest credits are calculated in an Athena IUL policy.

AXA Equitable uses a simplified point-to-point method to determine the index “performance rate” for each indexed option segment – the difference between the index’s value at the beginning and end of the 1-year or 3-year segments. This is then multiplied by the “participation rate” – the percentage of the index growth on which the interest credit is based, subject to the cap and floor established by AXA Equitable.

With Athena IUL, the participation rate is guaranteed to be at least 100%, providing a level of comfort not always found in index-linked life insurance products. If market conditions warrant, AXA Equitable also reserves the right to raise the participation rate above 100% in the future.

“Our new Athena IUL demonstrates the evolution of life insurance and the unique role it can play today in a financial plan,” said Andrew McMahon, president of Financial Protection and Wealth Management for AXA Equitable. “By offering a dynamic coverage strategy with equity-linked growth potential, as well as a guaranteed floor to protect against index declines, we have once again set the tone in the industry – long a characteristic of AXA Equitable.”

BOSTON, May 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — John Hancock Life Insurance today launched new current assumption single life and joint life products — Performance UL and Performance SUL.

These products offer low-cost permanent death benefit protection with the added security of new extended guarantees. They will be the lowest cost permanent life insurance products in John Hancock’s portfolio.

“The new Performance UL and Performance SUL will not only provide permanent, affordable solutions to meet clients’ insurance needs but also offer the opportunity to participate in potentially stronger future investment returns. And to give clients additional security we are providing the downside protection of extended guarantees,” said Steve Finch, President, John Hancock Life Insurance. “As the price for UL products with lifetime guarantees increase in the marketplace, it’s more important than ever to look at alternatives.”

Mr. Finch said Performance UL and Performance SUL’s lower premiums and new extended guarantees combined with strong cash surrender values, provide a compelling alternative to guaranteed UL and guaranteed SUL products.

“With long-term interest rates near historic lows, there has never been a better time to buy a UL policy that offers flexibility and liquidity through cash values plus the potential for some upside if investment returns increase over time,” he said. “The new Performance UL and Performance SUL demonstrate John Hancock’s commitment to providing the right solution, at the right time.”

Source: John Hancock Life Insurance

Web Site: http://www.johnhancock.com/

Shop for John Hancock life insurance products at: www.wholesaleinsurance.net

NEW YORK, April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, pioneer of variable life coverage, now introduces a Market Stabilizer Option(sm) on its variable universal life insurance product. Using innovative upside caps and a downside buffer, the Market Stabilizer Option can help smooth the impact of equity volatility on a policy.

Along with providing a death benefit to protect beneficiaries, most variable life products offer the potential for policy growth through market exposure, since premiums are invested in variable portfolios. Now, with the Market Stabilizer Option (MSO) on its Incentive Life Optimizer® product, AXA Equitable offers both policy growth potential and downside protection. The MSO is a policy investment option that offers a rate of return tied to the S&P 500 Price Return index*, up to a growth cap. It also provides a downside buffer of up to 25% if there is a decline in the performance of the index. The growth cap and downside buffer work in tandem to capture a portion of the index’s upside potential while protecting policy values from the adverse effects of volatility.

“The last two years have been among the most turbulent periods ever for equity investors. The related economic insecurity has actually increased consumer awareness of the need for life insurance,” said Christopher M. “Kip” Condron, chairman and chief executive officer of AXA Equitable. “We’re pleased that our Incentive Life Optimizer Market Stabilizer Option now offers in one product a way to help shield clients from significant loss while also easing them back into equity-based investing.”

How the Market Stabilizer Option Works

Using a 15 percent growth cap rate as a hypothetical example, here is how the MSO operates to stabilize volatility:

  If the S&P 500 Price Return        The Market Stabilizer Option indexed-
   index rate of return              linked rate of return on the Segment
   (excluding dividends):            Maturity Date will:                 

  Increases 15 percent or more       Equal 15 percent
  Increases less than 15%            Equal the index performance, excluding
  Stays flat or declines 25          dividends
  percent or less                    Equal zero
                                     Decline by only 5 percent, not by 30
  Declines 30 percent                percent

For more information, visit AXA Equitable Life