Description: Letter from the editor.

Description: This article discusses three litigation issues: 1. Shelter Framing Corp. v. PBGC: This is a case recently placed on the Appellate Docket of the U.S. Supreme Court being appealed from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. That Circuit Court held that the Multiemployer Pension Plan amendments Act, which imposes liability on employers who withdrew from multiemployer plans, is unconstitutional as applied to employers who withdraw before the Act’s enactment but after its retroactively effective date. 2. Federal Trade Commission: The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has held that an investigation by the FTC into whether finance companies and auto dealerships were engaging in unfair and deceptive practices by representing that purchase of credit life insurance was required as a condition to obtain financing, was not outside the FTC’s power. 3. Baldwin-United Case: Under the rehabilitation plan for Baldwin-United, the Company would refund $3.7 billion to the annuity holders. Several groups are challenging this decision.

Description: Editor's column discussing the contents of the January 2011 issue of NewsDirect.

Description: Written in reaction to the AG49-A "quick-fix" passed, this article covers the history of IULillustration regulation. It begins by covering major product development and regulationmilestones to date, with numerical examples to show their impacts on illustrations. It thenexplains how the "quick-fix" works and what its impact on illustrations is. Lastly, the articlelooks forward to what could be in store in the future for IUL illustrations.

Description: This article presents an overview of the history and issues associated with penetrating the middle market for individual life insurance. Underwriting and marketing approaches are suggested. The potential role of the reinsurer is explored.

Description: The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) recently created a Financial Advisory Industry Review (FAIR) panel to review the practices of the financial advisory market in Singapore and increase the standards and professionalism of the FA industry in the distribution of life insurance products in Singapore.

Description: There are two key trends in the preneed and final expense insurance market, the first being small independently held preneed insurance companies presenting attractive acquisitional benefits and secondly, changing consumer attitudes may drive increased final expense activity in the future.

Description: Discussion of work site mortality— including risk classification and underwriting methodology decisions which affect the appropriate mortality assumptions

Description: A discussion on the need for insurance companies to reimagine the way they market, engage and sell to consumers.

Description: This article is based on a presentation made by Ron Kleiman at the Annual Conference of the Professional Insurance Marketing Association PIMA regarding the obstacles and a solution to worksite marketing sales.