ACLI Perspectives
The #1 Thing I'm Listening for at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit
Women are now the primary breadwinners in 40 percent of households.
According to my organization, ACLI's, analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, there are now 76 million of us women in the labor force compared to 17 million just 60 years ago. That's an incredible leap, and with that leap comes a host of new concerns, needs and anxieties about our families' financial and retirement security.
When Life Changes in an Instant, Life Insurance Provides the Comfort of Consistency
Two friends that I have known for a long time lost their spouses during the past two years. The circumstances were sudden and unexpected. They both have children, and their lives changed in an instant.
Fiduciary: What's in a Name?
With apologies to Mr. Shakespeare, that which we call a "fiduciary" has been the subject of intense debate since the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) first proposed its fiduciary regulation in 2015. In March this year, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the fiduciary regulation in its entirety on a nationwide basis following litigation in several jurisdictions by many parties including ACLI.
Americans' Retirement Concerns Attracting Policymakers' Attention
Over the past two decades, many Americans have faced two types of retirement challenges. The most obvious one has been a “savings” crisis, where many Americans are under-saving for their retirement.
For Millennials, the Life Insurance Industry May Be the Stability They Need
Minivan enthusiast, subscriber to a Netflix DVD-by-mail plan, and voracious eater of breakfast cereal. With a profile like this, I may seem the antithesis of the millennial generation I technically belong to. Millennials are stereotypically known for bucking tradition in favor of trend. That’s why a long-standing industry like the life insurance industry may not jump out as an obvious match for millennials. (70 percent of American Council of Life Insurer member companies have been serving customers for more than a century.) We have products and services focused on long-term and delayed gratification.
Industry Tool Helps Families Find Unclaimed Life Insurance Policies
Almost twenty years ago, my grandfather passed away. Like most people, he was committed to his family, his church, and his community. He provided for his wife through his estate, which included a few small life insurance policies. This allowed her to comfortably live out her days. Fast forward 18 years, and his estate received notice from an insurance company. His beneficiary was entitled to the benefits from a long-forgotten life insurance policy. This was a complete surprise to our family, and although the benefit was small, it had everyone wondering whether additional "lost policies" existed. And if they existed for our family, we wondered how many existed for other families?
ACLI Expands Advocacy Portfolio to Include Supplemental Benefits
At its core, ACLI is about securing access to financial protection for Americans and their families. And our members and their customers know that financial protection isn't achieved with just one product – there is no one-size-fits-all financial protection plan. A healthy, balanced financial picture requires a diverse financial protection plan that accounts for individual and family circumstances.
What Tax Reform Means for the States
One of my favorite quotes comes from Ben Franklin, made shortly after President Washington signed the Bill of Rights. In a letter penned to French scientist Jean-Baptiste Leroy in November 1789, Franklin wrote: “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
Why the Senior Safe Act Matters
In the last year of my dad’s life, he was living at home in Alabama. He had a caretaker who came a few times a week to make sure he was taking his medicines and to see if he needed anything, like groceries or household supplies. My father appreciated the help of a caretaker.
Addressing Necessary Long-Term Care Insurance Rate Increases
Most of us don’t want to think about a day when we might not be able to take care of ourselves on our own. But the reality is, many of us will need some type of long-term care later in life. That’s why many people have turned to long-term care insurance. This line of insurance has helped families cover costs for assisted living, nursing homes and home health care when they can’t live on their own anymore.
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