|

|
Wednesday,
03/10/10
|
Your Insurance News "Strategic Relationship"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Read online at www.insurancebroadcasting.com.
Read daily by over 450,000 insurance industry subscribers.
Walt Podgurski, CLU, CES, Publisher & Editor
|
|
|
© Copyright Notice - the
information on this page is protected by the copyright laws - all rights
reserved.
|

www.partnerwith.com
|
|
Daily Quote:
-
"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one
percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine."
-
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience
to remain silent."
-
"Commerce
with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto."
-
"Delay
is preferable to error."
-
"Educate
and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance
for the preservation of our liberty."
-
"Honesty
is the first chapter in the book of wisdom."
-
"How
much pain they have cost us, the evils which have never happened."
-
"I
like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past."
-
"Nothing
gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and
unruffled under all circumstances."
-
"A
government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take
away everything you have.”
Thomas
Jefferson" |
|
Late Breaking News
Democrats doubt deadline on
healthcare
INSURANCE NEWSCAST HEADLINES
1)
Marsh & Mclennan Selling Kroll For
$1.3 Billion: Report
2)
California Man Accused Of New York
Life Extortion Attempt
3)
Hewitt Survey Shows Employers
Continuing to Invest in Health of Workers Despite Uncertainty of Future Health
Care Landscape
4)
Sebelius Sends Letter to Insurance
Company CEOs, Calls on Executives to Publicly Justify Premium Hikes
6)
AIMS Benefit Solutions Expands and
Strengthens Life, Annuity, and Disability Offerings Through MedLink Alliance
7)
One in Five U.S. Life Insurance
Policies Sold Through Direct Marketing
8)
FACTBOX-AIG's Progress On Asset
Sales
9)
Promontory Financial Group Study
Cites Inherent Problems With A Pre-Funded Systemic Dissolution Fund for
Financial Firms
10)
U.S. Millionaire Ranks Up 16
Percent Last Year: Study
11)
World Equities Up 73 Percent A Year
After Crisis Low
12)
Arizona State Retirement System
Selects TIAA-CREF for New Supplemental Voluntary Retirement Plan
13)
BestWeek Asia/Pacific: Japan Life
Market in Play With MetLife Bid for AIG's Alico
14)
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company
Provides Small Business Tips to Help Owners Prevent Employee Theft and Fraud
15)
Jack Hanna Announces New
Partnership with Nationwide Insurance
16)
AssureSign Announces Retirement of
President and Chief Technical Officer Dale Combs
17)
CLTCC, LTC Solutions and Hoopis
Performance Network Partner in e-Learning Initiative
18)
Genworth Arms Financial Advisors
with New Communication Tools for Investment Approaches
19)
New Research Finds Variable Annuity
And Life Policy Holders Eager To Adopt Electronic Delivery Of Prospecutses And
Related Compliance Documents
20)
INSURANCE NEWSCAST "Pictures Of The
Day"
Note: All Links Below Open A New
Window:
21)
Phillips Benefits Advisors Becomes Ban Member
|
HEALTHCARE / BENEFIT PLANS
|
|
|
|
M&A / ALLIANCES / EARNINGS / CAPITALIZATION
|
|
|
|
SEMINARS / CONFERENCES / WEBINARS
|
|
|
Democrats doubt
deadline on healthcare
Tue Mar 9, 2010 7:17pm EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Democrats on Tuesday cast
doubt on their chances of meeting the White House's March 18 deadline for voting
on a stalled healthcare overhaul, but said they are moving as fast as they can.
With Democrats scrambling to line up support and determine what to include in a
final healthcare package, the March 18 target set by White House spokesman
Robert Gibbs last week appears unlikely -- to the surprise of no one in
Congress, where healthcare deadlines have been missed repeatedly.
"None of us have mentioned the 18th other than Mr. Gibbs," Steny Hoyer, the
Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, told reporters. "We are
trying to do this as soon as possible. That continues to be our objective."
Gibbs later told reporters he still thought the House could vote on the Senate's
version of healthcare reform before President Barack Obama leaves on an overseas
trip on March 18.
"I've been given nothing that would change that advice that I was given last
week," Gibbs said.
Congress has struggled to pass healthcare reform, one of Obama's top legislative
priorities, and has missed a series of White House-imposed deadlines for
approving the bill and sending it to the president for his signature.
If the deadline were to slip much further, beyond the two-week congressional
break for Easter, the challenges of passing a bill would increase because of the
limited window of opportunity for approving legislation in an election year.
Democrats hope to finish work by the end of March on Obama's healthcare plan,
which is designed to rein in costs, regulate health insurers and expand coverage
to tens of millions of Americans.
The House and Senate passed separate healthcare reform bills last year, but
efforts to merge them into a final product collapsed in January when Democrats
lost their crucial 60th vote in a special Senate election in Massachusetts.
Democrats now hope to approve the final legislation in a two-step process. House
Democrats would approve the Senate's version of the bill and the two chambers
would pass a separate measure making changes to the Senate bill sought by Obama
and House Democrats.
The second bill would be passed using a process called reconciliation requiring
only a simple majority in the 100-member Senate, bypassing the need for 60 votes
to overcome Republican procedural hurdles.
Senate and House leaders are still putting the second bill together and awaiting
cost estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, a process that could slip
into next week.
Republicans warned House Democrats not to count on the Senate to pass the second
bill.
"House Democrats will have to decide whether they want to trust the Senate to
fix their political problems," Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said.
The bill incorporates fixes to the Senate bill proposed by Obama last month,
including modifications to a tax on high-cost "Cadillac" health insurance plans
and expanded federal subsidies to make insurance more affordable.
(Reporting by John Whitesides, Donna Smith and Caren Bohan; editing by David
Alexander)
|
1.
Marsh & Mclennan Selling Kroll For $1.3 Billion: Report
|
|
(Reuters) - Marsh & McLennan Cos Inc (MMC.N), the No 2. global insurance broker,
has put up its security consulting business Kroll up for sale for $1.3 billion
and received offers from several major private equity firms in the first round
of bidding, the Financial Times reported on its website on Monday.
Three firms, The Carlyle Group CYL.UL, Apax Partners and General Atlantic,
submitted bids in late February by the deadline for first expressions of
interest, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the
situation.
Those people also said BC Partners may also want to make an offer along with one
or two trade bidders, according to the Financial Times.
Marsh's Chief Executive Brian Duperreault has cut thousands of jobs and sold off
unwanted units of Kroll since joining the company in 2008.
Marsh, Carlyle, Apax, General Atlantic and BC Partners did not immediately
return calls seeking comment on the report.
Marsh bought Kroll from its founder Jules Kroll for $1.9 billion in cash in
2004.
(Reporting by Phil Wahba; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved |
Return To Top - - Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
2.
California Man Accused Of New York Life Extortion Attempt
|
|
* Angry about a denied insurance claim -prosecutor
* Threatened to send spam, damage insurer -prosecutor
* New York Life says it contacted the FBI (Adds identity of insurance company,
adds spokesman saying firm contacted FBI)
By Grant McCool
NEW YORK, March 8 (Reuters) - A California man angry about a denied insurance
claim was arrested and charged with extortion after he sent an email to New York
Life [NYLIN.UL] threatening to damage its business, federal prosecutors and a
company spokesman said on Monday.
Anthony Digati, 52, of Chino, California, also threatened to send computer spam
to the insurer in his attempt to extort about $200,000, according to Preet
Bharara, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
"I have 6 MILLION emails going out to couples with children age 25-40, this
e-mail campaign is ordered and paid for," the criminal complaint quoted a Feb.
22 email as saying.
"2 million go out on the 8th (of March) and every two days 2 million more for
three weeks rotating the list," it went on. "Of course it is spam, I hired a
spam service, I could care less, The damge [sic] will be done."
Digati could not be reached to comment at his home telephone number.
New York Life insurance company spokesman William Werfelman confirmed it was the
target of the threats.
"After Mr. Digati contacted the Company with his threats we conducted a thorough
internal investigation and determined the best course of action was to turn this
over to the FBI for their assessment," the spokesman said in an emailed
statement.
The government alleged that Digati bought variable universal life insurance from
the insurer, which was not identified. It said the defendant sent the email to
more than a dozen employees, executives and one board member at the insurer.
"As you have denied my claim I can only respond in this way," Digati allegedly
wrote. "You no longer have a choice in the matter, unless of course you want me
to continue with this outlined plan. I have nothing to lose, you have everything
to lose."
Digati is expected to appear Monday before a federal magistrate judge in
Riverside, California. He faces up to two years in prison and a possible
$250,000 fine if convicted.
The case is U.S. v. Digati, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York,
No. 10-mag-00451. (Reporting by Grant McCool, additional reporting by Jonathan
Stempel; editing by John Wallace and Matthew Lewis)
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved |
Return To Top - - Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
3.
Hewitt Survey Shows Employers Continuing to Invest in Health of Workers Despite
Uncertainty of Future Health Care Landscape
|
|
Companies Making Good Progress, but Still Have More to Do to Effectively
Mitigate Costs and Improve Employee Health
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Despite the uncertainty of health care
reform, most U.S. employers say they are continuing to make investments today
that will improve the long-term health and productivity of their workforce,
according to a new survey by Hewitt Associates, a global human resources
consulting and outsourcing company. But while well-intentioned, Hewitt’s survey
shows most companies are just beginning to consider and implement the types of
strategies, tactics and goals that will create positive and sustainable
improvements in employee health and constrain escalating health care costs.
“Employers know they aren’t getting results using traditional approaches and are
taking steps to reverse that trend. However, they still have a lot of work to do
to get on a path where they’ll see positive, sustainable changes that really
move the needle.”
.Hewitt’s annual health care trends survey of nearly 600 large U.S. companies
representing more than 10 million employees shows that employers’ short- and
long-term approaches to health care remain consistent with last year. Almost
two-thirds (65 percent) say they currently invest in long-term solutions to
improve the overall health and productivity of their workforce while less than a
third (32 percent) are primarily focused on controlling their annual health care
costs. Just 3 percent reported currently moving away from directly sponsoring
health care. When asked about their future approach to health care, more
companies (80 percent) plan to focus on improving health and productivity in the
next three to five years.
Hewitt’s survey, conducted from December 2009 to January 2010, found that
employer concerns regarding rapidly rising health care costs continue to grow.
Almost all (95 percent) of companies say managing costs is a top business issue,
up slightly from 91 percent in 2009. This concern is not surprising; Hewitt’s
research shows that total health care costs1 have more than doubled in a
decade—from $4,793 in 2001 to $11,058 in 2010—and are expected to continue
increasing over the next 10 years.
“The harsh reality is that with or without comprehensive health care reform,
employers remain on course for having the same or greater cost and employee
health problems over the next few years as they have in recent years,” said Jim
Winkler, leader of Hewitt’s U.S. Health Care practice. “Employers know they
aren’t getting results using traditional approaches and are taking steps to
reverse that trend. However, they still have a lot of work to do to get on a
path where they’ll see positive, sustainable changes that really move the
needle.”
Developing a Health Care Strategy Is Critical
Even with the uncertain health care landscape, Hewitt’s survey shows that fewer
than half (42 percent) of employers have a formal policy or strategic health
care plan in place, which is consistent with last year. In addition, while 80
percent say offering competitive benefits is a key component of their health
care strategy, most indicate managing cost as their top business priority—a
clear disconnect between HR benefit goals and overall business objectives.
“Health care is one of the biggest expenditures for a company, yet most
organizations don’t have a formal plan that outlines their program’s goals and
ties them to business objectives,” said Ken Sperling, leader of Hewitt’s Global
Health Care practice. “This makes it easy for companies to revert to
traditional, less-sophisticated cost-cutting tactics when things get tough and
short-term challenges need to be resolved.”
Laying the Groundwork for the Future
Despite a minority of companies having a formal overall strategy in place,
Hewitt’s survey suggests there is a growing recognition among employers that
programs and tactics, tailored to an employee’s specific needs, will provide
them with the best foundation for future change. These programs and tactics are
often built on existing targeted initiatives. For example, disease management
and health improvement programs continue to remain a priority for employers.
More than half (53 percent) of companies currently have a disease
management/health improvement strategy in place. Of those that don't, 11 percent
plan to implement one in 2010 and another 75 percent plan to implement one in
the next three to five years.
• Increasing the focus on improving both physical and mental health. While still
emerging, there is an increasing interest among employers to incorporate mental
health and absence management programs into their health and productivity
strategy. Today, just over a third (35 percent) of companies incorporate
behavioral health programs (e.g., Employee Assistance Programs and/or targeted
networks of mental health specialists) into their strategies, and more than half
(58 percent) are planning to do so over the next three to five years. In
addition, while less than one in five (19 percent) consider absence management
as part of their current health and productivity strategy, 56 percent plan to
incorporate it over the next three to five years.
• Using incentives and penalties to encourage participation. To encourage
participation in health care programs, more than a half (58 percent) of
companies offer incentives to employees and a quarter (24 percent) extend these
incentives to spouses and/or family members. The number of companies offering
cash incentives for completing a health risk questionnaire almost doubled from
last year—from 35 percent in 2009 to 63 percent in 2010. In addition, 37 percent
of companies provided cash incentives for participating in health improvement
and wellness programs, up from 29 percent in 2009.
Penalties, such as higher benefit premiums or deductibles, are also emerging as
a popular tactic. Almost one in five (18 percent) employers already use
penalties and another 29 percent say they will use them in the next three to
five years. Smoking and failure to participate in disease management programs
are the most common behaviors where penalties are deployed.
“It’s important for employers to tie incentives to steps that require actual
behavior change,” said Winkler. “Giving a diabetic $100 to complete a health
risk questionnaire may identify that diabetic as high risk, but it won’t do much
to ensure he/she is taking steps to exercise, eat properly and get preventative
care. Employers with programs that require workers to demonstrate these
sustainable behaviors before receiving an incentive will have a more meaningful
impact than those that base the reward on one-time actions, such as signing up
for a disease management program.”
• Considering the diverse workforce. Hewitt’s survey shows that nearly 60 percent
of employers say they take the diversity of their workforce into account when
they design and communicate their health plans.
“Leading-edge employers are beginning to use this information to understand
cultural nuances in the use of health care services as well the role of the
extended family in health decisions,” said Sperling. “They can then change their
approach to employee communication, how they provide access to on- site services
and how they offer family versus individual incentive programs to drive positive
behavior change.”
• Measuring success through behavior change. Hewitt’s survey shows that the
majority of companies continue to measure the success of their health and
productivity programs by how well they manage medical costs (58 percent) or by
how well their programs are being utilized (57 percent). Just 19 percent measure
employee behavior change and 15 percent measure behavioral modification.
However, employers expect to reverse this emphasis in three to five years. More
than half (53 percent) say they plan to measure employee behavior change and/or
behavioral modification in the next three to five years.
“The way employers intend to measure these programs over the next three to five
years are encouraging and shows they are thinking about moving beyond short-term
financial tactics,” said Sperling. “Measuring clinical changes in health risk,
for example, can help employers gauge whether these programs are actually
changing employee behaviors and ultimately leading to longer-term cost
mitigation and improved employee health.” www.hewitt.com |
Return To Top - - Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
|




























|
Why
Selling Voluntary Benefits Is A Solid
Business Strategy For Employee Benefit Brokers
-
Voluntary Benefits
Lock Out Competition And Generally Can't be Replaced By A
"Broker-Of-Record" Letter
-
Voluntary Benefits
Hedge Potential Disruptive HealthCare Legislation
-
Voluntary Benefits
Add Non-Replaceable Long-Term Worth To Your Agency Valuation
-
Voluntary Benefits
Offer Value To Your Employer Clients & For Their Employees
Why
Brokers Interested In Building A Voluntary Benefits Revenue
Stream Should Attend "Workplace Benefits Renaissance 2010"
-
An Exhibit Hall
Crowded With The Industry’s Best Carriers And Service Providers
-
Networking Events
That Allow You To Rub Shoulders With The Biggest Producers And
“Movers And Shakers” In The Worksite Marketing Industry
-
Over 30 Presentation
Sessions By Leading Industry Professionals With Time-Tested And
Field-Proven Concepts And Sales Ideas
-
Enrollment Can Be A
“Strategic Advantage” And The “Enrollment Expo” Will Offer The
Advice, Expertise, And Relationships You Need To Outmaneuver Your
Competition In This Area
-
You Will Gain
Everything You Need To Begin The Process Of Introducing Voluntary
Benefits Into Your Client Base And Making Your Agency More
Profitable And More Valuable
-
And… Licensed Attendees Who
Pre-Register Do Not Have To Pay A Registration Fee
Discover The
Fortune That Lies Hidden In Your
Benefits Agency
There are only 14 days left;
here is the link to the complete information:
http://www.workplacebenefits.org/wbr2010.htm.
|
|
|
4.
Sebelius Sends Letter to Insurance Company CEOs, Calls on Executives to Publicly
Justify Premium Hikes
|
|
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a letter to the CEOs of UnitedHealth Group Inc.,
WellPoint Inc., Aetna Inc., Health Care Service Corporation and CIGNA HealthCare
Inc., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius called on the executives to publicly justify proposed health insurance
premium increases. Sebelius’ letter comes after a meeting last week with these
executives at the White House.
“incumbent carriers seem more willing than ever to walk away from existing
business.”
.“Last Thursday, I asked CEOs to post online the actuarial justification for
premium hikes so consumers can see why their premiums are skyrocketing. Now,
it’s time for these insurance company CEOs to do their part to make the system
more transparent for the American people. If insurance companies are going to
raise rates, the least they can do is tell us why.”
The letter comes shortly after a new analysis from Goldman Sachs found that
competition in the insurance market is so weak, insurance companies can continue
to raise rates even if it means losing customers. The analysis found that “price
competition is down” and that “incumbent carriers seem more willing than ever to
walk away from existing business.”
A copy of Sebelius’ letter to the executives is included below.
Dear__________,
Thank you for taking the time to join our discussion about health insurance
premium increases on Thursday at the White House. There is no question that our
health insurance system is broken, and unsustainable for both the American
people and your companies. I appreciated the opportunity to meet with you and
discuss these very serious issues.
As we discussed, both the President and I continue to hear from concerned
Americans who don’t understand why their premiums continue to rise. For many
families, these high premiums have made health insurance unaffordable. At the
same time, these families have heard reports of insurance companies taking in
multi-billion dollar profits.
At our meeting, you and your colleagues discussed the importance of addressing
and controlling the underlying cost of health care. President Obama agrees, and
his comprehensive health reform proposal includes a series of cost-reduction
strategies. You noted the need for a larger pool of insured individuals to
balance risks. This element is also included in the President’s proposal.
In our discussion, we also agreed that we will all benefit by making our health
care system more open and transparent. To that end, I am reiterating the request
I made at our meeting on Thursday: post on your websites the justification for
any individual or small group rate increases you have implemented or proposed in
2010, and continue to post such a justification in connection with any future
increases. Posting this information will give Americans the opportunity to learn
more and ask questions about rate increases that affect them.
At a minimum, I ask that you include the following in your justification:
1. Your estimates on medical cost and utilization increases, the assumptions
driving these estimates, and the basis for those assumptions.
2. If your premiums increase more than estimated medical costs, a description of
what accounts for those differences.
3. The number of people who will be receiving premium increases, as well as the
number of people who will be receiving different levels of premium increases,
further broken down by characteristics including plan type, age, and sex.
4. Enrollment changes in your different plans since the past year.
5. The number of people on whose experience the rate increase is calculated.
6. Any premium rating variation including rating variation by age and health
status.
7. An affordability plan explaining what the company is doing to improve the
affordability of health care, and the estimated financial impact of the
company's affordability initiatives.
8. An explanation of any cost containment or quality improvement efforts you
have made that affect the increase.
9. The expected medical loss ratio resulting from any premium increase.
10. Information on the percentage of premium revenues you spend on medical
claims, disease management, quality initiatives, administrative costs, profits,
and executive salaries broken down at least by market type.
The President is committed to passing health insurance reform that fixes our
health insurance system and helps bring down costs for all Americans. These
reforms will give American families the peace of mind they need and deserve, and
will make our system more transparent. I hope your company will join our effort
to make health care in America more transparent, and post this critical
information without delay.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Sebelius
Contacts
HHS Press Office
202-690-6343
|
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
6.
AIMS Benefit Solutions Expands and Strengthens Life, Annuity, and Disability
Offerings Through MedLink Alliance
|
|
MONTGOMERY, Ala., March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- AIMS Benefit Solutions (http://aimsbenefits.com)
has joined forces with MedLink, a national insurance broker, in order to better
support annuity, life, health, and disability insurance agents through
specialized staff and technology.
AIMS Benefit Solutions has been offering agents its newly expanded offerings
since January 2010. Under the new relationship, AIMS provides marketing support
for MedLink's LTCi agents while MedLink does the same for life offerings from
AIMS agents.
"This new venture is part of our overall strategy of transitioning from a sole
focus on LTCi products to offering multiple product lines," said Steve Dozier,
president of AIMS Benefit Solutions. "We are teaming with top companies that
hold the most competitive products in the life, annuity, and disability markets.
Since MedLink's structure and personnel are very similar to our own, we are able
to support each other's agent services seamlessly."
MedLink has also helped AIMS create a new Web site for life brokerage products
at http://www.lifeandhealthonline.net/aims. "We always aim to provide
unsurpassed service to insurance agents, and our new Web site will allow them to
run proposals, review underwriting guidelines, download forms, send physician
inquiries and request proposals from our staff," said Dozier.
In October 2009, as it began to expand its portfolio, AIMS changed its name to
AIMS Benefit Solutions to signify the expansion into other markets. However,
amid its ongoing transformation, the company has preserved its business model,
processes and tools - licensing, training, support, material development and
provision of innovative products - designed to facilitate agents' selling
process from start to finish.
About MedLink
Founded in 1991, MedLink is a national "wholesale" insurance brokerage agency
offering brokers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, including
employee benefits, individual life, long term care, disability, 401(k) plans,
annuities, state-of-the-art technology and group enrollment services. MedLink
currently works with a proprietary network of more than 3,000 independent
brokers. Over 10,000 brokers have access to the agency's products and services
through its regional and national partners. For more information, call
1-866-683-1847.
About AIMS Benefit Solutions
As part of its mission to be the "One Call, One Source, One Solution" for
agents, AIMS Benefit Solutions now offers a variety of products such as long
term care insurance, life insurance, traditional worksite products, Medicare
supplement policies and Affinity Discount Card services.
In addition to national marketing, AIMS has been a Marketing Services
Administrator for multiple carriers for more than 20 years, allowing agents to
focus on what they do best rather than administration. The company's turn-key
marketing support also includes the CASH-First LTCi program from United of
Omaha, a LTCi product that provides cash on the first day of qualified need with
no elimination period.
AIMS Benefits Solutions is located at 101 TechnaCenter Drive, Montgomery, AL.
For additional information, please contact AIMS at 1-800-325-9876 or
info@aimsbenefits.com. ;
Contact: AIMS Benefit Solutions, 800-325-9876,
steve@aimsbenefits.com
|
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article

888-263-7265 -
www.TheAmericanCollege.edu
|
7.
One in Five U.S. Life Insurance Policies Sold Through Direct Marketing
|
|
WINDSOR, Conn, March 8, 2010—Sales through direct channels represented more than
20 percent of the policies, about five percent of premium sold, and 13 percent
of the total face value in 2008 according to a new joint project conducted by
LIMRA and LIDMA– the Life Insurance Direct Marketing Association.
“For the first time, we have been able to quantify the amount of individual life
insurance sold through direct channels, like the Internet, direct mail and
telephone,” said Ron Neyer, senior analyst, LIMRA Distribution Research. “This
includes both sales generated directly through carriers, as well as by
third-party quoting aggregators. Direct marketing accounts for a much larger
portion of life insurance sales than previously reported. We believe this will
be valuable information for the industry to track the growth of this
distribution channel in the coming years.”
Byron Udell, chairman of LIDMA’s Market Research Committee added: “We’ve known
for a long time that direct response produced a significant volume of life
insurance sales. Knowing that approximately one out of every five individual
policies comes from a direct channel speaks to the great strides that our niche
continues to make in today’s marketplace.”
LIMRA and LIDMA researchers estimate that over 2 million individual life
insurance policies sold in 2008 were purchased through direct channels. In
addition, direct response sales totaled $675 million in new premium in 2008 and
total face value reached $233 billion.
The number of consumers who bought insurance online has doubled since 2006.
Price, convenience and a good Web site were the top factors that influenced
these consumers. With advances in technology, researchers anticipate that more
consumers—especially younger generations—will use direct channels to buy life
insurance in the next 5 to 10 years. ;
www.limra.com
www.lidma.org
|
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
8.
FACTBOX-AIG's Progress On Asset Sales
|
|
March 8 (Reuters) - American International Group Inc (AIG.N) agreed to sell its
foreign life insurance unit, American Life Insurance Co, to MetLife Inc for
about $15.5 billion in cash and stock, its second major asset sale in a week.
[ID:nN08154999] The deal, along with a $35.5 billion sale of American
International Assurance, its Asian life unit, to Britain's Prudential Plc (PRU.L)
will help the U.S. government recover $31.5 billion in cash, and more over time
as AIG sells the buyers' securities. Below are some of the major deals AIG has
announced:*
ASSET ; BUYER ; PRICE
AIA ; ; ; Prudential Plc ; $35.5 bln
Alico ; MetLife ; ; $15.5 bln
Nan Shan Life ; Primus, China Strategic ; $2.15 bln
Asset management ; Pacific Century Group ; $500 mln
AIG Finance (Hong Kong) ; China Construction Bank ; $70 mln**
AIG FP energy investments Various ; ; $1.9 bln
Transatlantic Hldgs stake Offering of shares ; $1.1 bln***
Office bldg, Tokyo ; Nippon Life Insurance ; $1.2 bln
21st Century Insurance ; Zurich Financial ; ; $1.9 bln
Unibanco AIG Seguros ; Unibanco ; ; $820 mln
Hartford Steam ; ; Munich Re ; ; $739 mln
US life premium finance ; Unit of Wintrust Financial $679.5 mln
AIG Life of Canada ; BMO Financial Group ; $263 mln
AIG Private Bank ; Aabar Investments ; $253 mln *
For list of all AIG deals announced since September 2008, see here.
** Deal also includes repayment of intragroup debt and deposits of about $557
million
*** AIG also commenced a secondary offering of its remaining 9.2 million
Transatlantic shares on Monday.
(Reporting by Paritosh Bansal)
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved |
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
9.
Promontory Financial Group Study Cites Inherent Problems With A Pre-Funded
Systemic Dissolution Fund for Financial Firms
|
|
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A systemic dissolution fund for large failing
financial institutions that is pre-funded through assessments on other financial
firms would hamper economic growth, promote riskier activity among financial
institutions, and be unfair to participating financial firms, according to a
study released today by Promontory Financial Group.
“Analysis of Funding Mechanisms for Systemic Dissolution Fund”
.Two financial regulation reform bills in Congress would authorize the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to establish a new systemic dissolution
mechanism funded through assessments on large firms to recover the cost to the
government of assisting failing financial companies. However, the bills would
apply the assessments in different ways.
Legislation passed in the House, the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection
Act (H.R. 4173) would require the fund administrator to assess large financial
firms before incurring any dissolution costs. Draft legislation in the Senate,
the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2009, would permit assessments
only after the fund incurs a cost.
At the request of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), Promontory
analyzed the implications of building a pre-funded versus post-funded systemic
dissolution fund. Promontory’s study concluded that from a financial policy
perspective, a post-funded regime is superior to a pre-funded system.
Promontory’s analysis found that a pre-funded system would:
• Divert funds that firms would otherwise use to hamper efficient investment and
credit availability in the overall economy;
• Increase the potential for moral hazard in which market participants or market
supervisors perceive the fund as a partial guarantee and engage in riskier than
normal behavior;
• Unfairly assess risk across various industries—banking, insurance, securities
broker-dealers and hedge funds—that have different business models entailing
different risks.
By contrast, the analysis found that a post-funded regime would minimize these
problems.
Promontory’s study also found that neither a post-funded nor pre-funded regime
would expose tax payer dollars to any risk of footing the bill for a systemic
failure.
“Although a post-funded regime would necessarily entail either borrowing from
the taxpayers or a public auction of Treasury securities backed by the
taxpayers, the industry would eventually repay these funds with interest. The
experience of the state insurance guarantee associations and the Financing
Corporation (FICO) in collecting long-term post-event assessments from the
insurance and banking industries, respectively, offers no reason to doubt the
efficacy of a post-assessment regime in protecting the taxpayers,” the study
concluded.
A full copy of the study, “Analysis of Funding Mechanisms for Systemic
Dissolution Fund” is available at
www.promontory.com/newsandresources.aspx.
About Promontory Financial Group LLC
Promontory Financial Group, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the premier
global consulting firm for financial services companies. Promontory has offices
in New York, San Francisco, and Atlanta, and affiliate offices in London, Milan,
Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Tokyo. Eugene A. Ludwig, former U.S.
Comptroller of the Currency, founded Promontory in 2000. Visit us on the web at
www.promontory.com.
|
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
10.
U.S. Millionaire Ranks Up 16 Percent Last Year: Study
|
|
Joe Rauch
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina
Tue Mar 9, 2010 10:17am ESTCHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Reuters) - The number of
U.S. households with a net worth of at least $1 million jumped 16 percent last
year after dipping sharply during the financial crisis, an industry consulting
group said on Tuesday.
Households with a net worth of $1 million or more, excluding their primary
residence, totaled 7.8 million in 2009, up from 6.7 million in 2008, according
to Spectrem Group.
The number of millionaire households shrank by 27 percent in 2008, it said.
The current total is still well below the record 9.2 million millionaire
households reported in 2007, Spectrem said.
Last year's spike came as U.S. stock markets rallied. The S&P 500 Index rose 28
percent, and the largest wealth management firms reported strong earnings as
their clients' accounts recovered from the 2008 meltdown.
The study also found ultra high net worth families -- those with at least $5
million -- grew 17 percent last year to 980,000, Spectrem said.
Households with $500,000 or more topped 12.7 million, up 12 percent.
Spectrem said its study was based on surveys of 3,000 affluent households and
online surveys of roughly 2,600 families.
(Reporting by Joe Rauch; editing by John Wallace)
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved |
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
11.
World Equities Up 73 Percent A Year After Crisis Low
|
|
Tue Mar 9, 2010 5:41am EST
LONDON (Reuters) - Equities have had a volatile 2010 so far, but globally they
remain around 73 percent higher than the low ebb of the financial crisis exactly
12 months ago.
MSCI's all-country world stock index .MIWD00000PUS, a broad measure of global
equities, hit a low on March 9, 2009.
The index then rose around 80 percent before hitting a high on January 11, this
year.
On Tuesday, the index was down 0.8 percent, for a year to date gain of just 0.1
percent. But the index is up some 73 percent from its closing low one year ago.
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved |
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
12.
Arizona State Retirement System Selects TIAA-CREF for New Supplemental Voluntary
Retirement Plan
|
|
Brings Reduced Costs, Competitive Long-Term Performance to Public Schools,
Community Colleges, and Local Governments Statewide
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TIAA-CREF today announced it has been selected by the
Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) as the single provider for its 403(b) and
457(b) supplemental voluntary retirement plans.
“This statewide offering creates an opportunity for plan sponsors and employees
to benefit from economies of scale not generally available to smaller retirement
plan sponsors, resulting in reduced costs that may lead to additional income for
employees in retirement.”
.The new statewide supplemental voluntary retirement plan will be available to
179,000 eligible employees among 600 employers in the state’s public school
districts, community colleges, and local governments and agencies. This new plan
complements the state’s existing defined benefit plan.
“TIAA-CREF’s ability to provide a plan tailored to the needs of our public
school teachers and administrators and our local government employees was
instrumental in our decision,” said Paul Matson, Executive Director, Arizona
State Retirement System. “We are especially pleased that, through the pooling of
assets across the employers and participants that utilize the plan and the
professional oversight of the ASRS, we can bring employees a professionally
managed, low-cost, retirement saving option that can help the career school
teacher to potentially achieve additional accumulations and retirement income
compared to other commonly available defined contribution plans.”
Employees will gain access to objective investment advice and education from
both local TIAA-CREF Individual Consultants and telephone-based Consultants
familiar with the plan offerings to help them best meet their long-term
financial needs. Working with TIAA-CREF, the Arizona State Retirement System
will also have access to the TIAA-CREF’s Compliance Coordinator service, which
provides plan sponsors a cost-effective, proactive approach to compliance with
403(b) regulations. www.tiaa-cref.org
|
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
13.
BestWeek Asia/Pacific: Japan Life Market in Play With MetLife Bid for AIG's
Alico
|
|
HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This week’s edition of BestWeek Asia/Pacific
explores the implications of the Prudential-AIA and MetLife-Alico deals for the
region’s life insurance markets.
A.M. Best Co.’s BestWeek Asia/Pacific is a multimedia online digital newsletter
for insurance professionals. The 9 March edition is available at
www.bestweek.com/bwap030910.html or by visiting
www.bestweek.com.
This week’s edition also looks at Axa Affin’s expansion strategy in Malaysia’s
general insurance market.
The edition includes an audio interview with Neil Katkov, head of Asia at
consultancy Celent, on the MetLife-Alico deal.
Video reports include a review of the A.M. Best Stock Indexes for Asia/Pacific,
Global Brokers and Global Reinsurers and video news updates.
|
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
14.
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company Provides Small Business Tips to Help Owners
Prevent Employee Theft and Fraud
|
|
30 Percent of Businesses Fail Due to Employee Theft
NOVATO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Employee theft and fraud contribute to more
than 30 percent of business failures according to the Department of Commerce.
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company works with owners to protect their companies
and is offering tips for the 28 million U.S. small business owners to help
manage liability risks.
“Employee theft and fraud can potentially be financially devastating for small
businesses so Fireman’s Fund encourages owners to become even more vigilant in
protecting their company”
.“Employee theft and fraud can potentially be financially devastating for small
businesses so Fireman’s Fund encourages owners to become even more vigilant in
protecting their company,” said Bruce Petersen, senior vice president of
Commercial Insurance at Fireman’s Fund.
Small businesses employ more than half of all private-sector workers, pay 44
percent of total U.S. private payroll and have generated 64 percent of net new
jobs over the past 15 years, according to Small Business Administration’s (SBA)
Office of Advocacy.
The recent recession and layoffs have fueled the growth of small business, but,
statistically, about half will fail in their first five years, even in
non-recessionary periods. This is why small business owners must take the
necessary precautions to prevent employee theft and fraud.
Small businesses can minimize opportunities and temptations for employee theft
and fraud by:
• Screening prospective employees thoroughly. The employment application form is
an essential tool for screening prospective employees. Prior employment
references should be thoroughly investigated and if the position being applied
for is of a sensitive nature, owners should run background checks through
appropriate law enforcement agencies.
• The thief can be anyone, even a trusted employee. Employees who steal typically
have worked at a business for several years before starting to steal and
continue for an average of three years before being discovered. Theft can
involve cash-on-hand, or embezzlement of raw materials and inventory, or other
property.
• Know your employees. Be alert to the following characteristics of employees
that are key indicators of potential theft:
Sudden, apparent devotion to work and working late
Lifestyles well above salary levels
Strong objections to procedural changes related to financial, inventory or
supply matters
Drugs and alcohol abuse
Moonlighting jobs which use materials available from their employers
Evidence of compulsive gambling, persistent borrowing, bad check writing and
consistently requesting advances
To limit opportunities for employee theft, Fireman’s Fund also recommends that
small business owners implement the following controls:
• Purchase Orders. The payment, receipt and preparation of purchase orders should
be separate functions and handled by different individuals. Use serially
pre-numbered purchase orders and incoming goods should be verified.
• Cash Receipts. Use serially pre-numbered sales slips. Conduct weekly audits and
the balancing of sales slips and the register should be done by someone other
than the sales clerk.
• Audits. Make unannounced internal audits and have a yearly audit performed by
an outside firm.
• Vacation Policy. Enforcement of a strict vacation policy is a precaution
against employee dishonesty.
• Computer Security Measures. Understand your computer system and how it can be
used to divert money or inventory. Restrict access to computer terminals and
records. Periodically change entry codes and check regularly to ensure that
security procedures are in effect and include computer records in audits.
• Checks. Use pre-numbered checks. Checks should be typed or written in permanent
ink. Lock blank checks and signature machine in a secure place. Employees with
duties that do not include check preparation or distribution should reconcile
bank checking account.
• Merchandise – Inventory. Separate receiving, storekeeping and shipping
functions. Physical inventories should be done annually by individual not
responsible for inventory records.
• Accounts Receivable. Separate mail opening and posting functions. Record checks
and cash in appropriate registers and stamp checks for deposit only.
www.firemansfund.com
|
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
15.
Jack Hanna Announces New Partnership with Nationwide Insurance
|
|
Columbus Zoo’s Longtime Hometown Partner to Present Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild
TV Series and Hanna’s National Speaking Tour
COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jack Hanna announced today a new partnership
with Nationwide Insurance. Hanna’s popular syndicated TV show, Jack Hanna’s Into
the Wild and his national speaking tour, “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild LIVE” will
be sponsored by Nationwide Insurance®.
“I’ve spent my whole career as an advocate for animals and conservation. My
partnership with Nationwide Insurance is a natural fit because they are
advocates too – for their customers, their hometown community, and their
hometown zoo.”
.“I’m pleased to begin this new relationship with my longtime friends at
Nationwide Insurance,” said Hanna. “I’ve spent my whole career as an advocate
for animals and conservation. My partnership with Nationwide Insurance is a
natural fit because they are advocates too – for their customers, their hometown
community, and their hometown zoo.
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio has been a long-time supporter of the
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, dating back to Hanna’s early days as zoo director in
1978 and Nationwide’s support of the American Bald Eagle Exhibit. This year,
Nationwide is supporting the return of polar bears to the Columbus Zoo as a
major donor for the new Polar Frontier exhibit. Nationwide Insurance and the
Columbus Zoo are partnering again as joint title sponsors of Jack Hanna’s Into
the Wild.
“For decades, Jack Hanna has been a tireless ambassador for animal conservation,
the Columbus Zoo and our hometown,” said Jim Lyski, chief marketing officer for
Nationwide. “It’s this passion that we feel is a perfect match for the
Nationwide brand. We hope to build a strong relationship with the millions of
fans of Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild by establishing common ground in our shared
advocacy for wildlife conservation and the protection of all living creatures.”
Nationwide Insurance will have a presence in Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild starting
the weekend of March 13, 2010. To find out when the show airs, please visit
www.jhitw.com. Visit
www.nationwide.com/jackhanna
for more information on Jack’s partnership with Nationwide.
www.jackhanna.com
|
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
16.
AssureSign Announces Retirement of President and Chief Technical Officer Dale
Combs
|
|
Orlando, Fla., March 8, 2010 – Dale W. Combs, co-owner of D Squared Holdings,
Inc. and its related and subsidiary companies Third Party Verification, Inc.
(3PV), AssureSign LLC and Marketing Systems Group, Inc. (MSG) announced that
effective January 1, 2010 he has retired from his position as President and
Chief Technical Officer. Combs will maintain part-time involvement through
mid-year while continuing his ownership interest. ; Along with chief executive
officer David W. Brinkman, Combs co-founded Marketing Systems Group in 1991.
Brinkman will continue to oversee daily operations of the businesses as
President and CEO, while Combs will be involved only in high-level strategy and
business decisions.
www.3PV.com www.assuresign.com
|
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
17.
CLTCC, LTC Solutions and Hoopis Performance Network Partner in e-Learning
Initiative
|
|
Newton, MA. March 9, 2010
The Corporation for Long-Term Care Certification, Inc. (CLTCC) which created the
Certified in Long-Term Care (CLTC) designation has partnered with LTC Solutions,
Inc and Harry Hoopis of the Hoopis Performance Network (HPN) to develop and
deliver the CLTC course on line.
CLTC e-Learning brings the widely acknowledged standard in long-term care
planning education to the internet using state of art multi-media technology.
This technology gives students a classroom experience with the added advantage
of being able to take the course where and when they choose.
Under the alliance, CLTC e-Learning will be hosted by HPN, which has become
synonymous with professional sales and leadership training in the life insurance
industry.
“Our partnership with Harry allows us to expand CLTC to a broader range of
insurance and financial service professionals who have wanted to take the
program but found it difficult to attend the 2-day course”, stated Harley Gordon
President of CLTCC, Inc.
“This alliance brings together three organizations with solid reputations for
training, marketing and professionalism in the insurance industry,” said Harry
Hoopis, CEO and co-founder of the Hoopis Performance Network. “The CLTC program
is the most powerful sales and marketing tool for the sale of long-term care
insurance I have seen in my 40 years in the insurance business. Period. This is
a great addition to the Hoopis platform”.
H. T. Skip Liddell, President of LTC Solutions said, “The initial demand has
been very strong, particularly from financial services firms, a key market in
expanding long-term care insurance sales to the affluent”.
On-line registration for CLTC eLearning is scheduled for 2Q 2010.
For a preview of the program and how it helps you build your practice, visit:
www.CLTCdemo.com
www.ltc-cltc.com
www.hoopis.com
www.CLTCPartnershipTraining.com |
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
18.
Genworth Arms Financial Advisors with New Communication Tools for Investment
Approaches
|
|
“Crossing the Sea” Illustrates the Company’s “Sailing and Rowing” Investment
Approach
Pleasant Hill, Calif. (March 08, 2010) — Genworth Financial Wealth Management (GFWM),
an investment management and consulting firm dedicated to helping financial
advisors build great businesses and a division of Genworth Financial, Inc.
(NYSE: GNW), today announced the release of Crossing the Sea, a book that uses a
simple but powerful parable to help advisors explain the “sailing and rowing”
investment approach to their clients.
The story describes two couples’ journey across the sea to retirement, each
using a different approach. The first couple prefers a less active approach,
symbolized by “sailing.” The second, concerned about periods when the wind might
not be blowing in the right direction, prefers a more risk-averse “rowing”
approach. Ultimately, both couples suffer periods of doubt about the wisdom of
their respective strategies. Both reach retirement safely – only to discover
that a third approach designed to capture broad returns in bull markets
(“sailing”), with more risk-averse approaches designed for bear markets
(“rowing”) may have resulted in a less stressful journey.
Crossing the Sea was designed to illustrate complicated investment concepts
through a simple, easily understood story. It is intended to be a conversation
starter about how investors think about risk and volatility as they journey
toward their financial goals. GFWM Advisors are able to access the book online
at no charge from anywhere, including client meetings. GFWM also offers glossy,
hard-cover copies of the book for advisors to give to clients, with the option
to personalize the book’s interior flap to include the advisor’s biography,
headshot, and company information.
“As the markets recover, one of the challenges advisors face is how to
communicate with and reassure their clients in what is still an uncertain
economy,” says Mark Schoenbeck, author of Crossing the Sea and Chief Marketing
Officer for GFWM. “The story provides a simple, effective way for advisors to
illustrate the need for different types of investment strategies during a time
when clients are nervous about “crossing the sea” to their desired destination.”
To date, advisors have pre-ordered over 800 copies of the book, in both standard
and customized editions.
As part of its ongoing efforts to help advisors through a volatile market and
unpredictable economic conditions, GFWM is also expected to launch a website
tool this spring to help advisors in a more interactive way that furthers the
sailing and rowing metaphor described in Crossing the Sea. The site will feature
vignettes about individual investors that illustrate the differences between
cyclical and secular bull and bear markets, and contain a survey that will help
investors analyze their investment style and generate a risk profile.
GFWM Advisors may order Crossing the Sea by contacting GFWM or emailing
CrossingTheSea@genworth.com.
The online version is available at
http://www.genworthwealth.com/crossingthesea.html. Financial Advisors not
currently working with GFWM who are interested in using Crossing the Sea with
their clients may contact 800-664-5345.
|
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
|
19.
New Research Finds Variable Annuity And Life Policy Holders Eager To Adopt
Electronic Delivery Of Prospecutses And Related Compliance Documents
|
|
Comprehensive Study Shows Overwhelming Consumer Interest; Yet Few Providers
Articulate and Capitalize on Their E-Delivery Capabilities and Offers
ANDOVER, MA, March 9, 2010 – According to a new study commissioned by NewRiver,
Inc. and conducted by Mathew Greenwald & Associates, there is strong appeal from
variable annuity (VA) and variable universal life (VUL) policy holders to
receive prospectus and related compliance documents electronically via
e-delivery. More than half of the respondents who were not offered electronic
delivery from their VA/VUL company said they would be interested in electronic
delivery of their documents and prospectuses if it were available. Yet despite
this opportunity, the insurance industry appears to be lagging behind other
industries in effectively marketing and offering their e-delivery capabilities.
Findings from the study are available at
http://www1.newriver.com/wp-7-form.asp.
While participants were split in their assessment on how their VA/VUL provider
was promoting e-delivery, only one in four (26%) could ever recall being
notified about the option. This is a missed opportunity for variable annuity and
universal life companies as respondents stated they were interested in
e-delivery. In fact, less than a third of the VA/VUL owners (29%) actually read
the hard copy prospectus and other documents they receive, including a mere 6%
who claim to read these documents from cover to cover. Asked what was
preventing them from using e-delivery, nearly three out of five (59%)
respondents said it was due to the difficulty in reading compliance documents
online.
“The summary prospectus is good news for policy holders who find online
documents difficult and unwieldy,” said Russell E. Planitzer, CEO at NewRiver.
“The availability of the new shorter, summary prospectus makes finding relevant
information easier. Already a staple among mutual funds, e-delivery and layered
disclosure is rapidly converging on the VA industry and is set to create the
same enhanced user experience that mutual fund investors are getting today.”
In addition, the research showed that while nearly all VA/VUL owners consider
themselves to be comfortable using computers for personal financial management
(91%), the vast majority (86%) said they had no idea how they could go about
receiving their financial information in this manner. ;
“This is a call to action for the insurance industry,” continues Planitzer.
“There has long been a misconception within the insurance sector that due to its
older customer demographics there isn’t a high level of interest in electronic
delivery or that reading and accessing documents online is difficult. The
research dispels this myth, as the majority of those who were either not offered
or were not aware of the option of electronic delivery expressed an interest in
it.”
To view the findings from the study visit
http://www1.newriver.com/wp-7-form.asp.
|
Return To Top -
- Print Article / Read Entire
Article
20. INSURANCE NEWSCAST "Pictures Of The Day"

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (5th L), French
Junior Minister for Family and Solidarity Nadine Morano (2nd L), and French
Junior Minister for urban affairs Fadela Amara (3rd L) receive women
associations at the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 8, 2010 on the occasion of
the 100th anniversary of the "international women day. Credit: REUTERS/Eric
Feferberg/Pool |

U.S. President Barack Obama applauds as first lady
Michelle Obama speaks at an International Women's Day event at the White House
in Washington, March 8, 2010. Credit: REUTERS/Larry Downing |

Visiting Norway's Crown Prince Haakon and Crown
Princess Mette-Marit pose before talking to journalists outside a hotel lobby in
Kuala Lumpur March 8, 2010. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad (MALAYSIA - Tags: POLITICS
ROYALS) |

Britain's Queen Elizabeth speaks with Rwanda's
President Paul Kagame during their meeting at Buckingham Palace in London March
8, 2010. REUTERS/John Stillwell/pool (BRITAIN - Tags: ROYALS SOCIETY POLITICS) |

A helicopter unloads supplies for earthquake
survivors in Constitucion city, south of Santiago, March 7, 2010. Some Chileans
were still waiting for government aid a week after one of the strongest
earthquakes on record and a roaring tsunami killed hundreds and ravaged cities
and villages along the South American country's south-central coastline. Credit:
REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado |

Paramilitary policemen are seen in a reflection as
they patrol outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, during the second
plenary meeting of China's parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC)
March 8, 2010. This image has been rotated 180 degrees. Credit: REUTERS/Grace
Liang |

A Mayan woman arrives at an event celebrating
International Women's Day in Guatemala City, March 8, 2010. Credit:
REUTERS/Daniel LeClair |

Dancers from China Disabled People's Performing Art
Troupe perform during their show called "My Dream" at the Al Hussein Cultural
Center in Amman March 8, 2010. REUTERS/Majed Jaber (JORDAN - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT
SOCIETY) |

Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez signs autographs
before playing the Chicago White Sox in a MLB spring training game in Glendale,
Arizona, March 6, 2010. Credit: REUTERS/Rick Scuteri |

Sandra Bullock accepts the award for best actress
for "The Blind Side" during the 82nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, March 7, 2010.
Credit: REUTERS/Gary Hershorn |
|
|

Actress Kerry Washington speaks to U.S. President
Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at an International Women's Day event
in the East Room at the White House in Washington, March 8, 2010. REUTERS/Larry
Downing (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS ENTERTAINMENT) |

Cleveland Cavaliers' J.J. Hickson goes up for a dunk
after being fouled during the third quarter of the Cavaliers' NBA basketball
game against the San Antonio Spurs in Cleveland, March 8, 2010.REUTERS/Aaron
Josefczyk (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL) |

Singer Elton John (L) and partner David Furnish
arrive at the 18th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Viewing Party
in West Hollywood, California March 7, 2010. REUTERS/Gus Ruelas (OSCARS-PARTY)
(UNITED STATES (ENTERTAINMENT) |

Actress Katy Perry and comedian Russell Brand arrive
at the 2010 Vanity Fair Oscar party in West Hollywood, California March 7, 2010.
REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (OSCARS-PARTY) (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT) |
|