Swiss Re's "Life Guide" celebrated its 50 millionth hit. Available exclusively as a Web-based version, the latest Life Guide version includes user-driven enhancements such as:
- Remote access to a company's Shared Notes;
- Improved search functionality;
- Case by case "track and capture" of impairments you are reviewing; and
- Better graphics and color coding for improved visibility.
It was Brian O'Connell, vice president and chief underwriter at The Savings Bank Life Insurance Co. of Massachusetts (SBLI – Mass) who scored the 50 millionth hit on Life Guide, which he was using to review the Life rating page on Multiple Sclerosis.
In other industry news:
A $100,000 grant from ING U.S. will go toward expanding the LIFE Foundation's Next Generation financial literacy program.
The contribution will help LIFE fund new research and develop materials to grow its nation-wide education initiative, which provides high school teachers with free, interactive tools to help demonstrate to students the importance of proper financial planning and risk management.
With the help of the ING Foundation grant, the LIFE Foundation plans to conduct an in-depth qualitative and quantitative study of teachers and students to evaluate the resources that are most beneficial to users of the Next Generation program and roll out new features including: a comprehensive student workbook and fresh video content.
Since the program's launch in 1997, Next Generation has reached more than 26 million students and 39,000 high schools nationwide. The program is primarily focused on insurance and financial planning basics, and offers lesson plans, worksheets, videos, quizzes and additional tools to help teachers prepare students to navigate real-world situations.
Conning broadened its range of investment solutions for insurers to include Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs).
The publicly-traded partnerships can provide investors with attractive levels of after-tax income and the potential for capital appreciation, as well as enhanced portfolio diversification.
Master Limited Partnerships are required to generate at least 90 percent of their income from "qualifying natural resources," which include natural gas, crude oil and coal.
New York Life promoted Dorothea (Dottie) Rodd to senior vice president and head of Corporate Services. In this role, Rodd has oversight of procurement, business and financial services, process enhancement programs, corporate insurance risk management, corporate aircraft, travel and dining services, corporate security, business resilience, facilities management, and corporate records management. She reports to Frank M. Boccio, executive vice president and chief administrative officer.
Rodd joined New York Life in 1981 as an auditor trainee and has held positions of increasing responsibility. Since 2012, Rodd has been the head of Corporate Services, providing corporate service functions and support to the company. Prior to that, she served as first vice president in Human Resources where she was responsible for operations and service functions; and as a vice president in the Corporate Services Department in charge of procedures and systems for accounts payable, the travel reimbursement system, credit card administration, and financial analysis for procurement. She is active in New York Life's Employee Resource Groups, developing the Women's Leadership Program and serving as its chairperson for seven years.
