As January ends with a giant “ROAR!”, with snow and ice covering much of the country, things are heating up in the annuity industry. Carriers are unveiling new products, agent commission bonuses and we are seeing rates holding steady.

Anecdotal as it may be, we are seeing an influx of new annuity applications at The Ohlson Group and have added a record number of new agents in January. The perfect storm is brewing in the FIA space, and we have the tools to help you navigate – and capitalize in this unique environment.

Folks, we have carriers that have S&P 500 cap lock guarantees – and these are not low-ball guarantees. One carrier guarantees an 8.25% S&P 500 cap for all seven-years of the surrender charge period. This product takes the uncertainty of renewal rate anxiety away from you and your clients.

If you’re like most agents, you’ve got a file full of client statements. Many of your clients that purchased an FIA five to seven years ago are likely stuck with low-yielding crediting strategies. You did the best you could with the products available – and your clients did not lose any money. This is a hard pill for clients to swallow when the equity markets continue to hit all-time highs. There is hope for these clients!

The older FIAs you wrote were written during the low interest environment. We are now on the opposite side of the rate pendulum and annuity rates (MYGA and FIA) are exponentially higher compared to when you sold older products. We can help you get your clients out of these low-yielding products!

Premium bonuses on FIAs continue to remain high. We have bonuses up to 23% on 10-year products. And, these products have strong crediting rates, likely higher than any older annuity that was purchased in the low-interest rate environment.

Finally, if you need new prospects, we have several avenues to help fill your calendar. Our Ohlson Group Annuity Lead program is netting great results. Our no dinner annuity seminar program is also red-hot.

2026 is the year of the insurance agent – the stars (and rates) are aligned for success. So have full confidence in what you do best – protecting clients’ assets and providing solutions to lead them to the retirement they’ve been dreaming about.

The LIMRA 2025 US Individual Annuity Sales Survey showed annuity sales increased by 5 percent ($121.2 billion) in the third quarter of 2025. This is yet another new record for annuity sales. Fourth quarter numbers are anticipated to be similarly record-breaking.

The outlook for 2026 annuity sales is strong. Fixed Indexed Annuity rates remain near or at all time highs. MYGA rates are near all-time highs as well. Income rider payout percentages and roll-ups continue to remain strong.
​
Many clients are stuck in underperforming annuities, and many have no idea that their contracts can be improved by simply transferring money from one carrier to another. Premium bonuses on fixed indexed annuities are as high as 23%. The opportunity to rescue clients and prospects from underperforming annuities remains viable.

2026 is an exciting year at the Ohlson Group. The “Elevate” annuity workshop program continues to net big premiums and high sit ratios. Any agent who qualifies and works this program gets access to in person training at no cost and ongoing weekly coaching from a $50 million veteran producer/mentor.
The Ohlson Group’s In-house annuity lead program is another lead-generation tool agents are using to find new prospects and close more business. Many of you reading this are aware of this program – contact us now if you want to get started, territories are filling up quickly!

January and February are separation months for top agents. The holidays are behind us and our top agents have already started their 2026 marketing campaigns. It is not too late, though! If you are looking for new prospects to close, contact us and we can help!

As we usher in a new year, I want to take a moment to reflect — and more importantly, to look ahead.

2025 was a big year for us. In fact, it was a milestone year. We proudly celebrated 50 years of the Ohlson Group, and that’s something we don’t take lightly. Five decades in this business doesn't happen by accident. It happens because of relationships, trust, consistency — and most of all, the incredible agents we’re fortunate enough to work alongside every single day.

Simply put - we could not have done it without you. I feel repetitive however it is true - nothing happens around here until you, the agent, sell a policy. 

Whether you partnered with us through seminar marketing, lead programs, training, or case support, you are the reason The Ohlson Group continues to grow and get stronger. This will be my 20th year with The Ohlson Group and I have developed life-long relationships with many of you who are reading this.

It is important to mention that our motto, per se, is an acronym my father, Ray Ohlson, coined ... "SCIP" ... "Service, Credibility, Integrity and Profitability". To have a mutually beneficial relationship, all of these must be integrated to create the trust needed to work together in this business. 

Let's make 2026 the best and most profitable year of our lives. We can do it all, together.

Financial advisors are often the first line of defense between closely held business owners and preventable estate tax surprises. One of the most common ways such surprises happen is when buy/sell agreements, their funding and valuations are set up—then never revisited as the company grows.
​
The Connelly decision is a clear and current example of the importance of structure and ongoing compliance as much as valuations and coverages. 

On June 6, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court held that when a corporation receives life insurance proceeds to fund a stock redemption, those proceeds increase the company’s value for estate tax purposes, and the corporation’s redemption obligation does not offset that value. In short: entity‑funded buy/sell arrangements can elevate the taxable value of a decedent’s shares at death.

• The practical impact for advisors: entity‑purchase (redemption) agreements funded by corporate‑owned life insurance can produce higher estate valuations with many stakeholders completely unaware of the risk. This translates to higher estate tax exposure.

​Even well‑drafted agreements are not viable when they’re not followed. In Connelly, the parties did not keep current a ‘Certificate of Agreed Value’ nor did they obtain the required independent appraisals per the agreement after death—two process misses that proved costly in the audit and litigation that followed.

1. Start with a formal valuation: Establish the baseline value and document it within the buy/sell agreement. Then calendar a review cadence (e.g., annually, with third‑party valuations every few years). Align the agreement’s valuation mechanism with what your client will actually follow.
2. Re‑evaluate the funding structure: Entity‑purchase (stock redemption) vs. cross‑purchase or hybrid structures. Consider estate tax implications and liquidity needs.
3. Build in dynamic coverage mechanics: As revenues and enterprise value rise, coverage should ratchet up in a disciplined way.
4. Audit for operational follow‑through: Confirm that owners are executing the agreement’s valuation steps and documenting compliance.

• Review the buy/sell agreement’s valuation mechanics.
• Identify the funding structure and model potential estate tax outcomes.
• Update coverage amounts to reflect current enterprise value.
• Calendar formal valuations and document compliance.
• Revisit the plan after major events.

Let’s connect. I’ll help you evaluate your client’s buy/sell structure and recommend the best life insurance carriers and product designs to support a dynamic, compliant strategy—so you can confidently make the right recommendation to your client.

Schedule a conversation today to:

• Assess your client’s current agreement and valuation process in light of Connelly.
• Compare funding structures and select carrier/product solutions that align with estate, tax, and ownership objectives.
• Implement a repeatable annual review and coverage increase cadence your client will follow.