In 1975, Ray Ohlson laid the foundation for what would become one of the most trusted names in the insurance and financial services industry. When Ray started Ohlson and Associates as a general agent for American General Life, he didn’t just build a business — he built a family. Retreats, trips, and events created a culture of camaraderie that still lives on today. In fact, some of those early agents continue to work with us, a true testament to the enduring spirit Ray established.

By 1980, Ohlson and Associates had gone fully independent, offering not just American General, but a wide range of life insurance carriers to their growing base of loyal agents. The 1980s were a time of expansion, as Ray also launched Bessert Ohlson, a firm specializing in employee benefits and voluntary group insurance for businesses with 70 or more employees. Additionally, he founded Advisory and Financial Management Group, a fee-based financial planning firm, maintaining his Series 7 license and becoming an RIA to better serve clients' evolving needs.

In the early 1990s, Ray helped raise the capital to launch Standard Management Corporation. One of their key moves was the purchase of Standard Life of Indiana, a dormant life insurance company that Ray helped breathe new life into. For about a decade, Standard Life operated as an independent and growing player in the annuity market. Eventually, Standard Life of Indiana was purchased by Guggenheim Partners and rebranded as Guggenheim Life and Annuity. Then, years later, Guggenheim Life would evolve again into what is now known as Clear Spring Life.

A proud milestone came in 2015 when the Ohlson Group played a critical role in helping Guggenheim Life and Annuity design and create the TriVista annuity — a product that remains a strong and competitive offering today.

In February 2003, the Ohlson Group had officially reopened as an independent marketing organization (IMO). In the years that followed, the firm continued to innovate — creating new products for carriers, building point-of-sale support materials, acquiring safemoneyplaces.com, and launching the Safe Money Places Agent Network to help brand and support agents nationwide. By 2018, the Ohlson Group further expanded by developing a successful annuity lead program, which many agents reading this continue to benefit from.

In 2023, Ray Ohlson retired, turning leadership over to Nick and Joe Ohlson, who had been vital parts, and eventually partners, of the company since 2003 and 2006, respectively. Then, in 2025 — on the 50th anniversary — the Ohlson Group proudly joined forces with AmeriLife.

Today, while the Ohlson Group has even more resources behind it, it remains the same family-focused, agent-centered company that Ray founded. When you call us, you’re still talking to family — the same team that has been helping agents and clients succeed for half a century.
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Here’s to the next 50 years of the Ohlson Group! Until Next Time – Good Selling!

As of this writing—Monday, April 21st, 2025—the markets are once again in the red. The S&P 500, NASDAQ, and Dow are all down roughly 3.5% across the board, continuing a trend we’ve seen throughout this year. Volatility has become the defining theme of 2025. One day we’re up, the next we’re down. And for clients—especially those nearing or in retirement—that’s more than a rollercoaster. It’s a threat to their peace of mind.

With all this uncertainty, you may hear hesitation from clients considering fixed indexed annuities. They might ask, “What’s the point of putting money in an FIA if the markets aren’t going to earn anything?” This is where your guidance and our solutions become critical.

Let’s start with the fundamentals. When a client purchases a fixed indexed annuity in today’s high interest rate environment, they’re locking in terms that reflect these stronger rates. This means better renewal rates throughout the life of the contract—whether that’s a 5-, 7-, or 10-year surrender period. Carriers are competing for business right now, and that competition is producing real value in terms of renewing FIA strategies at or close to the rate received when the client purchased the annuity.

But here’s, in my opinion, a unique opportunity to position FIA upside potential in a down market - Performance Trigger Strategies. For those who may need a refresher, these strategies credit a fixed interest rate—currently we have carriers crediting 8% or more—if the S&P 500 is positive at all during the contract period. We’re not talking about needing double-digit growth. If the index goes up by a single tick—just 0.01%—that’s enough to trigger the full credited rate. That’s the kind of efficiency and potential upside that’s hard to ignore, especially when downside risk is fully eliminated.

Think about what you’re offering:

• Upside potential without needing a bull market
• Strong fixed rates in a rising interest environment
• Zero market downside risk
• Safe, predictable growth and guaranteed income, often enhanced by income riders and doublers

And since we’re in Indiana—basketball country—let’s put it this way: It’s playoff season. And this right here? It’s the matchup. It’s brokers versus agents. Brokers and traditional investment advisors are telling clients to “ride it out,” “stay the course,” and “this is just a paper loss.” They often mention the 4% withdrawal rule – but I bet today they are advising clients’ to “take 3% this year … “ But we know the truth: for clients who are retired or close to it, losses—paper or not—can wreck a retirement plan. They simply can’t afford to wait and hope. They want guaranteed income and we can offer 5%, 6%+ withdrawal rates for income purposes.

Now is the time to get in front of your clients and prospects. Use the volatility as the reason to schedule review appointments. Reposition the conversation around safety, predictability, and income. Emphasize the power of protecting their income base, securing a reasonable rate of return, and knowing they have guaranteed income they can’t outlive—especially with options like income doublers for those who become chronically ill or need long-term care.

Clients aren’t looking for magic. They’re looking for a plan. They’re looking for confidence. And they’re looking for someone who can make sense of all this noise and give them a game plan they can count on. You’re not just an agent—you’re the hero in this story. You have the power to beat the broker, bring certainty into an uncertain world, and guide clients into the safe money places they need to be in.

Let us help. Call us today and let’s build a personalized marketing and outreach strategy so you can take full advantage of this moment. Let’s talk product selection, case design, email marketing, appointment setting, and more. You don’t have to do this alone.

Agents and advisors, let’s take a moment to recognize the power of the work you’ve already done. Right now, while the markets are volatile, you can feel great knowing that your clients who placed their trust in you — and in safe money strategies — have not lost a penny due to market volatility.

That’s the power of the plans you put in place.

​That’s the power of you being the hero for your clients.

Right now is the perfect time to reach out to those clients who have annuities in place. Give them a call. Remind them of the great decision they made when they chose to protect their money. Remind them that their nest egg is secure, their money hasn’t lost value, and if they have lifetime income benefits, they have options that could be turned on for guaranteed income.

Face-to-face, phone, or virtual — it doesn’t matter. What matters is the reassurance you give, and the conversations you open up. Because more often than not, during these review meetings, your clients will share that they have other money sitting in volatile places — money that could be safely protected in an annuity. These conversations don’t just strengthen your relationships. They uncover opportunities. They give your clients peace of mind. And they remind your clients that you are the steady, trusted guide in uncertain times.

So be the hero today. Pick up the phone, reach out, and let your clients know:

• Their money is safe.
• Their plan is working.
• And you’re here to help them secure even more of their financial future. ​

Agents, producers, and advisors across the country — let’s face it, we are in a time of upheaval, uncertainty, and volatility in the equity markets. I know I might sound like a broken record — my recent commentaries have circled around this same theme — but the reality is this: Middle America needs our help now more than ever. 

People are anxious. They’re watching their 401(k)s and IRAs get battered by market swings. They’re seeing headlines about tariffs and wondering what it all means for their future. And while the market tumbles, we stand strong with guarantees. Clients are looking for safety. They’re looking for income they can count on. They’re looking for someone to trust — and that someone is you. 

Fixed-indexed annuities are shining right now. Interest rates are high. Our products are offering tremendous opportunities for growth without market risk. And when you pair that with a volatile stock market and an uncertain economic outlook, it’s clear — the stars are aligning. 
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We, the Safe Money Places agents, are finally in the spotlight. And in a time like this, we look like the hero. So be the hero. Pick up the phone. Reach out to those clients who said, “I want to wait until the market comes back.” You and I both know — now is the time. They’re probably already panicking and calling their current advisors. Be the calm in the storm. ​

​At the Ohlson Group, we give you the tools to win. When you work with Ohlson Group,  you’re part of the Safe Money Places agent network, you’re backed by a brand that builds trust. You can proudly display that badge on your website — because it means something. It means you’re aligned with professionals who specialize in helping retirees and pre-retirees secure their future. 

So, if you’ve got a prospect, and you’re not quite sure what to do — call us. Email us. Whether it’s a tricky case, a big case, or just someone you’re not sure how to approach, we’re here to help. Let’s make this the moment where you step up for your clients and step into your role as their financial hero. Strike while the iron’s hot. Make hay while the sun is shining. 

Give us a call today — let’s go to work. 

If you’ve ever struggled to distinguish between wants and needs, you are not alone. Sometimes we want something so intensely it feels like a need. Similarly, we may actually need something that we have dismissed as a want. For example, we may think that taking some time off work is a frivolous want and not something we should dedicate too much of our headspace to. In reality, we may be barreling towards burnout if we don’t give ourselves a break. 

It isn’t always easy to tell the difference between a need and a want or to identify the value in satisfying our needs and wants. However, understanding our needs and wants better can help us to improve our financial health and well-being. 

Anyone considering life insurance will face two challenges, how much do they need and how do they fit this want within their budget. 

Each stage of life has different needs to protect, as the illustration below shows, but how does one protect today’s needs and prepare for tomorrows? 

Life insurance is generally more affordable than most people realize. But trying to buy a life policy that will cover all the needs for an entire life would probably exceed current budget available today. How does one address those needs in a cost-effective and budget-friendly way? 

A balanced solution that uses both temporary and permanent insurance

Rather than make one policy do everything, combining two different types of policy may be a more effective and cost-efficient solution.  

• Temporary, or term, insurance provides affordable coverage for a set period of time. 
• Permanent insurance provides coverage for long-term or lifelong needs. Additional features can help provide greater flexibility in how you can use it. 

The benefit of balancing temporary and permanent insurance

Using both types of policy can address challenges concerning coverage and budget: 

• You have greater protection only while you need it. 
• You’re not paying for what you don’t need. 

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Permanent insurance can provide a base of protection, while term insurance acts as a supplement during times of greater need. A balanced solution addresses immediate and future needs without delaying the purchase of permanent insurance. 

Advantages of a balanced approach:

• Combining term and permanent policies is less expensive: Blending term and permanent coverage is generally less expensive than buying a permanent policy alone for the same amount of coverage, or buying a new term policy later in life. 
• Reducing costs: Both types of insurance are usually less expensive the younger, and healthier a person is when they purchase them. Buying one policy first, and then another later, generally, means one will pay more for the second than if they’d bought both at the same time because waiting until one is older will increase the costs. 
• Locking in coverage: Insurability is “locked in” with the permanent coverage. If health declines, valuable life insurance protection remains in place at a time when the cost of a new policy may be prohibitive or they could be unable to qualify for a new policy at all.. 
• Ease of conversion: If one needs more permanent insurance at a later time, they might be able to convert part or all of your term coverage to permanent, without another medical exam. 
• Supplemental income: Some permanent policies, in addition to the death benefit, potentially accumulate cash value, which can be used to supplement income, and in most cases on income tax free basis.  

Work with The Ohlson Group and Levon Justice to find the right type and amount of life insurance for your client's needs. Together, we can find the right balance for your client's life insurance needs.