Agents in the field—let me keep this brief.

We are in a unique window of opportunity right now. Yesterday, the Fed made headlines by holding interest rates steady. And while that decision might be a setback for first-time homebuyers, it’s tremendous news for our business.

Why? Because it means our annuity rates, our caps, and our MYGA rates remain strong—not just competitive, but compelling.

Take a look at what we’ve got on the table:

• Income riders with doublers for not just single lives, but joint coverage
• 10-year fixed indexed annuities offering bonuses north of 20%—with no fees
• True long-term care annuities that pay tax-free benefits for LTC events—plus strong accumulation growth even if care isn’t needed
• Single premium life products that are back in a big way—simplified issue, no med exams, no hassle. Return of premium guarantees and chronic illness benefits. 

We highly recommend you have a brand for your business. That is why we purchased www.SafeMoneyPlaces.com, a platform we acquired over 15 years ago because we believe in branding and credibility. We offer custom Safe Money Places-themed  websites for our agents, complete with a badge that says:

“I am a Proud Member of the Safe Money Places Agent Network.”

And let me be clear:
This isn’t about churning business. This is about professional repositioning—helping your clients refinance their retirement into a better, stronger, more flexible plan for the road ahead.

Many of you likely wrote a ton of annuity policies in 2020 and 2021. If your clients are sitting in contracts with caps at 2% or 3%, we all know those aren’t going up anytime soon. But now? We can take them out of those underperforming annuities and give them a premium bonus, better caps, and stronger long-term upside thanks to this high-rate environment.

The pressure’s mounting on the Fed. GDP is strong. Inflation may be slowing. But who knows what the next Fed meeting brings?

What we know is this:
We’ve got another quarter to lead the conversation with confidence. MYGAs, FIAs, and income riders are as strong as ever—and now’s the time to strike. I say it all the time, but I mean it every time: This is your chance to be the hero.

Go rescue those tired old annuities. Call us for help—we’re ready. And as always, we deeply appreciate your partnership and your business.

There are times in this business when you can coast — and there are times when you need to go to war - metaphysically!

Right now? It’s the latter.

We are in Separation Season.

Now usually, I say Separation Season begins in January. That’s when the top agents tend to kick into high gear while others are still "getting ready" for the new year . And guess what? That’s our cue. But this year is different. The stakes are too high - economically, politically even culturally. Volatility is everywhere. Clients are confused and those folks in "middle America" are desperate for a helping hand. And guess what - that is our cue!

Because in chaotic times, people crave leadership. They need clarity and are looking for guarantees, not maybes. And as annuity agents, we’ve got the products, strategies, and the weaponry to help clients. Ask them - "What keeps you at night? When you put your foot on the floor when you get out bed in the morning - what financial concerns do you have?" Take that cue from your prospect and feel confident that you are the one who can be the hero and complete their dream retirement. 

Let’s take stock of the arsenal available to you right now:

​Roth Conversion Power Plays – You can help clients reposition tax-deferred IRAs into tax-free income streams for life, and many carriers are making it seamless with built-in platforms and calculators. We can walk you through the process step-by-step.

Double-Digit Premium Bonuses – Yes, they’re real, and yes, we’ve got them. These can be a powerful tool for repositioning underperforming assets — especially annuities bought years ago at 2-3% fixed rates.

Double-Digit Cap Rates – Indexed crediting strategies with caps over 10%, on the S&P and other volatility-controlled indices. Some of these products offer zero spreads and strong par rates, too.

Fixed Rates in the 10% Neighborhood – You read that right. There are FIAs right now with first-year fixed buckets offering north of 10%. That’s the kind of guaranteed yield your clients didn’t think existed anymore.

Income Riders – Guaranteed income for life continues to be the biggest fear point for those in or nearing retirement age. FIAs with guaranteed lifetime income riders are hotter than ever. There are even one or two carriers that have income increases built-in to the product - without taking a lower initial payout. Let us know if you would like to learn more about this FIA that helps keep up with inflation!

Chronic Illness and Nursing Home Protection – It’s more than just accumulation and income. The right contracts offer enhanced benefits for long-term care triggers, with no underwriting and no monthly premiums. And a handful of carriers will allow the income to double on a joint basis! Again - contact us for more information on this topic as well.

Look, clients with money in money markets earning 4.3% or 5% might think they’re doing fine — but they’re not seeing the big picture. They’re trading short-term yield for long-term uncertainty. We’ve got MYGAs that beat the banks, and FIAs that crush them, all with safety, guarantees, and the potential for even more upside.

Just look below at some of the weaponry in your arsenal:

• Guaranteed income client's can’t outlive
• Safe accumulation with no downside risk
• Protection for life events that will happen to many —About 70% of folks age 65 or older will need some form of long term care during their lifetime. 

At The Ohlson Group, we don’t just give you access to great products. We give you reasons to move to us. Our Quarterly Incentive Program rewards producers who step up — write $250,000 or more in paid FIA premium (or life equivalent), and you’re in the bonus pool. And the more you write, the more we pay you. Make us break the bank!

Take a moment to look around.

Turn on the news—wars are raging across continents, natural disasters are upending communities, economies are teetering, and a sense of unease seems to permeate nearly every corner of daily life. To call these times volatile almost feels like an understatement. This is a world where nothing feels certain, and for many people—especially those who have worked diligently to build a modest nest egg—there is a gnawing fear that what they’ve saved could be swept away in the next wave of crisis.

And while these savers are doing everything right—living within their means, putting money aside, and planning for tomorrow—they often find themselves ignored. Many big brokerage houses won’t even return their calls unless they have the “right” amount of assets under management, as if financial security were a club you have to qualify to join.

But here’s the truth: You don’t need to be a billionaire to deserve the dignity of a secure retirement. You don’t need to have a mansion on the coast to deserve protection and guarantees. And you certainly don’t have to entrust your life savings to the whims of Wall Street’s ups and downs to have a plan.

This is where you come in.

You have the opportunity—and I’d argue the responsibility—to be the light in the dark for your clients. To be the hero who shows up with solutions that are simple, elegant, and strong enough to withstand whatever the world throws at them.

Solutions that:

• Guarantee income for life—so clients know their lifestyle is protected no matter how long they live.
• Provide tax-free income—so they can access cash when they need it most without Uncle Sam taking the first cut.
• Offer guaranteed growth and principal protection—so the nest egg they worked so hard to build doesn’t evaporate in the next downturn.

​
I’m not going to list every product we represent—you know we have a full suite of options—but consider just a few of the powerful tools at your disposal:

• Carriers offering 14% index caps on the S&P 500® and NASDAQ®.
• Fixed-indexed annuities with a 10% first-year fixed rate, plus innovative index strategies to capture additional upside.
• The strength of A-rated and A+ rated companies standing behind every promise.

This is why right now is the best time in recent memory to pick up the phone, send the email, or schedule that review appointment. Clients are hungry for clarity. They’re hungry for certainty. And they are desperate for someone they can trust to be the shield in the storm of tumult we’re all living through. Need marketing help? Contact us and we can get you set up on an annuity lead program or discuss seminar/workshop ideas. 

As they say in Chicago - "Let's Get Some Runs!"