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In this issue:
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* LTCI pays out $1 billion
* Sales leads by zip code
* Multi-carrier platform launched
* Tool compares 529 Plans
* Broker exclusives offered
******************************************************************************
Calling all 21st century brokers - meet the demands of the new world.
Online Benefits
<p>http://www.onlinebenefits.com/21centurybrokers.htm
http://ads.tfimg.com/link.asp?webid=bna&pos=30&ord=2003122
******************************************************************************
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LTC milestone: Benefit payouts reach $1 billion mark
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the first time, more than $1 billion worth of annual benefits have
been paid to tens of thousands of Americans receiving at-home and facility
care, according data published in the magazine <I>Long-Term Care Insurance
Strategies</I>. <br><br>
“This is a very significant industry milestone considering long-term care
insurance is still a relatively new business and a considerable number of
years generally pass between the time someone buys coverage and when they
go on claim,” notes Jesse Slome, editor-in-chief of the quarterly
publication based in Westlake Village, Calif. <br><br>
The findings, published in the magazine’s year-end issue, identify Conseco
Senior Health and GE Financial as the nation’s two largest payers of LTC
insurance claims. More than 27,000 open claims were reported. <br><br>
<I>Long-Term Care Insurance Strategies</I> is the nation’s leading national
magazine for LTC insurance professionals and the official publication of
the nonprofit American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. For more
information, visit <a href="http://www.LTCSales.com">www.LTCSales.com</a> or call 1-888-599-5997.
******************************************************************************
RewardsPlus' Benefits Management Solution increases revenue opportunities
for brokers and improves the employers' bottom line through:
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Web site serves as supplemental benefits portal
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A new Web site offers independent agents and brokers sales leads in the
supplemental insurance based on their zip codes. <br><br>
The Benefit Network, a national insurance marketer in Barrington, Ill.,
specializing in voluntary benefit programs, and Norvax, a Chicago-based
Web services provider for insurance agents, have teamed up to create <a href="http://www.1st-Supplemental-Health-Insurance.com">
www.1st-Supplemental-Health-Insurance.com</a>. Other features include
plan-selection tips for new clients. <br><br>
“We think people will use the Internet to research their insurance
decisions and then turn to someone local to make a purchase, and we’re
providing that conduit,” says Chris Curie, The Benefit Network’s general
partner. He notes that the site is designed to help educate consumers
about the value of supplemental plans as well as enable agents and brokers
to capture greater market share. <br><br>
Agents who register online also will receive marketing materials,
including a report entitled “Seven Deadly Sins of Voluntary Enrollments,”
Web-based tutorials and PowerPoint presentations that educate prospects on
the value of supplemental plans. Moreover, the site can be used to field
benefit inquiries and collect commissions.
******************************************************************************
Is consumer-driven health care right for you? Find out!
Click here for the exclusive Webcast from Employee Benefit News:
http://www.benefitnews.com/webinar/ebn_webinar.cfm
http://ads.tfimg.com/link.asp?webid=bna&pos=31&ord=2003122
******************************************************************************
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bank offers multi-carrier insurance platform
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a renewed example of banks embracing benefits, Huntington National Bank
in Columbus, Ohio, is offering customers auto and homeowner’s insurance as
well as access to quotes and customer service through a customized
Internet link or toll-free phone service answered by licensed agents. <br><br>
Powering the arrangement is a partnership with Answer Financial Inc. in
Encino, Calif., which features a selection of more than top-rated 230
national insurance providers whose product offerings also include life,
health, dental, long-term care, annuities, prepaid legal services, home
warranty, vision, prescription discount plans, online banking, travel
protection and pet insurance. <br><br>
Steven Kroll, senior vice president for Answer Financial, notes that a
growing number of employers, associations, university systems and
financial institutions are exploring multi-carrier platforms. “They’re
realizing that no single carrier can fully satisfy the needs of their
diverse constituencies,” he says. <br><br>
Adds Mike Moore, president of Huntington Insurance: “We put a number of
competitive options at the customers’ fingertips with just one point of
contact.” <br><br>
Answer Financial, rated No. 1 by Yahoo! Internet Life, was selected by
Gomez.com as the best one-shop insurance shopping resource. For more
information about these services, call 1-866-930-7000 or visit
<a href="http://www.answerfinancial.com">www.answerfinancial.com</a> or <a href="http://www.huntington.com">www.huntington.com</a>.
******************************************************************************
News Service from BenefitNews.com.
Get content for you site or newsletter from BenefitNews Connect,
BenefitNews Adviser, Employee Benefit News.
Delivered weekly to your virtual doorstep!
CALL 770-935-0260
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******************************************************************************
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Free online tool compares Section 529 Plans
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A new Web-based tool allows financial advisers to quickly compare the
range of Section 529 college savings plans now offered by all 50 states.
It allows advisers to learn more about the 529 marketplace, download sales
and enrollment materials and conduct due-diligence on the products. <br><br>
The new service, free to advisers, was developed by PlanAnalytics, the
parent company of Search401k. It can generate dynamic comparisons of all
available 529 plans, based on the unique needs of an adviser’s individual
or corporate client. Advisers can then download pre-completed applications
of their clients’ beneficiaries. The service catalogs more than 70
state-sponsored 529 plans and offers enrollment options on many of the
leading plans. <br><br>
Financial adviser groups and program managers adopting the tool include
AIM, Alliance Fund Distributors, Manulife, Raymond James & Associates and
Robert W. Baird & Co. <br><br>
Using the tool, “Search529,” takes about 15 minutes. Look for it online at
<a href="http://www.search529.com">www.search529.com</a>.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Partnership provides agents exclusive leads, support
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A new partnership promises to burnish insurance sales and marketing
opportunities in the term life, impaired risk and senior markets. <br><br>
Lead.Net and United Underwriters Incorporated (UUI) have teamed up to
provide Lead.Net affiliate agents a single point of contact for exclusive
leads, case management and personalized back-office support. <br><br>
The arrangement features access to high-commission contracts with up to 20
highly rated insurance companies, including First Colony Life, Prudential
Financial and Banner Life, as well as the latest carrier and
state-specific applications, underwriting guidelines, illustration tools,
marketing tips and more. <br><br>
“We’re trying to deliver greater value to agents as part of a new and
exciting way to land new business,” explains Mark Wecker, vice president
of operations for Lead.Net in Los Angeles. <br><br>
Exeter, N.H.-based UUI is one of the nation’s oldest and largest brokerage
agencies, featuring licensing and underwriting specialists to support
Lead.Net’s growing network of more than 500 agencies nationwide. Lead.Net,
a Web-centered professional sales management tool, served more than
500,000 consumers in 2000 and delivered 20,000 policy requests. Affiliated
services include Lifeinsurance.net, Annuity.net, HealthPlan.net,
4BestQuotes.com.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Featured Articles from the Current Issue of <i>EBN</i>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<a href="http://www.benefitnews.com/detail.cfm?id=3936">CDH plans gain widespread acceptance</a> -- Three years after introduction,
consumer-driven health (CDH) plans are gaining ground among some of the
nation's largest and most prestigious employers, who are hoping the new
design will encourage patients to spend health benefit dollars more
wisely. <br><br>
<a href="http://www.benefitnews.com/detail.cfm?id=3938">Critical mass</a> -- Consolidation confronts benefit brokers and advisers as
employers demand more market clout, specialization and technological
capabilities. <br><br>
<a href="http://www.benefitnews.com/detail.cfm?id=3941">Corporate chaplains keep the faith with employees</a> -- Dallas-headquartered
Marketplace Ministries continues to grow, as HR managers, CEOs and rank
and file employees flood the office daily with inquiries about how to
obtain a chaplain for their company.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUICKPOLL
January 15, 2003 What is your sales forecast for 2003?
27%: Another tough year; flat growth or worse <br>
56%: Improving climate, moderate growth <br>
17%: Favorable conditions, solid growth
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Question:
Are you currently pursuing opportunities in Section 529 plans? <br><br>
To answer, jump to <a href="http://www.benefitnews.com/adviser">www.benefitnews.com/adviser</a>.
To answer, jump to http://www.benefitnews.com/adviser/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adviser Editor: Karen Lee (karen.lee@tfn.com)
(c) 2003 Thomson Media. No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced
without the written permission of the publisher.
Every Wednesday, BenefitNews.com Adviser delivers the hottest benefits
industry news, trends and ideas. We welcome your comments at
adviser@benefitnews.com, and encourage you to submit questions for our
QuickPoll. Read past issues of Adviser at www.benefitnews.com.
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<td class="dateKO">January 22, 2003</td>
</tr>
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<td><!--Begin in this Issue --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0"
width="351" name="Headlines">
<TBODY> <tr>
<td nowrap><a href="#1" class="head1">•
LTCI pays out $1 billion</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/spacer.gif"
width="1" height="2" name="undefined_2"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap><a href="#2" class="head1">•
Sales leads by zip code</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/spacer.gif"
width="1" height="2" name="undefined_2"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap><a href="#3" class="head1">•
Multi-carrier platform launched</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/spacer.gif"
width="1" height="2" name="undefined_2"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap><a href="#4" class="head1">•
Tool compares 529 Plans</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/spacer.gif"
width="1" height="2" name="undefined_2"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap><a href="#5" class="head1">•
Broker exclusives offered</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/spacer.gif"
width="1" height="2" name="undefined_2"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" height="4"><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/fade_rule2.gif"
width="346" height="4"></td>
</tr>
</TBODY> </table>
<p><!--Headline table ends --></p>
</td>
</tr>
</TBODY> </table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" colspan="3"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="584"><!--begin Stories here --> <table border="0"
cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<TBODY> <tr>
<td class="head2"><a name="1"></a>LTC milestone:
Benefit payouts reach $1 billion mark </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="text11">For the first time, more than
$1 billion worth of annual benefits have been
paid to tens of thousands of Americans receiving
at-home and facility care, according data
published in the magazine <i>Long-Term Care
Insurance Strategies</i>. <br>
<br>
“This is a very significant industry
milestone considering long-term care insurance is
still a relatively new business and a
considerable number of years generally pass
between the time someone buys coverage and when
they go on claim,” notes Jesse Slome,
editor-in-chief of the quarterly publication
based in Westlake Village, Calif. <br>
<br>
The findings, published in the magazine’s
year-end issue, identify Conseco Senior Health
and GE Financial as the nation’s two largest
payers of LTC insurance claims. More than 27,000
open claims were reported. <br>
<br>
<i>Long-Term Care Insurance Strategies</i> is the
nation’s leading national magazine for LTC
insurance professionals and the official
publication of the nonprofit American Association
for Long-Term Care Insurance. For more
information, visit <a
href="http://www.LTCSales.com">www.LTCSales.com</a>
or call 1-888-599-5997. </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="middle"><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/fade_story.gif"
width="346" height="4"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="middle"><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/spacer.gif"
width="346" height="4"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="head2"><a name="2"></a>Web site serves
as supplemental benefits portal</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="text11">A new Web site offers
independent agents and brokers sales leads in the
supplemental insurance based on their zip codes. <br>
<br>
The Benefit Network, a national insurance
marketer in Barrington, Ill., specializing in
voluntary benefit programs, and Norvax, a
Chicago-based Web services provider for insurance
agents, have teamed up to create <a
href="http://www.1st-Supplemental-Health-Insurance.com">www.1st-Supplemental-Health-Insurance.com</a>.
Other features include plan-selection tips for
new clients. <br>
<br>
“We think people will use the Internet to
research their insurance decisions and then turn
to someone local to make a purchase, and
we’re providing that conduit,” says
Chris Curie, The Benefit Network’s general
partner. He notes that the site is designed to
help educate consumers about the value of
supplemental plans as well as enable agents and
brokers to capture greater market share. <br>
<br>
Agents who register online also will receive
marketing materials, including a report entitled
“Seven Deadly Sins of Voluntary
Enrollments,” Web-based tutorials and
PowerPoint presentations that educate prospects
on the value of supplemental plans. Moreover, the
site can be used to field benefit inquiries and
collect commissions. </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="middle"><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/fade_story.gif"
width="346" height="4"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="middle"><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/spacer.gif"
width="346" height="4"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="head2"><a name="3"></a>Bank offers
multi-carrier insurance platform</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="text11">In a renewed example of banks
embracing benefits, Huntington National Bank in
Columbus, Ohio, is offering customers auto and
homeowner’s insurance as well as access to
quotes and customer service through a customized
Internet link or toll-free phone service answered
by licensed agents. <br>
<br>
Powering the arrangement is a partnership with
Answer Financial Inc. in Encino, Calif., which
features a selection of more than top-rated 230
national insurance providers whose product
offerings also include life, health, dental,
long-term care, annuities, prepaid legal
services, home warranty, vision, prescription
discount plans, online banking, travel protection
and pet insurance. <br>
<br>
Steven Kroll, senior vice president for Answer
Financial, notes that a growing number of
employers, associations, university systems and
financial institutions are exploring
multi-carrier platforms. “They’re
realizing that no single carrier can fully
satisfy the needs of their diverse
constituencies,” he says. <br>
<br>
Adds Mike Moore, president of Huntington
Insurance: “We put a number of competitive
options at the customers’ fingertips with
just one point of contact.” <br>
<br>
Answer Financial, rated No. 1 by Yahoo! Internet
Life, was selected by Gomez.com as the best
one-shop insurance shopping resource. For more
information about these services, call
1-866-930-7000 or visit <a
href="http://wwwanswerfinancial.com">www.answerfinancial.com</a>
or <a href="http://www.huntington.com">www.huntington.com</a>.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="middle"><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/fade_story.gif"
width="346" height="4"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="middle"><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/spacer.gif"
width="346" height="4"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="head2"><a name="4"></a>Free online
tool compares Section 529 Plans</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="text11">A new Web-based tool allows
financial advisers to quickly compare the range
of Section 529 college savings plans now offered
by all 50 states. It allows advisers to learn
more about the 529 marketplace, download sales
and enrollment materials and conduct
due-diligence on the products. <br>
<br>
The new service, free to advisers, was developed
by PlanAnalytics, the parent company of
Search401k. It can generate dynamic comparisons
of all available 529 plans, based on the unique
needs of an adviser’s individual or
corporate client. Advisers can then download
pre-completed applications of their clients’
beneficiaries. The service catalogs more than 70
state-sponsored 529 plans and offers enrollment
options on many of the leading plans. <br>
<br>
Financial adviser groups and program managers
adopting the tool include AIM, Alliance Fund
Distributors, Manulife, Raymond James &
Associates and Robert W. Baird & Co. <br>
<br>
Using the tool, “Search529,” takes
about 15 minutes. Look for it online at <a
href="http://www.search529.com">www.search529.com</a>.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="middle"><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/fade_story.gif"
width="346" height="4"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="middle"><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/spacer.gif"
width="346" height="4"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="head2"><a name="5"></a>Partnership
provides agents exclusive leads, support</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="text11">A new partnership promises to
burnish insurance sales and marketing
opportunities in the term life, impaired risk and
senior markets. <br>
<br>
Lead.Net and United Underwriters Incorporated
(UUI) have teamed up to provide Lead.Net
affiliate agents a single point of contact for
exclusive leads, case management and personalized
back-office support. <br>
<br>
The arrangement features access to
high-commission contracts with up to 20 highly
rated insurance companies, including First Colony
Life, Prudential Financial and Banner Life, as
well as the latest carrier and state-specific
applications, underwriting guidelines,
illustration tools, marketing tips and more. <br>
<br>
“We’re trying to deliver greater value
to agents as part of a new and exciting way to
land new business,” explains Mark Wecker,
vice president of operations for Lead.Net in Los
Angeles. <br>
<br>
Exeter, N.H.-based UUI is one of the
nation’s oldest and largest brokerage
agencies, featuring licensing and underwriting
specialists to support Lead.Net’s growing
network of more than 500 agencies nationwide.
Lead.Net, a Web-centered professional sales
management tool, served more than 500,000
consumers in 2000 and delivered 20,000 policy
requests. Affiliated services include
Lifeinsurance.net, Annuity.net, HealthPlan.net,
4BestQuotes.com. </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="middle"><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/fade_story.gif"
width="346" height="4"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="middle"><img
src="http://benefitnews.com/images/adviser/spacer.gif"
width="346" height="4"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="head2"><a name="6"></a>Featured
Articles from the Current Issue of <i>EBN</i></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="text11"><a
href="http://www.benefitnews.com/detail.cfm?id=3936">CDH
plans gain widespread acceptance</a> -- Three
years after introduction, consumer-driven health
(CDH) plans are gaining ground among some of the
nation's largest and most prestigious employers,
who are hoping the new design will encourage
patients to spend health benefit dollars more
wisely. <br>
<br>
<a
href="http://www.benefitnews.com/detail.cfm?id=3938">Critical
mass</a> -- Consolidation confronts benefit
brokers and advisers as employers demand more
market clout, specialization and technological
capabilities. <br>
<br>
<a
href="http://www.benefitnews.com/detail.cfm?id=3941">Corporate
chaplains keep the faith with employees</a> --
Dallas-headquartered Marketplace Ministries
continues to grow, as HR managers, CEOs and rank
and file employees flood the office daily with
inquiries about how to obtain a chaplain for
their company. </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="middle"><img
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<td colspan="2"
width="100%"><img
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<font class="ver11norbla"> Are you currently
pursuing opportunities in
Section 529 plans?</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
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src="http://www.benefitnews.com/images/spacer.gif"
width="0" height="10"></td>
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<td><input type="radio"
name="Q1" value="1"><font class="ver10nordar">Aggressively
marketing</font> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><input type="radio"
name="Q1" value="2"><font class="ver10nordar">Available
but not promoting</font> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><input type="radio"
name="Q1" value="3"><font class="ver10nordar">No
interest</font> <br>
<img
src="http://www.benefitnews.com/images/spacer.gif"
width="0" height="10"><br>
<input type="image" name
src="http://www.benefitnews.com/images/vote.gif"
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value="Submit Vote"><br>
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<td align="middle"><a
href="http://www.benefitnews.com/askquick.cfm"><font class="ver10nordar">Suggest</font><font class="ver10norbla"></a>
• </font><a
href="http://www.benefitnews.com/adviser/qparc.cfm"><font class="ver10nordar">Archives</font></a></td>
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border="0"></a><br>
</p>
<p align="left"><font color="#000000" size="1"
face="Arial">RewardsPlus' Benefits Management
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<p align="left"><font color="#000000" size="1"
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<p align="left"><font color="#000000" size="1"
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<p align="center"><font color="#FF0000" size="1"
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<p><font color="#000000" size="1" face="Arial"><br>
</font></p>
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<tr>
<td><br>
<p><font class="ver11norbla"><b>Results From last weeks Quick Poll </b><br>
<br>
<b>January 15, 2003</b> <br>
<br>
What is your sales forecast for 2003? <br>
<br>
27%: Another tough year; flat growth or worse <br>
56%: Improving climate, moderate growth <br>
17%: Favorable conditions, solid growth </font></p>
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href="http://ads.tfimg.com/link.asp?webid=bna&pos=31&ord=2003122"><img
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</p>
<p><font color="#FF0000" size="1" face="Arial">Click
image above for more information.</font></p>
<p><br>
</p>
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href="http://ads.tfimg.com/link.asp?webid=bna&pos=32&ord=2003122"><img
src="http://ads.tfimg.com/image.asp?webid=bna&pos=32&ord=2003122"
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<p><font color="#FF0000" size="1" face="Arial">Click
image above for more information.</font></p>
<p><br>
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<td><p align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2"
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Adviser Editor: </b></font><a
href="mailto:karen.lee@tfn.com"><font color="#000000"
size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Karen Lee</b></font></a><font
color="#000000" size="2"
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p><font color="#000000" size="2"
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(c) 2003 Thomson
Media. No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced
without the written permission of the publisher.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font color="#000000" size="2"
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Every Wednesday,
BenefitNews.com Adviser delivers the hottest benefits
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at </font><a href="mailto:adviser@benefitnews.com"><font
color="#000000" size="2"
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">adviser@benefitnews.com</font></a><font
color="#000000" size="2"
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to submit questions for our QuickPoll. Read past issues
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<a><font color="#000000" size="2"
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">www.benefitnews.com</font></a><font
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