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The LIC Bullet
Straight to the point!
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August 2026
Preparing for the Shift into Fourth Gear
By Dean Lambert
Executive Director, LIC
You can feel it, can’t you? The calendar may still say summer, but the signs of Q4 are starting to pop up everywhere.
College drop-offs. First-day photos from kindergarten through high school. Yellowing lawns despite higher water bills. The list of “before winter” chores at the lake house. All those happy distractions are about to move into the rearview mirror, and our hands are settling back on the wheel. Before long, it will be time to shift into high gear and finish the year with intention. So, how ready do you feel?
That is where a cyclical strategic planning strategy becomes very important....
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Industry News
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LIC and InsuraTec Launch Change Management Summit
What’s keeping insurance leaders up at night? Increasingly, it’s change.
Join us October 7 – 8 in Atlanta for the inaugural LIC Change Management Summit, designed for small to midsize life insurance company leaders and hosted by InsuraTec. Through expert insights and hands-on workshops, attendees will gain practical tools, frameworks, and strategies to lead successful organizational change, modernize operations, and build lasting change management capabilities.
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SILAC and The Index Standard Advance FIA Renewal Rate Transparency
SILAC Insurance Company is collaborating with The Index Standard to introduce an independent assessment of historical fixed indexed annuity renewal rate performance. The initiative is intended to improve transparency and provide consumers and advisors with additional insight into insurer renewal-rate practices.
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Boston Mutual Expands BML Connect Platform Nationwide
Boston Mutual Life has expanded availability of its BML Connect digital enrollment and self-service platform across nearly all of the United States. The cloud-based platform is designed to simplify enrollment, policy administration, and benefits management for brokers, employers, and policyholders.
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National Life Sees Opportunity in the Middle Market
A recent ThinkAdvisor article featured National Life Group CEO Mehran Assadi, highlighting growth opportunities in the underserved middle-income market.
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Gallagher Re Releases Global InsurTech Report for Q2 2026
Gallagher Re's latest InsurTech report focuses on long-term risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence, including data centers and the infrastructure being built to support AI.
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New LIC Emerging Leaders Group Meets in Québec
The new LIC Emerging Leaders Group gathered in Québec in August 2026 for their inaugural meeting in conjunction with the LIC CEO Forum. This referral-only forum was created to immerse future insurance company executives in a high-impact peer networking environment that will sharpen their leadership perspective and build lasting connections such as those that have benefited LIC CEO Forum members for many years.
LIC Emerging Leaders Group, Québec, August 2026
Top row: Tom Ciavarella, Converge Re; Michelle Niemec, NGL; Brett Giacco, Liberty Bankers; Travis Harrelson, TruStage; Laurie Covington, Homesteaders. Bottom row: Courtney Hagmaier, LCBA Life; Sophie Clarke, SWBC Life; Anne Paschal, Catholic Life. Not shown: Grant Haggard, Universal Fidelity Life.
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Questions Grow Around Annuity Issuer Economics
ThinkAdvisor examined the pressures facing multi-year guaranteed annuity providers, including competitive pricing dynamics, asset management considerations, and broader profitability challenges within the market.
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Selected Independent Funeral Homes and NFDA Announce Merger
The National Funeral Directors Association and Selected Independent Funeral Homes announced plans to combine their organizations. The move brings together two longstanding and influential funeral-service organizations with significant educational, advocacy, and industry leadership roles.
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AM Best Affirms NGL’s A (Excellent) Financial Strength Rating
AM Best affirmed NGL Insurance Company’s A (Excellent) rating, citing the company’;s strong ability to meet ongoing policyholder obligations and maintain financial strength.
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Fitch Highlights Governance Risks in Complex Life Insurance Structures
Fitch Ratings warned that growing exposure to private credit, affiliated asset managers, and complex investment and reinsurance arrangements is increasing governance and transparency risks for life insurers. The agency indicated these issues could become increasingly important credit-rating considerations.
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AFBA Modernizes Life Claims Processing with Benekiva
The Armed Forces Benefit Association has modernized its life insurance claims process through Benekiva's technology platform, reflecting ongoing efforts across the industry to improve beneficiary experiences and streamline claims administration.
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Bestow Launches AI-Focused Innovation Team
Bestow announced the creation of Bestow Labs, a dedicated team focused on developing AI-native products for life and annuity insurers. The move supports the company's strategy to expand digital capabilities as carriers modernize operations.
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Study Examines Risks of Private Equity Ownership in Life Insurance
A new academic paper examines how private-equity-owned life insurers use private credit investments and explores potential implications for policyholders, competitors, regulators, and guaranty associations.
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Canvas Expands Direct-to-Consumer Annuity Strategy
InsuranceNewsNet examined Canvas Annuity's launch of a new 10-year MYGA and the broader challenge of building a successful direct-to-consumer annuity market.
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 Al Whitmer Joins NGL as Chief Preneed Distribution Officer
NGL appointed industry veteran Al Whitmer as Senior Vice President and Chief Preneed Distribution Officer. Whitmer brings more than two decades of leadership experience in insurance distribution and sales strategy.
NGL Promotes Preneed Sales Execs Heins and Fish
NGL promoted Robert Heins and Tim Fish to Vice President, Sales & Business Development, strengthening the company's leadership team within its preneed business.
 Patrick Juarez Retires from NGL
NGL Chief Business Development Officer Patrick Juarez retired August 14, 2026, following more than a decade of leadership with the company.
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 Zinnia Names Key Kiarie Chief Financial Officer
Zinnia appointed Key Kiarie as Chief Financial Officer as the company continues scaling its life and annuity technology platform and expanding its carrier and distributor client base.
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 Security National Financial Names Alissa Neufeld Chief Legal Officer
Security National Financial Corporation appointed Alissa Neufeld as Chief Legal Officer, adding additional leadership depth as the company continues to grow its insurance and related businesses.
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Practical Applications: An LIC Conversation about Artificial Intelligence
LIC's July AI webinar featured former Executive Director Jeff Shaw and members Eric Johannson (COO, Liberty Bankers) and Chris Campbell (CEO, BetterLife) as they discussed real-world AI use cases, implementation strategies, and opportunities for small-to-midsize life insurers. The recording is available on demand at the link below.
This fall, LIC will launch a new AI users group for members to share resources and ideas. Contact lic@loma.org to request notifications.
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AI in Industry News
AI Will Reshape Insurance Economics (McKinsey)
A new McKinsey analysis argues that artificial intelligence has the potential to fundamentally reshape the economics of insurance across underwriting, distribution, service, and operations. The report concludes that competitive advantages will increasingly accrue to insurers, distributors, and technology providers that move quickly to integrate AI into their business models while maintaining appropriate governance and oversight.
READ THE ARTICLE
Other News
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Upcoming LIC Events
There’s still time to save with bundle pricing for insurance companies and fraternals. LIC Members and AFA-Member fraternal organizations can prepay (21+ days in advance) for multiple fall events with discounted rates:
Insurance Companies | AFA-Member Fraternals
LIC Investment & Capital Management Forum
Hosted by Catholic Life, San Antonio, TX
September 23 – 24, 2026
2026 LIMRA Annual Conference
Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine, TX
September 27 – 29, 2026
LIC Members qualify for member registration rates.
LIC Members Reception on opening night (RSVP here).
LIC Annuity Committee Meeting
Hosted by GCU, Beaver, PA
October 7 – 8, 2026
LIC Change Management Summit
Hosted by InsuraTec, Atlanta, GA
October 21 – 22, 2026
LIC Preneed Forum
Hosted by TruStage, Madison, WI
November 4 – 5, 2026
LIC Laws & Legislation Conference Call
November 10, 2026, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Mark Your Calendar: LIC Winter CEO Forum
Reserved for Insurance Company CEOs
Sawgrass Mariott, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
February 2 – 3, 2027
Mark Your Calendar: LIC Annual Conference
Sawgrass Mariott, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
February 3 – 5, 2027
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LIC 2026 Premier Sponsors
Thank you to our LIC Premier Sponsors, who support all of LIC's activities throughout the year.
 Parkway Advisors
Parkway Advisors is focused on being the best and most respected provider of service in the insurance industry. Parkway offers asset management, consulting, and statutory investment reporting services that are customized to the needs of each insurance client. Through Parkway’s emphasis on personal service, custom solutions, and strong communication, our clients have enjoyed historically strong performance success, especially during the financial crisis and the low interest environment that has followed. www.parkwayadvisors.com
 iPipeline
iPipeline is a leading provider of low code, cloud-based software solutions for the life insurance and financial services industry. Through our SSG Digital, end-to-end platform, we provide process automation and seamless integration between every participant in our ecosystem including carriers, agents, general agencies, advisors, broker-dealers, RIAs, banks, securities/mutual fund firms, and their consumers on a global basis. Our innovative solutions include pre-sales support, new business and underwriting, policy administration, point-of-sale execution of applications, post-sale support, data analysis, reporting, user-driven configuration, consumer delivery and self-service, and agency and firm management. www.ipipeline.com
 Equisoft
Equisoft is a business-first technology company dedicated to helping insurance and wealth management organizations reach their goals. Specialized expertise: Over 25 years of experience helping small and mid-sized life insurers & fraternals solve their biggest challenges through digital transformation. www.equisoft.com
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About The LIC Bullet
The Bullet is the official e-newsletter of the Life Insurers Council, which has been providing networking and practical business solutions for life insurers since 1910. As a council of LIMRA and LOMA, LIC serves the unique needs of small to midsize member companies, offering a personal network of peers with practical solutions to shared challenges. The Bullet delivers immediate and relevant industry news and editorial.
LIC E-News Online Community: The LIC Bullet is posted in the LIC E-News online community at LICConnect, where we welcome dialogue and input from our readers. All Bullet subscribers have access to this forum, and others can request access by contacting lic@loma.org.
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