November 12, 2002 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The
Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (USA) (Manulife USA)
introduced a MLI Solutions software module for advisors
interested in learning more about life insurance in
retirement planning.
According to a news media release, the Life Insurance in
Retirement Planning module illustrates how using variable
universal life insurance can provide an alternative to
tax-deferred growth potential for clients.
With this module, producers can look at some of the
benefits of variable life insurance versus other retirement
savings options, Manulife said.
MLI Solutions has estate and retirement planning
modules, as well as business planning modules.
Each module has its own sales package complete with
marketing tools, PowerPoint presentations, and technical
resources, the announcement said.
Multinationals Mostly Gloomy About 2003, Fewer
Hiring
December 10, 2002 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - When
executives at US multinational companies gaze into their
crystal balls, many don't see a lot to sing for joy about, a
new survey found.
The latest PricewaterhouseCoopers Management Barometer
survey found that executives’ often darkening mood is
translating into their business practices. For example, 33%
of respondents expect to add workers over the next 12
months, down from last quarter’s estimate of 43%, and the
35% estimated a year ago.
Average work force growth is projected to be flat —
just 0.6% in the year ahead-compared to 0.7% both in the
prior quarter and a year ago.
The amount of general economic gloominess is growing,
the survey found, with 48% of senior executives optimistic
about the economy in the next year. That’s down sharply
from the 69% who had described themselves as optimistic for
the first and second quarters of 2002.
The survey also found that about a third of senior
executives believe the US economy is growing, down from 37%
from the second quarter of this year.
Executives said they are receiving mixed signals from
international markets. Only 40% are optimistic about the
direction of the world economy over the next 12 months –
down from 56% in the prior quarter. Some 37% reported an
increase in overseas sales, while 14% said overseas sales
dropped.
Management Barometer panelists said lack of demand,
cited by 47%, is the foremost barrier to growth over the
next 12 months. Some 28% cited concerns over decreasing
profitability, followed by the 27% who mentioned
legislative or regulatory pressures. Some 9% mentioned the
impact of foreign exchange.
Expected Revenue Fall
Companies represented in the Management Barometer survey
have modestly reduced their revenue growth expectations for
calendar 2002 to 5.9%. That’s from 6% and 6.3%,
respectively, in the prior two quarters. Looking ahead over
the next 12 months, they are now targeting growth of 7.2%,
down from the prior quarter’s heady goal of 9.7%, the PwC
poll said.
New investments have been scaled back along with revenue
targets. Specifically:
35% now expect to make major new investments of
capital in the year ahead — off from 43% in the prior
quarter, and 38% a year ago.
Their planned spending averages 8% of revenues, down
sharply from 9.8 % in the prior quarter and closer to
their cautious 7.8% of a year ago.
Those planning new investments are among the more
vibrant businesses, targeting 10.3% revenue growth for
the year ahead, versus 5.6% for all others. Likewise,
those planning new hiring expect to achieve growth of
11.4%, versus 5.2% for the rest.
Management Barometer panelists also reported:
gross margins were up for 37%, and down for
19%
costs were down for 30%, but up for 17%
prices were up for 16%, but down for 21%.
PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Management Barometer is a
quarterly survey of executives in large multinational
businesses The latest survey covered 155 US-based CFOs
and Managing Directors in the third quarter of 2002. For
more information about Barometer surveys, go to
this Web site
.
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