Investment Product and Service Launches

Allianz Life Introduces New Features for Allianz Index Advantage+ Variable Annuities  

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America introduced significant enhancements to its Allianz Index Advantage suite of Registered Index Linked Annuities.  

• Allianz Index Advantage+ Variable annuity now includes enhanced performance lock flexibility and more simple crediting method terminology. 
• Allianz Index Advantage + Income Variable Annuity’s income multiplier benefit allows investors to withdraw up to twice their annual maximum income payment. 
• Allianz Index Advantage+ NF Variable Annuity, with the index performance strategy, gives clients long-term growth potential and participation rates that allow the potential for a higher performance credit than the index return. 

“Clients are looking for growth potential with a flexible level of protection on the downside. Our Index Advantage + series offers all of that combined with enhanced flexibility and simplicity,” said Corey Walther, Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC’s president, in a statement. 

Brighthouse Financial Enhances Shield Level Annuities Product Suite 

Brighthouse Financial, Inc. announced it has introduced new enhancements to its Shield Level Annuities Product Suite. 

The enhancements include the launch of Shield Options with Step Rate Edge, which provides additional growth opportunities in certain down markets, helping clients keep their plans for retirement on track. 

“For many people preparing for retirement, market volatility remains a top concern,” said Myles Lambert, chief distribution and marketing officer at Brighthouse Financial, in a statement. “That is why we are pleased to introduce Shield Options with Step Rate Edge, which are designed to provide clients with the potential for growth in certain down markets and help them better meet their retirement goals.”  

Tufts Medicine Partners with meQuilibrium to Support Employee Emotional Health  

Tufts Medicine has selected meQuilibrium, to support the mental well-being of its employees within its health system.  

Tufts Medicine health system employees can now access meQuilibrium, a digital helping users understand the thinking patterns and habits that cause them to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or burned out. Real-time access to data and analytics allows Tufts Medicine to impact targeted behavior change. 

“The healthcare industry is facing unprecedented levels of stress, compassion fatigue, absenteeism, burnout and attrition,” said Jan Bruce, meQuilibrium’s CEO and co-founder, in a statement. “Tufts Medicine is prioritizing its employees’ well-being and we are glad they have chosen our science-based resilience platform to meet the needs of their employees, prevent burnout and reduce turnover. They are taking measures to care of their employees, just as they care for others.” 

The AmeriFlex Group Launches Financial Planning Solution 

The AmeriFlex Group announced the launch of AmeriFlex Premier+ financial planning solution to help clients envision the outcome of their planning goals. 

The solution generates a series of “what-if” scenarios reflecting transitional situations clients face throughout their lives: retirement, purchase or sale of a home or business, divorce or loss of a loved one. It offers advisers the ability to provide customized service without the expense and complexities of maintaining a transitional wealth planning platform on their own. 

“AmeriFlex Premier+ is an innovation that answers a real need. For advisers, it’s a cost-effective and scalable solution that drives personalized planning guidance across a diverse client base. For clients, we’ve built a ‘bridge’ to easily envision the outcome of their planning goals,” said Thomas Goodson, AmeriFlex’s CEO and founder, in a statement.   

J.P. Morgan Asset Management Adds Two Index Strategies to Tax-Smart Platform 

J.P. Morgan Asset Management announced the expansion of its Tax-Smart Platform, powered by 55ip, with the addition of two new index strategies delivering portfolio customization. 

• Tax Smart – U.S. All Cap Index Strategy invests in a subset of the Russell 3000 index, providing broad exposure to U.S. traded stocks in a tax-smart manner. 
• Tax Smart – U.S. Carbon Transition Index Strategy invests in a subset of the JPMAM Carbon Transition U.S. Equity Index. It provides exposure to U.S. traded stocks of companies positioned to benefit from a transition to a lower carbon economy in a tax-smart manner. 

“The J.P. Morgan Tax-Smart platform gives investors access to a unique combination of customization and scalability, and we are pleased to offer clients access to two new index strategies,” said Steve Kaplan, head of customized managed account solutions at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, in a statement.