Quest CE Introduces the 2010 NAIC Suitability Regulation Solution
Released on: November 05, 2010, 2:18 pm
Author:
Alex Krenke
Industry: Financial,
Education
Quest Continuing Education Solutions (Quest CE) is proud to
announce the solution to the 2010 NAIC Suitability in Annuity
Transactions Model Regulation. Quest’s simple two-tiered approach will
provide an “All-In-One” Solution for Insurers, Distributors and
Producers that fall under the NAIC’s new regulation.
Quest’s 4-hour annuity course in Iowa has been approved by the state and meets the
Iowa Administrative Rule 191-15.72 for a one-time, four (4) hour annuity training
course requirement. In addition, this course is approved for resident CE credit. Per
the new NAIC Suitability Regulation, Quest will also provide insurer-product
specific training in their Industry Leading Learning Management System,
Renaissance.
NAIC Suitability Regulation Training through Quest allows for automated encrypted
data and completion feeds. Feeds can be sent on a daily basis or as often as the
program administrator desires. Quest’s system also allows for participants in the
program to be bulk loaded into the training platform. Ensure your programs
compliance with Quest so beginning January 1, 2011 your producers are able to sell
your annuities in Iowa.
The NAIC Suitability Regulation Training platform will provide:
• A dedicated location where a producer can complete all of their required training
requirements and view the status of each requirement within the Model Regulation;
• Updated training posted to the site subsequent to initial training including
additional State Specific Annuity Requirements as they become effective;
• A company specific branded web portal where insurers can comply with the new
regulation and update their product-specific training courses in their student
profiles;
• The ability to print completion certificates online 24/7;
• An automatic e-mail notification system allowing insurers to instantly notify
producers of new or updated product specific training requirements;
• Automated and PGP encrypted customized data feeds with real-time search tools for
insurers and Broker/Dealers to satisfy compliance requirements and training.
Quest’s NAIC Suitability Regulation Training Solution is available now and ready for
demonstration or implementation. Contact Quest at 877-593-3366 or e-mail Quest at
sales@questce.com to speak with one of our dedicated Sales Team Members about
guaranteeing your 2010 NAIC Suitability Regulation Training today.
Background
The Financial Reform Act requires individual states to comply with the 2010 NAIC
Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation (NAIC 2010) by June 16, 2013.
Passage of NAIC 2010 means that fixed annuity producers will have to follow similar
rigorous suitability standards as those imposed upon variable annuity producers,
which is regulated by FINRA. Producers selling variable annuities are required to
be licensed as registered representatives through a FINRA registered broker-dealer.
NAIC 2010 clarifies that the insurer is responsible for compliance with suitability
requirements, including the methods their producers use to market annuity products.
The producer must have "reasonable grounds" to believe that the annuity
recommendation is suitable based on 12 areas of "suitability information"
disclosed by the consumer. This information includes the consumer's:
• age,
• tax status,
• intended use of the annuity,
• financial time horizon,
• existing assets,
• source of funds for the annuity,
• other insurance and annuity products,
• investment objectives,
• liquidity needs,
• liquid net worth, and
• risk tolerance.
Producer Training Requirements Under the Model Regulation
Section 7A requires the producer to have adequate product specific training,
including compliance with the insurer’s standards for product training, prior to
soliciting an annuity product.
In addition, Section 7B requires a one time, minimum 4 (four) credit hour general
annuity training course offered by an insurance-department approved education
provider and approved by an insurance department in accordance with applicable
insurance education training laws or regulations.
For this mandated course, the provider may not train in sales or marketing
techniques or product specific information.
Section 7B(3) outlines the minimum required topics for this program of instruction,
which can be offered in the classroom or via an insurance department approved self
study method.
If a producer is licensed with a life insurance line of authority prior to the
effective date of the regulation, there is a six month grace period to comply with
the training requirements; producers who obtain the life authority on or after the
effective date of the regulation must complete the training prior to the sale of an
annuity product.
If a producer receives substantially similar training in another jurisdiction, it
would satisfy an insurance department’s training requirements. Prior to allowing a
producer to sell its annuity products, insurers shall verify the producer has
completed the mandated training.
Because the amendments clearly require insurers to verify completion of training
prior to the producer selling annuities on behalf of the insurer, the amendments
should not be interpreted to affect producer licensing reciprocity or non-resident
producer licensing processes.
About Quest
Over the past 20-plus years, Quest CE has built a reputation of being the premier
provider of Compliance Education to the financial services industry. In addition to
offering Providership Administration and insurance continuing education (CE) for
professionals holding insurance licenses and professional designations like the CFP,
CPA, CLE, CIMA and CLU/ChFC designations, Quest also provides a complete spectrum of
compliance training solutions including the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(FINRA) annually required Firm Element Training for registered representatives,
On-demand Annual Compliance Meetings, Annual Compliance Questionnaires, Needs
Analysis Surveys, Outside Business Activity Tracking, Gifts and Entertainment
Tracking and Political Contributions Tracking.
With a client retention rate of 95.17% and a growth rate of over 400% since January
1, 2005, more and more people are discovering why Quest CE is the Next Generation of
Compliance Training Solutions. Quest CE serves more than 180 leading insurance
carriers, broker/dealers, banks, and other financial institutions. Quest is a
privately held firm which allows us to quickly meet the ever-changing needs of their
clients. Quest’s commitment is to provide advanced custom solutions at cost
effective rates while providing a level of service that greatly surpasses that of
our competitors. Quest provides a single source solution for organizations training
and compliance needs, saving you both time and money.
Contact Details: Quest CE
10850 W Park Place
Suite 1000
Milwaukee, WI 53224
877-593-3366
www.questce.com
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