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Iowa Proclamation Signing Ceremony Held

Resolving to designate June as National Annuity Awareness Month

For nearly a decade, the Coalition for Annuity Awareness Month has been working to expand the reach of its messaging to more elected officials, industry professionals and consumers, ultimately to better our collective retirement future. One avenue for doing so has been through the pursuit of government acknowledgment of the initiative, both at the state and federal levels. Today, Sen. Moran (R-KS) sponsored the introduction of a federal resolution in the Senate designating June as National Annuity Awareness Month.

S.Res.695 designates June as National Annuity Awareness Month and calls on the United States and other public and private entities to observe the Month with appropriate programs and activities.

This marks a major win for the Coalition and its constituencies. It comes in part thanks to the efforts of many in-state sponsors who have helped us obtain 24 state proclamations, as well as proclamations in Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, through annual direct requests. This momentum reinforces the need for consumers to have access to objective, factual data about annuities and the benefits.

Throughout the next year, we will be working to obtain a Democrat co-sponsor of the Senate resolution, and to identify a bipartisan group of Representatives to pursue a companion resolution in the House. We continue to make great strides in this critical work and would like to extend a sincere “thank you” to Sen. Moran and his team, as well as all the individuals who helped us take this big step forward in our journey.

Iowa Proclamation Signing Ceremony Held

Coalition member Wink, Inc. attends Iowa proclamation signing ceremony

Wink Inc. Receives Iowa Proclamation Declaring June Annuity Awareness Month

PLEASANT HILL, IOWA (June 1, 2015) — On May 28 at 2:00 p.m., Sheryl J. Moore, CEO of Moore Market Intelligence, accepted Iowa’s proclamation that June be recognized as “Annuity Awareness Month” at a formal signing ceremony held at the Iowa state capitol with Governor Terry Branstad. Iowa became the first state to proclaim National Annuity Awareness Month by providing its verbal commitment on April 21, urging citizens to learn more about annuities and their benefits in retirement planning.

Ms. Moore was accompanied by her staff at Wink, Inc. during the proclamation ceremony. Wink is Moore’s company that distributes competitive intelligence tools such as the AnnuitySpecs analysis tool at www.LookToWink.com.

>> Read the rest of the release on Wink, Inc.’s website

ABOUT WINK, INC.
Wink, Inc. is the company that distributes resources such as Wink’s Sales & Market Report along with the competitive intelligence tools AnnuitySpecs and LifeSpecs at www.LookToWink.com.

The staff of Wink, Inc. has combined experience of nearly four decades working with life insurance and annuity products. The firm provides services in speaking, competitive intelligence, research, training, product development, and marketing of annuities and life insurance. Their knowledge in product filing research and policy forms analysis, coupled with their unmatched resources in insurance distribution, give them the expertise to provide competitive intelligence that allows carriers to stay ahead of their competition.

Iowa declares June Annuity Awareness Month

Governor declares June 2015 Annuity Awareness Month in Iowa

After months of preparation, the Coalition’s efforts to obtain proclamations declaring Annuity Awareness Month in each state are paying off. Coalition members NAFA, Circle Sideways and Wink worked together to submit an official request in the State of Iowa to Governor Terry Branstad on Wednesday, April 15. On April 21, Sheryl Moore, president of Wink, received word from the Office of the Governor that the proclamation has been drafted and approved.

Previously, NAFA and Circle Sideways prepared two mailings that went out to governors of each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the four U.S. territories. These packets included NAFA’s popular “We Love Fixed Annuities” flier, a sample of the preferred proclamation language, and a letter highlighting the need for education and awareness of the features and benefits of annuities for consumers, elected officials and industry professionals alike. In addition to working with those states that responded to the mailings, Coalition members are submitting requests online to various other governors.

With so many carriers, IMOs, and distribution and support businesses located in the state, it is fitting to have Iowa helping lead the Annuity Awareness Month charge. At a date to be determined, Ms. Moore will be invited to attend a formal signing ceremony at the Capitol. We’ll provide photos and an update of the event soon. Meanwhile, as Iowa continues to pioneer progress in the insurance industry, we hope that many other states will follow suit. Keep checking the map to view which states are proclaiming June 2015 as Annuity Awareness Month in the weeks to come!