MPC Meeting Web Page Now Available

The Web page for the upcoming MPC meeting, which will be held February 23-25, 2005, in Tampa, Fla., can be accessed here. The meeting page offers online registration as well as hotel information and other meeting details. A preliminary schedule of events is available in PDF format in the "Meeting Resources" section of the page.

The cut-off date for hotel reservations is February 1, 2005, and the deadline for meeting registration is February 11. We encourage you to register and make your reservations as soon as possible.

If you have any trouble accessing the meeting Web page, please contact Dan Hicks at 703.787.4112 or [email protected]. Questions concerning the MPC meeting should be directed to Sean McKenna at 703.787.4106 or [email protected].

Legal Seminar Planning Begins

Planning has begun for NOLHGA's 13th Annual Legal Seminar, which is scheduled to take place on August 18-19, 2005, at The Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Utah. The seminar will be held in conjunction with the MPC meeting scheduled for August 16-17.

The Legal Seminar Planning Committee recently held its kickoff teleconference to develop an agenda for the seminar. The committee consists of Chair Dave Perry (Montana guaranty association), John Colpean (Michigan), Art Dummer (Utah), Jack Falkenbach (Delaware), Jan Funk (Indiana), Joel Glover (Rothgerber, Johnson & Lyons), Chuck Gullickson (South Dakota), John Mathews (Allstate Life Insurance Company), and Charlie Richardson (Baker & Daniels). Outside suggestions of speaker and topic ideas are always appreciated. Please call Aimee Frye at 703.787.4115 or e-mail Meg Melusen at [email protected] if you have any questions or suggestions for speakers and presentations.

ACLI Unveils Follow-up Study of Bank Insurance

In a follow-up to its 2003 bank insurance study entitled Bridging the Cultural Divide Between Banks and Life Insurers, the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) has published the results of an additional year of analysis of the bank insurance marketplace. The study was conducted in conjunction with the ACLI's strategic partners and technical consultants Baker & Daniels, CF Effron Company, Navigant Consulting, and Unger Software Corporation.

The new report, entitled Catalyst for Change: Next Steps in Bridging the Cultural Divide Between Banks and Life Insurers, builds on the previous study by identifying a number of impediments to the sale of life insurance products through banking channels and outlining 21 specific recommendations to overcome these difficulties. The bottom-line recommendation is that insurance companies and banks must find common ground in strategic areas that will determine whether there can be a successful partnership to deliver more life insurance to consumers.

The new report is available from the ACLI at no cost to members or to those who previously purchased the 2003 report. Non-members may purchase both reports for $150. For further information regarding this report or the upcoming study in 2005, contact Charlie Richardson (Baker & Daniels) at 202.312.7487 or [email protected].

Montemayor to Step Down from Texas Department of Insurance

Commissioner José Montemayor will not seek reappointment when his term as head of the Texas Department of Insurance ends on February 1, 2005, according to a January 12, 2005, article in the Austin American-Statesman. Montemayor, who joined the department in 1993 and became commissioner in 1999, has offered to stay on until a replacement is appointed.