CINCINNATI — May 19, 2016 — Helping couples acknowledge the “Elephant in the Room” when it comes to discussing their financial well-being is the aim of a multi-faceted effort sponsored by W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc., the wholesale distributor of annuities and life insurance from member companies of Western & Southern Financial Group (Western & Southern).
Newly introduced, the Elephant in the Room program is designed for financial representatives to work with client couples in addressing what one spouse may confront financially when the other passes away.
“It is typical for only one spouse to handle the family’s finances, but it is important for both spouses to have financial information easily accessible when one becomes incapacitated or passes away,” said Mark E. Caner, president of W&S Financial Group Distributors. “Our program helps address an awkward topic — the elephant in the room that couples often avoid, but is too significant to ignore. This gives them tools to help develop a ‘Plan B’ for their financial future.”
The Elephant in the Room program includes:
- Prescriptive Piece Plan, which provides financial representatives a step-by-step guide through the program,
- Rep Guide to assist financial representatives in navigating the considerations and process with their clients,
- Client Overview, which includes a list of key financial items couples need to share with one another,
- Reminder Booklet, which provides spouses the opportunity to organize key information, and
- Online reference where each client-approved element of the program is provided.
“No one wants to be faced with trying to manage their financial affairs from a position of stress and incomplete knowledge. With the Elephant in the Room program, we hope to trigger conversations and inspire preparedness that may help ease the burden during an otherwise difficult time in life,” Caner said. “This value-add program advances our goal of responsiveness to the needs of financial representatives as they work with individuals to help address their future financial needs.”
About W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.
W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc. distributes fixed, variable and immediate annuities and life insurance products from Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Integrity Life Insurance Company and National Integrity Life Insurance Company, all member companies of Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. Variable products are distributed through Touchstone Securities, Inc.* Marketing through a national network of broker-dealers, financial advisors, independent agents and financial institutions, W&S Financial Group Distributors assists financial professionals in helping individuals invest for, live in and manage risk during retirement. For more information, visit our Insights section for professionals.
*A registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC.
About Western & Southern Financial Group
Founded in Cincinnati in 1888 as The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. (Western & Southern), a Fortune 500 company, is now the parent company of a group of diversified financial services businesses. Its assets owned (more than $42 billion) and managed ($24 billion) total more than $66 billion as of Dec. 31, 2015. Western & Southern is one of the strongest life insurance groups in the world. Its six life insurance subsidiaries (The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Integrity Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company and National Integrity Life Insurance Company) maintain very strong financial ratings and a Comdex Ranking* of 96. Other member companies include Eagle Realty Group, LLC; Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.1; IFS Financial Services, Inc.; Peppertree Partners LLC1; Touchstone Advisors, Inc.1; Touchstone Securities, Inc.2; W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.2; and W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc. For more information visit the Western & Southern Family of Companies. Western & Southern is the title sponsor of the Western & Southern Open, a premier event in the U.S. Open Series played each August by the world’s top-ranked professional male and female tennis players.
* Lafayette Life has a 97 Comdex Ranking.
1A registered investment advisor.
2A registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC.
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