EVANSTON, Ill., March 28, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Beacon Research, the industry's leading source of fixed annuity information and related software tools, today announced the introduction of The AnnuityNexus.com Sales Support System, the first Web-based system designed to support fixed annuity sales. The Sales Support System helps staffers support reps quickly with accurate, timely information on competing products, resulting in more sales, increased rep satisfaction and improved sales desk efficiency.
When reps need help selling against the competition, the AnnuityNexus.com Sales Support System allows sales desk staff to provide instantaneous answers by rapidly looking up the competing fixed annuity product and comparing it side by side with their own, highlighting its advantages. Additional information can be accessed immediately in detailed, carrier-approved product profiles. The Sales Support System generates PDF versions of comparisons and profiles for e-mail or fax transmission to the field. Outputs can be customized or expanded to meet marketing and compliance requirements. The Sales Support System is available on a stand-alone basis or via hyper-link from Internet or intranet Websites for support staff or field access.
"Beacon Research has long been the insurance industry's preferred source of fixed annuity information and analytic tools for product development, rate-setting and competition research," said Jeremy Alexander, President. "The AnnuityNexus.com Sales Support System makes this institutional quality data available to sales desk staff for the first time in a rapidly and easily accessible format. We're introducing the System as part of our commitment to support the fixed annuity distribution process from a product's initial development to its sale."
The AnnuityNexus.com Sales Support System will provide access to the full Beacon Research fixed annuity database, which covers all distribution channels including hard-to-obtain information on products distributed through career agents and membership organizations. Among sources of fixed annuity data, the Beacon Research database is unique in its objectivity, accuracy, scope and timeliness.
Beacon Research will demonstrate The AnnuityNexus.com Sales Support System for the first time at The Annuity Conference, April 6-8 in Baltimore. The Conference is sponsored by LIMRA, LOMA and the Society of Actuaries.
About Beacon Research, Inc.
Founded in 1997, Beacon Research is a fully independent research organization dedicated to meeting the information needs of the financial services industry. It compiles and publishes comprehensive, accurate market intelligence on fixed annuity products for subscribers to its Website - www.annuitynexus.com. Its upcoming Fixed Annuity Premium Study will be the first to analyze sales at the product level, with reports by Milliman USA. Beacon also licenses information to other platforms, including the industry's first fixed annuity benchmark series distributed by Ibbotson Associates, and VitalAnnuity, a new Web-based fixed annuity module offered by LifeLink Corporation. Beacon's fixed annuity product and current rate information also is available via AnnuityNet's annuity automation platform. Directly and through these strategic alliances, Beacon information can be accessed by hundreds of financial institutions and distributors.