As part of our ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and reduce delays, we encourage all registered representatives to preview certain new business submissions with the home office before obtaining client signatures. More complex or potentially problematic cases are most appropriate for previews.
Taking this simple step allows our home office team to review submissions in advance and identify any potential issues or missing information before paperwork is finalized. This proactive approach offers several important benefits:
- Fewer client follow-ups: Clients won’t need to re-sign corrected forms or be asked for additional information later.
- Faster processing: Submissions move through the system more smoothly, reducing turnaround times and avoiding preventable delays.
- Improved accuracy: Early review ensures submissions meet all current requirements and guidelines.
- Time savings for everyone: Both your team and the home office can focus on new business instead of corrections.
- Reduces the likelihood of NIGO fees: Avoid fees attributed to missing, incomplete, or incorrect information.
While any work item can be previewed for the purpose of completeness or clarity, some situations should always be previewed specifically for suitability concerns:
- Annuity surrender with a net CDSC of 2% or greater
- Income rider purchased prior to age 55, after age 75 or purchased for the purpose of taking RMDs
- Annuity Concentrations greater than 60%
- Surrender of a living benefit rider when the benefit base exceeds the contract value by greater than 25%
- Surrendering a Pension to an annuity for income
- Purchasing a non-qualified annuity under the age of 55
- Moving a qualified plan to an IRA/VA for an unemployed individual with no income
To best utilize the preview process:
- Create a work item in Docupace with all required documents including vendor documents, proposals, etc. as well as ESI forms
- Complete all forms to the best of your ability including rationale statements
- Include statements from all funding sources
- Call the ESI Direct Business Suitability line at 800-344-7437 options 2,5,2
- ESI is unable to accept case previews via email or direct calls to team members. Please use the ESI 800 # for expeditious case pre-vetting.
Your call will be directed to the next available ESI Direct Business Suitability principal. Under some circumstances, the suitability principal will be able to preview the transaction immediately. However, under some circumstances the principal may require additional time to review the case and will reply via phone call or email as soon as possible.
To make the best use of everyone’s time, please ensure all paperwork is completed accurately and reviewed for completeness. Because conceptual case previews involve preliminary ideas without finalized paperwork, we are unable to provide a full review or ensure that additional issues won’t arise later if we do not have completed, unsigned documentation with statements in docupace.
When seeking assistance or a prereview of any business, keep in mind the roles played by each team at ESI.
- For previews of NFS Brokerage or ESI Illuminations cases, contact the Brokerage Suitability Line at 1-800-344-7437, option 2, option 5, option 1. Please note that this line is intended specifically for suitability case concerns. The Brokerage Team has worked extensively this year to implement validations to ensure complete information is being captured within our forms.
- For licensing or appointment concerns:
- To see where you are licensed and or appointed you can check your ACE portal under Commissions tab on NLG website.
- To add appointments or registrations please reach out to your Office Manager or your ESI Licensing Coordinator.
- For questions about available products, contact Dan Randall, VP Product Management and Sales Support, at DRandall@nationallife.com.
We appreciate your partnership in helping us streamline the submission process. Previewing your cases before signatures is a small step that makes a big difference — for your clients, your business, and the entire organization.
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