CONTACT. Note from the Registrar. Hello and Happy New Year!

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1 CONTACT Newsletter First Quarter 2011 IN THIS ISSUE Page 2 Update on FLMI Program Revisions Page 3 ALMI Transition Track Available through December 31, 2011 Page 4 LOMA 280 and LOMA 301 Now Available through Course Portals LOMA 335 Decision Making and Operations Management in Financial Services Page 5 What s the Difference between LOMA 280 and LOMA 281? Page 6 Insurance Immersion Update Page 7 Common Questions from Ed Reps Online Professional Community 1st Quarter Ed Rep Webinar: Coming Soon! Page 8 Information on New and Revise Courses for 2011 Page English Language Course Fees (North America) Page 10 Member Company Prices LOMALearn Online Short Courses 2011 Page 11 New Research Briefs Dates to Remember Note from the Registrar Hello and Happy New Year! We hope that you and your organization have a very prosperous We look forward to working with you again this year. We are pleased to start off 2011 with four out of five of the ALMI course requirements available via the Course Portal delivery method. LOMA is now entering the third and final phase of its most recent FLMI Program revision, which you can read all about on page 2. This June, we also will be introducing the new course LOMA 335 Decision Making and Operations Management in Financial Services. More information about the course can be found on page 4. As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact the Office of the Registrar by phone at , option 1 or , or via at education@loma.org. Shannon R. Wortman, FLMI, PCS, AIAA LOMA Registrar 1

2 Designation News Update on FLMI Program Revisions LOMA s Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) Program the industry s gold standard for developing insurance professionals is now in its third and final phase of a comprehensive revision project! An exciting aspect of this project is that as each FLMI course is introduced or revised, it is delivered via a Course Portal, with that delivery method s additional learning features. And the new or revised courses will have 60-item exams, rather than the traditional 75 items. Phase 1 Phase 1 of the FLMI Program revision occurred in 2009 with the introduction of the popular Need 2 Know series LOMA 281 and LOMA 291 two cutting-edge online courses that teach the basics of insurance products and operations. Employees who complete these courses or the traditional text-based LOMA 280 and LOMA 290 earn the Level 1 Certificate in insurance fundamentals and two credits toward the Associate, Life Management Institute (ALMI) and FLMI designations. Phase 2 In 2010, LOMA completed Phase 2, which redesigned the ALMI Program to focus on achieving the defined learning outcomes that company executives, managers, and trainers consistently tell us that employees need: Better business/financial acumen (LOMA 307) Improved knowledge of core insurance functions (LOMA 301) A developing sense of field/home office partnership through knowledge of insurance marketing/distribution (LOMA 320) Addressing these needs within the ALMI curriculum assures that more employees are exposed to these important topics at the earliest possible point in their careers. Phase 3 This year and for much of 2012 and 2013, the focus will be on Phase 3, the final phase addressing the courses in the third level of the FLMI Program. Specifying the three courses required for the ALMI results in the five courses in the FLMI level being the same for all learners. In early June, LOMA will introduce study materials for another new course, LOMA 335 Decision Making and Operations Management in Financial Services, and later we will roll out revisions of the course materials for the remaining courses in the FLMI level. Contact Newsletter

3 Designation News ALMI Transition Track Available through December 31, 2011 Until the end of 2011, learners can use either the ALMI Transition track or the ALMI Permanent track to earn an ALMI. The ALMI Transition track helps learners who satisfied some, but not all, of the requirements for an ALMI as of June 30, 2010, when the ALMI requirements changed. Under the Transition track, grandfathering allows learners to retain ALMI credit for completion of courses that are not part of the new ALMI Permanent track. However, learners using the Transition track will need to complete all requirements for an ALMI by December 31, After that date, these grandfathered credits may no longer be applied toward an ALMI designation, although they will continue to apply toward the FLMI designation. To earn an ALMI under the ALMI Transition track, a learner must complete* Level 1 (LOMA 280 or LOMA 281; LOMA 290 or LOMA 291) Plus LOMA 307 or LOMA 356. (LOMA is offering the substitution of the new LOMA 307 course to fulfill the requirement of LOMA 356 because most learners will benefit from taking LOMA 307 before LOMA 356, which is a more in-depth course.) Plus two additional FLMI courses, including LOMA 301; LOMA 311 or LOMA 316; LOMA 320; LOMA 330 or LOMA 335; LOMA 351; LOMA 361; and LOMA 371. The ALMI Permanent track consists of Level 1 (LOMA 280 or LOMA 281; LOMA 290 or LOMA 291) Plus LOMA 301, LOMA 307, and LOMA 320 LOMA recommends that all learners use the Permanent track to earn an ALMI, unless the learner a) already has credit for any ALMI courses that are not included in the ALMI Permanent track and b) will complete all ALMI requirements under the ALMI Transition track by December 31, If you have specific questions or would like more information about these program changes, please contact us at education@loma.org or ASK-LOMA. *To see which discontinued LOMA courses can qualify for credit under the Transition track, please see the Check Designation Progress screen in LOMANET. For assistance, education@loma.org or call ASK-LOMA, Option 1. Contact Newsletter

4 Designation News LOMA 280 and LOMA 301 Now Available through Course Portals Updated study materials for LOMA 280 Principles of Insurance and LOMA 301 Insurance Administration are now available. The revised materials are delivered as modularized protected PDFs through their respective Course Portals. Included on the Course Portals are a variety of enhanced learning features such as the Top Ten Tough Topics, Learning Aids for each module, and the ever-popular interactive Practice Questions and Sample Exam. Printed texts are also available from PBD for an additional fee. With the release of the revised LOMA 280 and 301 course materials, four out of five of the English-language course requirements for the new ALMI designation can be met via the Course Portal delivery method. In addition to LOMA 280 and LOMA 301, the ALMI courses that can be taken via Course Portal include: LOMA 307 Business and Financial Concepts for Insurance Professionals LOMA 320 Insurance Marketing Scheduled for publication in November 2011, LOMA 290 Insurance Company Operations will be the fifth Englishlanguage ALMI required course made available via a Course Portal. LOMA 335 Decision Making and Operations Management in Financial Services We want to remind you that we are developing LOMA 335, a new and unique management course designed specifically for insurance and other financial services companies. LOMA 335 will include many examples of the practical techniques that companies use to ensure maximum efficiency in accomplishing their everyday tasks. LOMA member companies are providing most of these examples! The English-language course materials will be available in early June 2011, and the first LOMA 335 English exams will be given in July LOMA 335 s introduction will change the course requirements or electives offered in the programs listed below, effective July 1, Please note that these changes apply only to the English-language versions of these programs. FLMI Program: LOMA 335 will replace LOMA 330 Management ACS Program: LOMA 335 will replace LOMA 330 as an elective FFSI/AFSI Program: LOMA 335 will replace LOMA 351 Financial Services Environment as one requirement to earn an FFSI; LOMA 335 also will replace LOMA 351 as an elective at the AFSI level. Look for more information on this new course in the coming months. Contact Newsletter

5 Designation News What s the Difference between LOMA 280 and LOMA 281? Sometimes we are asked, What s the difference between LOMA 280 and LOMA 281? Both LOMA 280 Principles of Insurance and LOMA 281 Meeting Customer Needs with Insurance and Annuities introduce learners to the many types of insurance products and to the fundamental principles of the insurance business. Each course provides learners with LOMA 280 Principles of Insurance Course Portal Delivery*: Offers study materials via an online resource containing a printable PDF textbook and a variety of print-based and online resources to help study and prepare for the exam Blends the more traditional textbook-based study experience with multi-media and other online features designed to enhance the learning experience Appeals to a variety of learning styles Satisfies the needs of those who like a printed reference Does not require continuous online access; most resources can be downloaded for offline use Average Study Experience: Approximately 20 to 25 hours (varies by learner) What s the Exam like? One final 60-item exam, offered electronically or on paper Proctored exam environment required job-applicable, industry specific content that builds the knowledge foundation essential to a successful career in the insurance industry. However, the two courses differ in how they are delivered and administered. Below is more specific information about these differences. LOMA 281 Meeting Customer Needs with Insurance and Annuities Need 2 Know Delivery**: Offers course content completely online Delivers content using multi-media features including video scenarios, short interactive presentations, and review questions Appeals to a variety of learning styles Satisfies the needs of those who enjoy online interactivity and multimedia learning Requires online access but can be completed in short segments of about 1 hour Average Study Experience: Approximately 12 hours (varies by learner) What s the Exam like? Four short (10-20 item) end-of-module exams accessed by the learner within the online course; exam can be taken at home or at work (NOTE: total number of exam items is 60) Non-proctored exam environment with controls to prohibit access to course content while taking an exam *Although LOMA 280 is available in a number of languages, Click here for information about how LOMA 280 and LOMA 281 differ from the the Course Portal delivery is in English only. Ed Rep s perspective. **Need 2 Know delivery of LOMA 281 is in English only. For more detailed information on LOMA 280 and LOMA 281, Contact Newsletter 2011 please visit or education@loma.org. 5

6 Insurance Immersion Update Designed by LOMA and highly-respected insurance professionals, Insurance Immersion is the fastest way to learn about the industry. Insurance Immersion participants benefit from gaining industry and product knowledge essential to success in the life insurance business, all while learning from industry experts and networking with industry peers! The next in-person Insurance Immersion program will be offered at LOMA s corporate offices in Atlanta, GA on March 2-4. Enroll by February 4 and receive the early registration discount. Please see below for our 2011 Insurance Immersion Schedule for in-person and virtual classroom programs as it now stands. In addition to our Virtual Insurance Immersion: Life Products session, we are also pleased to introduce two other Virtual Insurance Immersion programs in 2011: Annuity Products and Life Operations. The current in-person and virtual Immersion schedules for 2011 are as follows: Insurance Immersion Classroom Sessions In the United States Insurance Immersion March 2 4, 2011 LOMA Corporate Offices Atlanta, Georgia Insurance Immersion October 26 28, 2011 LIMRA Corporate Offices Windsor, Connecticut In Canada Insurance Immersion Open Enrollment Spring 2011 Location TBA Virtual Insurance Immersion Sessions Virtual Insurance Immersion: Life Products Dates: April 25 28, 2011 Time: 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. EDT Location: Virtual Classroom Virtual Insurance Immersion: Annuity Products Date: April 29, 2011 Time: 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. EDT Location: Virtual Classroom Virtual Insurance Immersion: Life Operations Dates: May 2 5, 2011 Time: 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. EDT Location: Virtual Classroom Insurance Immersion Accelerate Your Transition Contact Newsletter

7 LOMA News Common Questions from Ed Reps As an Ed Rep, you may wonder who purchased fee transfers at your company in a given period. You also may want to check to see if there are any students who did not sit for exams and didn t purchase fee transfers. You can easily run reports from LOMANET to view this information. Log into LOMANET. Click Ed Rep Reports. Choose Enrollments in the first drop-down. Choose Did Not Sit No fee transfer in the second drop-down. Enter the date range that you want to review. Click Get Report. The Fee Transfer Request report will also show you if students have re-enrolled for another exam. 1st Quarter Ed Rep Webinar: Coming Soon! We are pleased to continue our Ed Rep Webinar series in Please save the date for our 1st Quarter Ed Rep Webinar taking place on Tuesday, February 8, at 2pm Eastern. At the Webinar, you ll learn how to promote and host fun and informative Ed Fairs at your company. To register, Kathryn Brown. You will receive more details about this event soon! We welcome our Caribbean Ed Reps to join us for this event as well! Online Professional Community Be sure to check out the Online Professional Community for Ed Reps it s full of helpful information just for you! To access the site, click here. Contact Newsletter

8 Examinations and Course Fees Information on New and Revised Courses for 2011 The following English-language courses have new or revised study materials for exams offered in Course fees for new bundled courses cover both the exam fee and each course s online study materials. Course fees do not cover printed textbooks. Professionally printed and bound textbooks for new bundled courses are available at an additional cost from LOMA s book distributors Pricing and Availability of New or Revised English-Language Courses and Study Materials Course Number LOMA 301 LOMA 301 LOMA 280 LOMA 280 NEW COURSE LOMA 335** LOMA 335** LOMA 290 LOMA 290 Title (and Format) of New or Revised English Study Materials Insurance Administration, 4th Edition (Text & TPG via Course Portal)* Insurance Administration, 4th Edition (Printed Book) Principles of Insurance (Text & TPG via Course Portal)* Principles of Insurance (Printed Book) Decision Making and Operations Management in Financial Services (Text & TPG via Course Portal)* Decision Making and Operations Management in Financial Services (Printed Book) Insurance Company Operations, 3rd Edition (Text & TPG via Course Portal)* Insurance Company Operations, 3rd Edition (Printed Book) Date Available 2011 Pricing First Exam (based on revised materials) Note: Prices and dates are subject to change without notice. Contact Newsletter NOW See Course Fees Chart on next page Jan NOW $65.00 Jan NOW See Course Fees Chart on next page Jan NOW $65.00 Jan May 2011 See Course Fees Chart on next page July July 2011 $65.00 July Nov Not Yet Set Jan Nov $68.00 Jan

9 Examinations and Course Fees * All Course Portal courses include a protected PDF of the textbook and TPG that learners can print or read online, plus a wide array of learning resources to help students better understand course content and prepare for the exam. Included are: An introductory video about the course The same great interactive Practice Questions and Sample Exam currently available in LOMA Test Preparation Guides, which learners can use online or download for offline studying Recommended study plans to help learners set goals and manage their study schedules Animations of important concepts covered in the course to help learners better understand and retain what is learned Review tools, including a Top 10 Tough Topics review of the parts of the course that many students find the most difficult to learn and that often prove most troublesome on the exam And much more! ** For information on what this course replaces, see the article in this issue of Ed Rep Contact entitled LOMA 335 Decision Making and Operations Management in Financial Services English-Language Course Fees (North America) for Courses Listed on Previous Page Courses LOMA Member Companies Nonmember Companies/ Independent Students I*STAR Prometric Paper I*STAR Prometric Paper LOMA 280 (Bundled) 1 $180 / $80 $275 / $175 $200 / $100 $360 / $260 $455 / $355 $400 / $300 LOMA 301 (Bundled) 1 $210 / $110 $305 / $205 $225 / $125 $420 / $320 $515 / $415 $450 / $350 LOMA 335 (Bundled) 1 $250 / $150 $345 / $245 $265 / $165 $500 / $400 $595 / $495 $530 / $430 1 The fee for a bundled course includes all online study materials and an exam enrollment; no separate purchase of study materials is required. Bundled courses are eligible for a $100 retake fee discount when a student re-enrolls within seven months after sitting for the original examination. The retake fee discount is reflected in the lower fee shown above for each bundled course; for example, $80 is the LOMA 280 I*STAR retake fee for member company students who qualify for the retake discount. These bundled courses also have a printed textbook available for an additional fee. Note: Prices are subject to change without notice. Contact Newsletter

10 Examinations and Course Fees Member Company Prices LOMALearn Online Short Courses 2011 LOMA-Owned Online Short Courses Online Short Courses (1-2 lessons) 2011 Price (no change) $37 Online Short Courses (3-4 lessons) $60 Online Short Courses (5-7 lessons) $95 LOMALearn Online Course Collections The current course collections are being totally revised for The new collections will be introduced by the end of the first quarter in (More information to come.) Partner-Owned Online Short Courses $95 per collection Kaplan Financial Services $37 LRN $60 - $95 North American Training Group $37 SkillSoft (Note: LOMA will no longer offer SkillSoft courses effective April 29, 2011.) $60 - $95 Non-member prices are generally 2x the LOMA member price. Please consult the LOMALearn Online catalog at for individual course prices. Note: Prices are subject to change without notice. Contact Newsletter

11 Info Center Briefs and Key Dates New Research Briefs Available online from LOMA s Information Center! Check out our LATEST TITLES, including: Automated Underwriting Fostering Employee Engagement Hear My Voice: Speech Signatures and Technologies IT Prepares for the Next Generation Producer Appointment and Licensing Practices More than 200 briefs are available at no charge on LOMA s Web site. Click here! Or contact the Information Center at infoctr@loma.org; ASK-LOMA or (770) (phone); or (770) (fax). Dates to Remember February 4 Last day to receive early registration discount for Insurance Immersion March 2-4 Insurance Immersion at LOMA s corporate offices in Atlanta, GA February 8 Q1 Ed Rep Webinar February 15 Certificates and diplomas for November 2010 paper exams received by Ed Reps February 18 Deadline to submit enrollments via LOMANET for May 2011 paper exams March 31 Last day to take I*STAR and Prometric exams for the current testing period; deadline for fee transfer requests for I*STAR and Prometric enrollments Contact Newsletter