March Product Update: Architectural Resilience & Jurisdictional Precision

The carrier landscape of early 2026 is defined by structural resilience. As we move into March, the focus has shifted toward long-term policy integrity and jurisdictional expansion. At Three Points, we see this as the “Year of the Architecture,” where the value of a solution is found not just in its current cap rate, but in the sophisticated mechanics designed to sustain it through a fifty-year horizon.

Nationwide: The New York Expansion

Nationwide, Columbus, OH

• CareMatters® II (NY Launch April 13): Nationwide’s premier linked-benefit LTC solution arrives in New York. Crucially, it retains the cash indemnity structure (providing maximum flexibility for the client) while adding enhancements like “Pay to 65” and “Pay to 100” options and a new 3% compound inflation protector.
• Heritage Single Premium WL (NY Approved Feb 9): Now available in New York for ages 40–80. This is a “liquidity-first” legacy tool featuring simplified underwriting and a guaranteed return of premium (less loans) upon surrender.

Penn Mutual: Term Efficiency Focus

Penn Mutual, Horsham, PA

• Portfolio Reprice (March 1): Penn Mutual has aggressively positioned its non-convertible term to rank #1 in 90% of pricing cells for ages 35–55.
• The Design Angle: Their Guaranteed Convertible Term now offers industry-leading conversion privileges, allowing clients to pivot to any permanent product or combine face amounts when moving to a survivorship chassis.

Mutual of Omaha: Index Participation Boost

Mutual of Omaha, Omaha, NE

• IUL Max Illustrated Rates (March 1): A significant upward shift in maximum illustrated rates. The most notable improvements are seen in the BofA US Agility Index and S&P 500 Uncapped strategies. This provides a more robust narrative for clients seeking accumulation-focused designs.

Lincoln Financial: Protection & Partnership

Lincoln Financial, Fort Wayne, IN

• WealthProtector IUL (Feb 17): Now live, replacing WealthPreserve 2. This chassis is designed for long-term “death benefit durability” with a focus on flexible no-lapse guarantees.
• Premier Partners 2027: Lincoln has launched its new elite incentive program. For the sophisticated advisor, this means priority service and enhanced IUL bonuses through the end of 2026.

Principal: Executive & Business Markets

Principal Financial, Des Moines, IA

• Executive VUL III Reprice (March 2): Specifically engineered for the NQDC (Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation) market. This reprice sharpens the efficiency of corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) used to recover plan costs.
• Key Person Calculator: New enhanced reporting capabilities are now live, allowing for more visualizations of business risk.

John Hancock: Performance Precision

John Hancock, Boston, MA

• Protection IUL 26: The new chassis remains a standout with its 14.7% Nasdaq cap and the expansion of ExpressTrack® (lab-free) underwriting up to $5M.

Prudential: Survivorship Sophistication

Prudential, Newark, NJ

• SVUL Protector 2025 (NY Launch Feb 23): This survivorship VUL enters New York with a refreshed investment menu and the new Extended No-Lapse Guarantee rider. Note: The legacy 2024 version must have applications signed by March 13.

Symetra: The Underwriting Upgrade

Symetra, Bellevue, Washington

• Super Preferred Extension (Through July 1): Symetra has extended its “Auto-Upgrade” program. Clients qualifying for Preferred Non-Nicotine are automatically moved to Super Preferred on Accumulator Ascent IUL cases—a massive “design lever” for lowering internal policy drag.

Protective: The Sunset Clause

Protective Life, Birmingham, AL

• Indexed Choice UL Sunset: A final reminder that this product will be retired for new sales on March 9, 2026.