Strategy Performance Metrics and Highlights

In what is now not simply a low interest rate environment but more of a secular era of low rates, savers have been forced to extend farther and farther out on the risk spectrum. Traditional safe havens, like bonds, have become accumulation plays as opposed to their traditional role of balancing a portfolio.  So far investors have been rewarded for this, but I worry that too many have been lulled into complacency after years of never ending ‘everything up’ markets.  Athene and indeed most annuities are beautifully positioned to be that balance that’s missing for many, many consumers. As Athene’s president Grant Kvalheim likes to say, were in a noble business.  Now more than perhaps ever, the safe haven of annuities is a great place invest. Keep up the good work of getting that message out there.  A few Athene highlights:

• In November Athene had it’s first billion dollar sales month!  Remarkable.
• In early January expect the merger with Apollo to be complete.  The ticker symbol ATH will go away and APO will be the publicly traded entity.  The Athene name and brand will live on.  We’re all very excited about this transaction as Apollo is now positioning itself as financial services company.
• Our Summit Club will be back in 2022.  In February, everyone with $5mm and up will automatically be enrolled.  Summit Club provides a direct line into NB for producers with policy questions along with other perks, including eligibility for a trip in 2022. I also have some ‘captains picks’.  Let me know if you’ve got a solid producer who you think will fall short in ’21 but be there in 2022.
• Expect new and greatly improved suitability forms by late February if not sooner.  We’ve spent a lot of time exploring our competitors suit forms and believe we have greatly simplified the process.  We know this has been a pain point, so we continue to work to improve in this critical area.
• Attached please find NAILBA’s monthly industry strategy performance metrics.  As usual, Athene continues to excel in delivering diversified, performance-oriented strategies that actually provide returns!
• While we don’t run Super Bowl ads, we have been busy running targeted ad campaigns. Please find attached a PowerPoint presentation detailing our upcoming ad placements. Specifically In the attached presentation you’ll find highlights of our advertising efforts for December. We continue to roll out our “Retire Better” messaging with a new 2pg spread in the 12/13 edition of Barron’s. We will also have spreads in the 12/6 and 12/20 editions. Look for Athene’s premium back cover print placement in the 12/6 run of InvestmentNews. In addition to print ads, Athene also has digital ads targeted to both producers and consumers across the web as well as publisher specific including WSJ Network, InvestmentNews, The Street and SmartBrief.