Whether you're a fan of new year's resolutions or not, the beginning of the year is the perfect time to re-examine your business and consider implementing changes that can have a substantial & positive impact over the course of the next 12 months. Here are just a few suggestions we can offer to help you get 2007 started with a bang.

1. TAKE A SECOND LOOK   Experience has taught us that many clients look for a fresh start and are receptive to new ideas at the beginning of the year. We encourage you to take a look at your current book of business to see if you have any clients who might qualify for a Life Settlement. Present them with the idea and give them something to think about at a time when they actually may be looking to make a change.

2. LEARN   A little education can go a long way, so why not get things started in the right direction by learning something new? Let us show you how you can incorporate, or better incorporate, Life Settlements into your business, so that you and your clients can reap rewards now for a better later.

3. NETWORK   There's something to be said for the old adage "it's not what you know, but who you know". That's why it makes sense to get out there and meet new people. The more contacts you make and ideas you encounter, the more opportunities you will have to improve your business and increase your success. And, now, with so many industry conferences and events taking place across the country, there really is no excuse. AALU, NAILBA, NAIFA and FPA are all just around the corner. We'll be there, and so should you!

Consider the following example we offer to help illustrate the value which a Life Settlement can have to a policyowner. This example is based on one or more Life Settlements which we have facilitated, but is not an actual case example.

Following the loss of her husband, a widow in her eighties considered surrendering her $4,500,000 universal life insurance policy because she did not want to continue to make premium payments. When she contacted her insurance agent to ask about how to surrender her policy, her insurance agent took the time to recommend alternatives. After conferring with The Lifeline Program^® about his client's policy, he informed his client that she could sell her policy to The Lifeline Program^® through a Life Settlement for nearly double the $520,000 she would have received from the insurance carrier had she merely surrendering her policy to the insurer. She had never heard of a "Life Settlement" before, so we would say she learned a valuable lesson when she learned about Life Settlements: a lesson worth $500,000 more to her than she would have had if she had surrendered her life insurance policy to the insurer, as so many policyholders probably do.

As you may already know, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the "NAIC") recently issued proposed amendments to its Viatical Settlements Model Act. While these initiatives may seem to some to be detrimental to the health and vitality of the Life Settlement industry, the truth of the matter is that these proposed changes probably will help protect and strengthen the integrity of our industry. Based on our understanding of the proposed changes, these new restrictions are designed to prevent the increased proliferation of stranger - or investor-initiated life insurance policies financed through non-recourse borrowing, which has come under significantly increased scrutiny. We believe that most other pre-existing life insurance policies - that is, those which are the subject of the Life Settlements which we conduct - will not be affected by the proposed amendments.

It also is important to note that the Viatical Settlements Model Act is just that: a legislative model that state legislatures and regulatory bodies may or may not choose to adopt. While it is impossible to predict which provisions of that model individual state governments and governmental agencies may include in its statutes & regulations, we are confident that the true essence of Life Settlements, and the benefits they offer to older Americans who face a wide variety of life-changing circumstances, will remain intact.

As promised in our November 2006 issue, we have recently launched our first-ever blog. Intended to provide you with perspectives on industry trends, news and happenings, our blog features the opinions and thoughts of one of the most knowledgeable individuals in the Life Settlement industry: Scott Page, the founder, owner & president of The Lifeline Program^®.

To see what Scott has to say, please visit www.thelifeline.com/blog.

In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the third Monday in January as a national day of volunteer service. Instead of a day off, Congress asked Americans to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy by turning their attention and action to community efforts.

To perpetuate that spirit and to celebrate the life & work of Dr. King, we joined thousands of other Atlantans for a day of volunteer projects on Monday, January 15, 2007. Working with others in our community, we helped plant trees at Dr. King's original resting place, Southview Cemetery, and participated in a number of other beautification efforts at significant historic landmarks around the greater metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia area. The day was a tremendous success and truly a perfect way to help pay tribute to one of America's most important figures while helping to improve the city we proudly call home.