EquiTrust Life, Nationwide Financial, and United Life Join Beacon's AnnuityNexus Fixed Annuity Database


EVANSTON, Ill., Aug. 11, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Beacon Research announced today that it has added information to its AnnuityNexus database on the fixed annuity products of EquiTrust Life Insurance Co. (NYSE:FFG), Nationwide Financial Services (NYSE:NFS), and United Life Insurance Co. (Nasdaq:UFCS). The database features carrier-approved, institutional quality product profiles unique in their accuracy, comprehensiveness and timeliness. These carriers join the growing group of AnnuityNexus data partners.

"Through Beacon's web-based systems, these companies can distribute their product and rate information to the websites of banks, B-Ds and marketing organizations," said Jeremy Alexander, president and CEO of Beacon Research. "This also will make their products available for consideration when distributors use our systems to shop for product-line additions."

"The products of EquiTrust Life, Nationwide Financial and United Life are important to the distributors we serve," said Stephanie Brandt, Beacon's director of research. "All three have worked closely with us to assure the accuracy and completeness of their product information and we're delighted to welcome them as data partners."

About Beacon Research

Beacon Research is an independent research organization founded in 1997. It compiles market intelligence on fixed annuity products for subscribers to its web-based systems at www.annuitynexus.com. Carriers access these systems to support product development, rate setting and competition research. Distributors use them for product analysis and selection. The AnnuityNexus Sales Support System is an important resource for wholesalers and retention teams throughout the distribution chain. Beacon also licenses information and software tools to other platforms, including websites for sales representatives and AnnuityNet's annuity automation platform. Beacon's Fixed Annuity Premium Study is the first to track these sales at the product level. Its fixed annuity benchmark series -- the industry's first -- is available through Ibbotson Associates. Directly and through strategic alliances, Beacon information can be accessed by hundreds of financial institutions and distributors.

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