AXA Equitable Launches Beneficiary Resource Site

AXA Equitable Life Insurance Co. (a subsidiary of Paris based AXA Group) has launched an online Beneficiary Resource Center for life insurance policy and annuity beneficiaries and financial professionals. The site offers forms, tools and guidance on filing life and annuity claims, and also supplies checklists and contacts to ease the practical and emotional challenges of life claims or provide support for embarking on retirement, according to an AXA Equitable source. The site provides customer service contacts by product types and a list of offices by region located at navigation points where users may have questions or decide they need other resources. Users also have the option to submit online requests for follow-up contact from local financial advisors.

The site is configured in four sections corresponding to the successive needs of beneficiaries following a loss:

Filing a Claim: Here beneficiaries are guided on how to choose the correct claim form and gather additional documentation, if required, for their particular situation, according to the insurer. Beneficiaries can download claim forms to complete, print and save online, at their convenience. They can also find answers to frequently asked questions about life insurance and annuities.

What to Do After a Loss: Arranged according to stages of need " from the first few days following a loss through the first year " this section offers checklists, notification letter templates and general guidance to help beneficiaries prioritize and keep track of the many legal and personal issues that will need their attention, from contacting creditors and Social Security and changing names on joint property to establishing or reviewing their financial plans.

The Family Love Letter: Here beneficiaries can download and personalize a "Family Love Letter," a powerful estate planning tool that covers crucial issues beyond a will, such as establishing a guardian for children, declaring wishes regarding medical treatment and compiling financial and legal documents, contact information, and account access details. The Family Love Letter is designed to help people avoid future confusion by organizing their thoughts, wishes and assets, for the sake of those they care about most.

Additional Resources: Beneficiaries who may be embarking on a new chapter in life, with new goals, activities, needs and responsibilities, can find here links to interactive calculators and useful websites, such as Idealist.org, Parentswithoutpartners.org and MyRetirementShop.com.

The site represents a commitment to comprehensive, education-based approach to addressing customer needs on the part of AXA Equitable, according to Barbara Goodstein, the insurer's executive vice president and chief innovation officer. "Through the Beneficiary Resource Center, we are extending that commitment by providing our clients' loved ones with the support and tools they need to make informed decisions about their financial futures at a time that is filled with grief, stress and confusion," Ms. Goodstein says. "It is the latest example of how AXA Equitable promotes financial literacy and redefines what people should expect from a life insurance company."

Anthony O'Donnell has covered technology in the insurance industry since 2000, when he joined the editorial staff of Insurance & Technology. As an editor and reporter for I&T and the InformationWeek Financial Services of TechWeb he has written on all areas of information ... View Full Bio