Thanks, Steve.

• Author: Acunto, Steve
• Position: FOREWORD

* Bob Wallach, rumors have it, is in the process of reorganizing the Robert Plan 2.0 for a different market and under a different structure. The "wiz kid" as he was known told us to "watch and see"... and we will... just as we watched his legendary Dad, Bill Wallach, amaze and astound an entire industry.... Speaking of an entire industry, our next issue will have details of the remarkably successful IFNY Annual Luncheon held at New York's historic Union League Club on November 9th. Full story in next issue, but meanwhile, we cannot help but mention how great it was to see Roosevelt Giles, Chairman of Atlanta Life Insurance Company, who just returned from Stockholm, where ALIC's most famous client had memorabilia on display including his life insurance policy: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.... Meanwhile, New York Life, America's largest mutual life insurer, announced that the company expects to pay eligible participating policy owners a record dividend payout of $1.8 billion in 2019. This milestone will mark the 165th consecutive year that New York Life has paid a dividend to policy owners, underscoring the company's continued financial strength. New York Life is the only major U.S. mutual life insurance company to declare a record dividend payout in each of the last five years. According to CEO and Chairman Ted Mathas, "Paying dividends to our eligible policy owners for the 165th consecutive year is New York Life's mutual structure in action. This unparalleled consistency in sharing our success reflects the disciplined execution of our diversified business strategy and superior financial strength. As a mutual company, our interests are aligned with those of our policy owners, not Wall Street or shareholders, meaning the value we create is carefully managed with their long-term interests in mind." The dividend payout declared in 2018 follows an outstanding year of performance; NYL holds surplus and asset valuation reserve remain...