New York Life to Revamp Approach to Wholesaling (Insurance Networking.com) - New York Life Insurance Co. is changing its wholesaling model, citing distributors' desires and the opportunity to increase its sales of investment, annuity and guaranteed-income products. Starting in January, the company's wholesaler force will be organized so that banks and other distributors will have one generalist to deal with, rather than multiple product experts, said Mike Coffey, who is a senior vice president for third-party distribution in New York Life's retirement income security operation. "This is what the market is demanding," he said. "And it positions us to better capture future growth opportunities."

The Decline: The Geography of a Recession (AmericanObserver.net) MUST SEE! A sobering time-line graph on unemployment. A powerful piece to share with reps.

Sun Life adding VA wholesalers, cutting back on VA products (Investment News.com)

N.Y. Life, Putnam snag several new retirement specialists David Giannini is joining insurer from Fred Alger Management; Putnam hires ex-Fidelity, Hartford and LPL pros (Investment News.com)

3 sign on with Putnam's DC sales team (PI Online) Chris Doucet, Alan Dumas and John Leeson joined Putnam Investments' defined contribution sales team, said Edmund F. Murphy, managing director and head of defined contribution.

Great-West Fills Another Sales Slot (MFWire.com) The Greenwood Village, Colorado-based recordkeeper names the second of three expected regional sales director hires in recent months.

Onstage, Terrified (WSJ.com) Practice, arrive early and remember that the audience's expectations are low.

Despite lean times, client appreciation events still a must (InvestmentNews.com)