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New board member brings notable worksite industry expertise

ALEXANDRIA, VA – 5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) announced today the appointment of Bonnie Brazzell to its Board of Directors, effective December 1, 2023.

“We are pleased to welcome Bonnie Brazzell to the 5Star Life Board of Directors. Her knowledge and expertise in the worksite industry will be an invaluable asset to our organization as we continue to be a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary products,” said General Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret.), Chair and President of 5Star Life.

Bonnie is a leading expert in the worksite/voluntary products industry. She worked for Eastbridge Consulting Group from 1999 until September 2023. At Eastbridge Bonnie managed consulting projects for both worksite/voluntary and group clients. She focused on strategic, business, and marketing planning; competitor, product, and market analyses; and business line assessments. In addition, Bonnie oversaw a variety of research projects—both consortia and client specific—designed to improve the marketing of group and voluntary products.

Prior to Eastbridge, she had 25 years of experience with Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company. During her tenure at Colonial, Bonnie worked in various positions including underwriting, product development, market development, and customer marketing. Bonnie is a frequent speaker at industry events and has had articles published in numerous publications. In July 2015, the Workplace Benefits Association inducted her into the Worksite Marketing Hall of Fame. She has a degree in mathematics and lives in Columbia, S.C.

“We are fortunate to have Bonnie serving on the 5Star Life board. Her deep industry knowledge will help guide our efforts as we grow our presence in the worksite/voluntary products market,” added Kimberley E. Wooding, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

About 5Star Life
5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) is the primary underwriter of the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) member policies. In addition, it extends the enterprise’s mission to civilians serving our country in the workplace. As a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary products, 5Star Life serves a diverse clientele as an insurance provider to individuals and organizations and as a trusted advisor to brokers. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, 5Star Life (a Lincoln, NE company) is currently licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. 5Star Life was awarded on the Forbes World’s Best Insurance Companies 2023 list.

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Partnership targets an enhanced customer experience with integrated HR solutions

5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) announced today a new technology-based integration, through the Paylogix Tailored Market Solution, which provides 5Star Life’s customers, agents, and brokers a seamless enrollment and payment experience.

“This collaboration effort with Paylogix underscores 5Star Life’s commitment to innovation and provides customers with best-in-class administrative and end-consumer resources that are an ideal complement to our mission to provide industry-leading service and engagement experiences,“ said Sal Campanile, 5Star Life’s Vice President, Worksite Voluntary Benefit and Group Sales.

The Paylogix Tailored Market Solution simplifies voluntary benefit administration offering quick case set up, a comprehensive online enrollment site, easy case submission process, and a user-friendly online portal to support enrollment, ongoing eligibility management, and billing. This bespoke end-to-end solution adds efficiency and an enhanced digital customer experience to traditional insurer administrative systems.
“The partnership with 5Star Life exemplifies how technology-focused solutions which are standardized, automated, and simplified for providers, brokers, and end-users are critical to the success of voluntary benefits administration,” said Richard Pfadenhauer, CISSP, President & Founder of Paylogix.

About 5Star Life
5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) is the life insurance underwriter of the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) member benefits and a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary insurance products. Its business model enables 5Star Life to serve the needs of a diverse clientele as an insurance provider to individuals and organizations and as a trusted partner to brokers. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, 5Star Life is currently licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. 5Star Life was awarded on the Forbes World’s Best Insurance Companies 2023 list.

About Paylogix
Paylogix®, a third-party administrator, creates premium technology solutions that make voluntary benefit administration simpler and more secure, while delivering a better user experience. Paylogix serves as a trusted partner to benefit providers, brokers, and employers. Our thoughtfully designed tools to facilitate enrollment through billing and payment are automated, innovative, and secure to provide users with the data they need, when they need it.

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Recognition validates growth and customer experience strategy 

 ALEXANDRIA, VA. 5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) has been awarded on the Forbes list of World’s Best Insurance Companies 2023. This prestigious award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The awards list can be viewed on the Forbes website. 

 “Forbes’ recognition validates our years-long strategy focused on growth and on delivering the best customer service experience,” said General Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret.) President of 5Star Life. “We are thankful to the customers who helped put 5Star Life on the list and to the dedicated employees who have worked hard to bring about this award.” 

World’s Best Insurance Companies 2023 were determined based on an independent survey from a vast sample of over 30,000 consumers in 15 different countries. The survey considered customers’ overall recommendation, their general satisfaction, their loyalty, and the five subdimensions: Advice, Customer Service, Price-Performance, Transparency and Damage/Benefit Service. 

Based on the results of the study, 5Star Life is ecstatic to be recognized on the Forbes list of World’s Best Insurance Companies 2023. 

 “We are honored to be recognized by Forbes,” said Kimberley E. Wooding, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of 5Star Life. “It is a tribute to the deployment of efforts to our long-term strategic plan and our team’s unrelenting focus on profitable growth and commitment to providing a best-in-class consumer experience for our brokers, employers, and individual policyholders.” 

About 5Star Life  

5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) is the life insurance underwriter of the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) member benefits and a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary insurance products. Its business model enables 5Star Life to serve the needs of a diverse clientele as an insurance provider to individuals and organizations and as a trusted partner to brokers. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, 5Star Life is currently licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.  

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New board member brings valuable market expertise

ALEXANDRIA, VA – 5Star Life Insurance Company announced today the appointment of Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) John F. Sampa to its Board of Directors, effective September 1, 2022.

“It is our pleasure to welcome Command Sergeant Major John Sampa to the 5Star Life Board of Directors. His experience in the Army and National Guard markets, as well as the First Responder market, will help enhance the service and protection that we provide for 5Star Life customers and AFBA members,” said General Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret.), Chair and President of 5Star Life.

Command Sergeant Major (CSM) John F. Sampa was appointed as the 12th Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard on 15 February 2018. He joined the United States Army on 30 April 1987 and served in the Army National Guard and the United States Army, retiring with 35 years of service. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major on 8 April 2009. Prior to becoming the Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard, he served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the Texas Military Department. CSM Sampa was previously the Command Sergeant Major for the 36th Infantry Division for more than three years. He was mobilized for combat duty three times and deployed overseas for combat operations in Bosnia and twice to Iraq and was a prominent leader in the Columbia Space Shuttle recovery mission in east Texas. His military and civilian education includes all Noncommissioned Officer Education System levels. He was employed with the Texas Department of Public Safety in the Highway Patrol Division for more than 27 years in concurrence with his military service. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, the National Defense University Keystone Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course, the Texas Highway Patrol Academy and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of the Cumberlands.

“His addition exemplifies our commitment to create a board with the right balance of market expertise and business experience,” added General Spencer.

About 5Star Life
5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) is the primary underwriter of the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) member policies. In addition, it extends the enterprise’s mission to civilians serving our country in the workplace. As a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary products, 5Star Life serves a diverse clientele as an insurance provider to individuals and organizations and as a trusted advisor to brokers. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, 5Star Life is currently licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

About Armed Forces Benefit Association
With the support of the General of the Army, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) was established in 1947 in the basement of the Pentagon to ease the strain on military members and their families who, at the time, could not purchase life insurance that would pay a death benefit if the member was killed in combat. Today, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, AFBA continues to honor its mission, in war and peace, promoting the welfare of its members providing death benefits and other benefits to those who serve this great nation, including members of the uniformed services, first responders, government employees, and their families. AFBA has over 650,000 members with $40 billion of death benefits in force and has paid nearly $2 billion of death benefits since inception. AFBA death benefits are underwritten by its affiliate, 5Star Life Insurance Company (a Lincoln, Nebraska domiciled company).

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Recognition Validates Strategic Plan in the Voluntary Market

ALEXANDRIA, VA – 5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) was recognized for voluntary sales growth in the small carrier category ($10 million to $49.9 million in sales) by East Bridge Consulting Group based on its 2020 U.S. Voluntary/Worksite Sales Report.
“I am pleased to see 5Star Life recognized in the marketplace. I feel deeply grateful for the board’s guidance and unwavering support and extremely proud of our employees whose efforts this past year made this possible,” said 5Star Life President General Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret.).

The report recognized 5Star Life as one of five in the small carrier category to achieve voluntary sales growth in 2020 out of thirteen eligible carriers. At an industry level, voluntary sales were down 15.5% in 2020 over the prior year, as carriers were challenged by the pandemic. Employee communication and engagement required agility from brokers, carriers, and clients in finding a new path forward.
“Being recognized by Eastbridge Consulting Group is an honor. Our sales strategy over the past few years has been to strengthen relationships with sales partners while honing our market focus. This recognition is validation of those efforts,” said Kimo Wong, Senior Vice President and Chief Distribution Officer. “I look forward to building on the success of the team to continue growing the business.”
“Our value proposition is rooted in providing excellent service with steadfast attention to what matters most to our partners complemented by a growing product portfolio and engagement resources. Our brokers and sales partners know and understand the market, while our employees continue to deliver excellent service to brokers, employers, and customers,” said Sal Campanile, Vice President of Worksite & Group Benefit Sales. “We’ve built a strong and agile team, and I am excited about the future.”

About 5Star Life Insurance Company
5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) is the primary underwriter of the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) member policies and is also a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary products. Its business model enables 5Star Life to serve the needs of a diverse clientele as an insurance advisor to individuals and organizations and as a trusted partner to brokers. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, 5Star Life is currently licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

About Armed Forces Benefit Association
With the support of the General of the Army, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) was established in 1947 in the basement of the Pentagon to ease the strain on military members and their families who, at the time, could not purchase life insurance that would pay a death benefit if the member was killed in combat. Today, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, AFBA continues to honor its mission, in war and peace, promoting the welfare of its members providing death benefits and other benefits to those who serve this great nation, including members of the uniformed services, first responders, government employees, and their families. AFBA has 535,000 members with $40 billion of survivor benefits in force and $2 billion paid since inception. AFBA survivor benefits are underwritten by its affiliate, 5Star Life Insurance Company (a Lincoln, Nebraska domiciled company).

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ALEXANDRIA, VA – 5Star Life Insurance Company announced today the appointment of 5Star Life President, General Larry O. Spencer, as new Chair of the Board, effective January 1, 2023. He will continue to hold the post of President.

“It has been an honor to serve as President of 5Star Life these past few years, and I look forward to my new role. I would like to thank General Eberhart for his contributions to 5Star Life as Chair and for his constant and thoughtful guidance. Working alongside our board of directors, I feel confident that 5Star Life will continue to thrive in its dual mission: first, as the primary underwriter of the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) member policies, and second, as a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary products,” said General Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret.), Chair and President of 5Star Life and President of AFBA.

Larry O. Spencer spent more than 40 years in the Air Force, beginning his career in the enlisted ranks and rising to become a four-star general. General Spencer’s last assignment was as the Vice Chief of Staff of the US Air Force where he assisted the Chief of Staff in organizing, training, and equipping 690,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian forces. After retiring from the Air Force in 2015, General Spencer served as President of the Air Force Association until 2019. General Spencer received his Bachelor of Science Degree in industrial engineering technology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and has two Master of Science degrees. He serves on the boards of Whirlpool Corporation, Triumph Group, Inc., and Haynes International, Inc. General Spencer became a member of the AFBA Board in February 2020. He was named AFBA  President in March 2020 and 5Star Life Insurance Company President in June 2020.

About 5Star Life Insurance Company
5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) is the primary underwriter of the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) member policies and is also a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary products. Its business model enables 5Star Life to serve the needs of a diverse clientele as an insurance advisor to individuals and organizations, and as a trusted partner to brokers. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, 5Star Life is currently licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.