Department Descriptions

Working in several areas, our actuaries are responsible for ensuring that operations are conducted on a mathematically sound basis. Internal actuaries support the financial reporting, product development, and compliance aspects of our operations. Actuaries help design and revise our company’s insurance products, establish premium rates, and determine and maintain our company’s required reserves. They also do the research needed to predict mortality and morbidity rates, establish guidelines for selecting risks, and determine the profitability of our products and services.

The Canadian Division supports our operations in Canada from Atlanta. They provide a number of services that support the general agents and field agents in better serving their clients. They work within the areas of sales management, sales training, and marketing to develop and execute marketing strategies and sales initiatives.

Our Customer Service Department prides itself on providing world class service to our agents, beneficiaries, and policyowners. Customer Service Representatives receive comprehensive training to complete important services including the review and approval of policy applications, answering requests for information, interpreting policy language, answering questions about policy coverage, and making changes to existing policies, including the payment of insurance benefits when a claim is reported. Our desire to provide our customers with a single point of contact means our service representatives are well versed in all areas of customer service.

The Financial Reporting Department generates and analyzes the transactions and reports that represent the financial results of Assurant Preneed’s operations. The department is responsible for maintaining the company’s general accounting records, preparing financial statements, and overseeing the company’s budgeting process. Regulatory requirements require insurance companies to comply with both generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and statutory accounting principles (SAP) directed by each of the states in which we are licensed.

Annually, the financial reporting accountants, along with the actuaries, coordinate the preparation of the Annual Statements with Assurant Shared Business Services. With the advent of the SEC registration and NYSE listing, the financial reporting department works with Shared Business Services and with the Assurant Financial Staff in New York, to ensure that the company is in compliance with all SEC reporting requirements.

The Accounting Services Department manages the areas of disbursements, cash receipts, accounts receivables, 1099/W2 reporting, weekly and monthly general ledger analysis, and reviews internal controls policies and procedures. Responsibilities include the documentation and enforcement of policies and procedures in these areas to safeguard company assets. They coordinate and review monthly reconciliations of bank and suspense accounts and ensure accurate and timely posting of general ledger transactions to the general ledger system.

They also provide assistance to the Marketing and Sales Departments in establishing appropriate accounting treatment for new products and services. Accounting Services works closely with Tax Shared Services to provide sales and use tax information on fee income products sold. They work with others to ensure that all processes are operating efficiently and effectively.

The Human Resources Department is responsible for matters relating to the recruiting, hiring, development, and departure of Assurant Preneed’s employees. The department works with all areas of the organization to formulate company policies, manages compensation programs, and assures company compliance with federal, state, and provincial employment laws. HR also administers the employee benefit plans, such as group insurance, tuition reimbursement plans, and employee retirement plans.

The Information Technology Services Department delivers optimum solutions and opportunities while serving as a trusted advisor and corporate asset for our business. They maintain the technical infrastructure and meet the ever-changing needs of the current business while supporting the strategic objectives of the organization. The department provides system administration, PC/Network support, computer operations, help desk support, telecommunications, applications development, project management, and IT consulting services.

The Legal/Compliance Departments work together to ensure that Assurant Preneed’s operations are in compliance with federal, state, and provincial laws and regulations. The Legal and Compliance Departments are responsible for filing and gaining approval of new products, and work closely with state and provincial authorities to assure that products and marketing initiatives comply with the particular regulatory requirements of each state’s particular requirements. The Legal Department also studies current and proposed legislation to determine their effect on Assurant Preneed’s activities and initiatives. Among its many duties, the Legal Department oversees litigation and lobbying activities, and advises other departments on a variety of legal issues that arise in the course of day-to-day operations.

In Atlanta, the Marketing Department works with our business partners to develop and design marketing materials and initiatives. The department competitively prices our products using actuarially sound models. Marketing Communications develops and executes communication strategies for identified initiatives. This area is responsible for producing corporate communications, internal communications, company publications and special projects.

In Rapid City, the Marketing Department works closely with our business partners to develop and implement new marketing and administrative initiatives. The primary areas of responsibility include the pricing of our products using actuarially sound models, project management services, development of marketing materials, and providing database solutions to support marketing campaign management efforts. Our staff serves as “consulting partners” to facilitate and coordinate applicable resources within Assurant Preneed in support of our customers.

In Atlanta, one of the primary responsibilities of the Operations area is the management of the outsourcing contract with our policy administrator. This includes managing the relationship, measuring the performance (timeliness and quality of customer service) of telephone inquiries, claims, new business, billing and collections, policy owner services, etc. In addition, this department is responsible for managing the pass-through expenses associated with providing these services (i.e. postage, long distance charges, etc.). Within the Home Office in Atlanta, operations is responsible for the Mail Center which offers services for incoming and outgoing mail, UPS, and Fed-Ex. They manage the offsite records storage relationship, office supplies vendor, and copier vendor. They also help coordinate and manage our disaster recovery plan with supporting tests. The operations area maintains the reception area and operator assistance.

In Rapid City, the Operations Department provides a number of services that support internal and field operations. Agency administration responsibilities include processes related to agent licensing, commission payments and records, and Agency relationships. The Records Department is responsible for collecting and managing all policy records and for the administration of records retention for the entire company. The Operations Department also incorporates the Building Services Department, including supply and equipment purchasing, which ensures a safe and pleasant work environment for our employees. Finally, Mail Service Management provides valuable services allowing employees to carry out their job responsibilities efficiently.

The Preneed Development Group works closely with Assurant Preneed firms and business partners to build and maintain their preneed programs. Our primary responsibilities include the recruiting and hiring of counselors and preneed managers, sales training, program development and implementation, coaching and motivating staff, and strategic business planning and guidance.

The Sales Department establishes and builds strong relationships with clients and other personnel, including all key contacts within funeral firms. They ensure that Assurant Preneed is delivering on services and product agreements. They educate and advise our existing client base in developing new business and marketing opportunities. The Sales Department is responsible for implementing and supporting sales strategies within their assigned territory enabling the company to achieve established long and short term sales objectives. This includes developing new business, servicing existing customers and the training of funeral home personnel and independent agents.

The Sales Operations Department provides a number of services that support the field account executives in better serving our funeral home clients. The department works closely with sales management, sales training and marketing to implement sales strategies and marketing initiatives. There are two major teams within Sales Operations: Account Coordinator and Administrative. The Account Coordinator Team’s major areas of responsibility include creating customer business plans and proposals, direct mail campaigns, order fulfillment of forms and marketing materials, and convention planning. The Administrative Team provides assistance with basic administrative duties, meeting and event planning, departmental support, customer communications and customer service.