Promoting Athene Products? Submit Advertising for Review
Advertising helps consumers understand how Athene annuity products and services can benefit them. It is an important part of how the public views you, your business and Athene.
The marketing and advertising of annuity products is subject to close regulatory scrutiny. Advertising regulations, statutes and guidance provided by our regulators are constantly changing and evolving. This requires awareness and open communication between Athene and our distribution partners.
Athene creates advertising and marketing materials that you may use and, in some cases, are obligated to use when offering, writing or servicing an Athene product. If you intend to use materials that are not created by Athene, the following guidelines will help ensure that they meet our requirements.
When do I need to submit advertising materials to Athene?
All advertising material, whether created by you or by your sales and marketing organization, that discusses or describes Athene, its products, or product features, or uses Athene’s name, logos or brand images must be submitted to Athene for review and approval prior to use. Even if you do not mention Athene explicitly, if you are using materials to discuss an Athene product, you must submit the advertising to Athene. All materials that may lead to the sale or attempted sale of an Athene product must be submitted for review and approval prior to use, including lead cards, seminar materials, and other sales-generating materials.
There are no exceptions to this approval process. No advertising as described above may be used while soliciting an Athene annuity without submitting through Athene’s review process and receiving approval.
How do I Submit Advertising Materials to Athene?
Our Ad Review Submission Process is available on Athene Connect and will give you step-by-step instructions on how to submit advertising.
While we move as quickly as possible, reviews may take two or more weeks, depending on the complexity of your submission. If revisions are needed on submitted materials, the Advertising Review Team will provide comments to your uploaded document via AdTrax, our online advertising submission and review tool. Remember, you must re-submit any revised materials (even if previously approved) to receive final approval and an approval number. The approval number must be visible on the advertising material prior to use. This can be critical when working with regulators on advertising issues.
Approved advertising is generally valid for 12 months from the date of approval. If you intend to revise or use advertising materials after the approval period, you must re-submit them for additional approval.
What are the consequences of using unapproved advertising?
Failure to submit advertising material for approval prior to use, or any use of unapproved advertising, may result in disciplinary action by Athene up to, and including, contract termination. Unapproved advertising includes the use of material that we instructed you to revise, but no revisions were made. Use of unapproved advertising can be especially problematic for a sale that results in a customer complaint or a regulatory matter.
If you are not sure whether your material fits the definition of advertising as described in these guidelines, please contact us to discuss at:
Athene – Advertising Review Department:
7700 Mills Civic Pkwy West Des Moines, IA 50266
Email: adreview@athene.com