BROKER DEALER MARKETING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT FOR VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS
BROKER DEALER | ||
MARKETING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT | ||
FOR VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS | ||
This Broker Dealer Marketing and Servicing Agreement for Variable Annuity Contracts (the “Agreement”) is | ||
effective this ______ day of ________________, 2013, by and among Principal Life Insurance Company | ||
(“Issuer”) and Princor Financial Services Corporation (“Distributor”), on the one hand, and | ||
_______________________ and its duly licensed insurance affiliates indicated on the signature page of this | ||
Agreement, if any, (collectively “Broker Dealer”), on the other hand. Distributor, Issuer and Broker Dealer are | ||
individually referred to as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties” | ||
RECITALS | ||
A. | Issuer offers certain individual variable annuity contracts listed in the exhibit(s) attached to this Agreement | |
(“Annuity Contracts”). The exhibit(s) attached to this Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and | ||
made a part hereof (“Exhibits”). | ||
B. | Distributor is a broker dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under | |
the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “1934 Act”) and a member in good standing of | ||
the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Distributor is the principal underwriter of the | ||
Annuity Contracts. | ||
C. | Broker Dealer is engaged in the sale of securities and other investment products, including variable annuity | |
contracts. Broker Dealer either is licensed in certain states as an insurance agent or agency or has entered | ||
into an insurance networking agreement with the undersigned duly licensed insurance affiliates to act on its | ||
behalf in the capacity of a licensed insurance agent or agency. | ||
D. | The Parties enter into this Agreement for the purpose of authorizing Broker Dealer to solicit sales of and | |
service Annuity Contracts, subjects to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Exhibits. | ||
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained in this Agreement, the | ||
receipt and sufficiency of which the Parties acknowledge, the Parties agree as follows: | ||
REPRESENTATIONS | ||
1. | Issuer represents that the Annuity Contracts shall comply with the registration and other applicable | |
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) and the Investment Company Act of 1940 | ||
(the “40 Act”) and the rules and regulations thereunder, including the terms of any order of the SEC | ||
with respect thereto. Issuer further represents that the Annuity Contract prospectuses included in | ||
Issuer’s registration statement, post-effective amendments, and any supplements thereto, as filed or to be | ||
filed with the SEC, as of their respective effective dates, contain or will contain all statements and | ||
information required to be stated therein by the 1933 Act and in all respects conform or will conform to | ||
the requirements thereof, and no prospectus, nor any supplement thereof, includes or will include any | ||
untrue statement of a material fact, or omits or will omit to state any material fact required to be stated | ||
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the | ||
foregoing representations shall not apply to information contained in or omitted from any prospectus or | ||
supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to Issuer by Broker | ||
Dealer specifically for use in preparation thereof. The foregoing representations also shall not apply to | ||
information contained in or omitted from any prospectus or supplement of any underlying mutual fund. | ||
2 | . | Broker Dealer represents and warrants that it is a broker dealer registered with the SEC under the 1934 |
Act, a member in good standing of FINRA, and is registered as a broker dealer under state law to the | ||
extent required in order for it or those persons who are registered with it and licensed as insurance | ||
producers (“Registered Representatives”) to provide the services described in this Agreement. Broker | ||
Dealer agrees to abide by all rules and regulations of FINRA, including its Conduct Rules, and to | ||
comply with all applicable state and federal laws and the rules and regulations of authorized regulatory | ||
agencies affecting the sale and servicing of Annuity Contracts. | ||
MARKETING/SERVICING | ||
3 | . | Issuer and Distributor appoint Registered Representatives to solicit and procure applications for the sale |
of and service of Annuity Contracts. This appointment is not exclusive and only extends to those | ||
jurisdictions in which the Annuity Contracts have been approved for sale and in which Broker Dealer | ||
and Registered Representatives are properly registered, licensed and appointed. | ||
4 | . | Broker Dealer will itself be, or will select persons associated with it who are, trained and qualified to |
solicit applications for purchase and service of Annuity Contracts in conformance with applicable state | ||
and federal laws. Any such persons shall be registered representatives of Broker Dealer in accordance | ||
with the rules of FINRA and any applicable state laws, be licensed to offer the Annuity Contracts in | ||
accordance with the insurance laws of any jurisdiction in which such person solicits applications and be | ||
licensed with and appointed by Issuer to solicit applications for and service Annuity Contracts. | ||
5 | . | Broker Dealer will use commercially reasonable efforts to train and instruct its Registered |
Representatives not to make recommendations to an applicant to purchase an Annuity Contract in the | ||
absence of reasonable grounds to believe that the purchase is suitable for such applicant, in accordance | ||
with the suitability and disclosure requirements of the 1934 Act, FINRA Conduct Rule 2310, and any | ||
state insurance law or regulation governing the offer and sale of Annuity Contracts, including any state | ||
law or regulation governing sales to the public in general (e.g. consumer protection laws or regulations, | ||
unfair trade practices, annuity disclosure regulations, etc.) or to senior citizens, as the same may be | ||
amended or interpreted from time to time. Broker Dealer will use commercially reasonable efforts to | ||
determine that each transaction is completed with a Registered Representative's report indicating | ||
suitability, including any required and necessary customer information, and is subjected to a review | ||
process in compliance with FINRA Conduct Rule 3010, as the same may be amended or interpreted | ||
from time to time. Each application shall be approved by one of Broker Dealer’s registered principals, in | ||
accordance with all applicable FINRA rules. | ||
6 | . | The activities of all Registered Representatives, employees and agents (“producers”) will be under the |
direct supervision and control of Broker Dealer. The right of Registered Representatives to solicit | ||
applications for the purchase and service of Annuity Contracts is subject to their continued compliance | ||
with the rules and procedures that may be established by Broker Dealer, or Issuer, including, but not | ||
limited to, those set forth in this Agreement. | ||
7 | . | Broker Dealer shall ensure that applications for the purchase of Annuity Contracts are solicited only in |
the states where Annuity Contracts are qualified for sale, and only in accordance with the terms and | ||
conditions of the then current prospectus applicable to Annuity Contracts and will make no | ||
representations not included in the prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, or in any | ||
authorized supplemental material supplied by Distributor. With regard to Annuity Contracts, Broker | ||
Dealer shall not use or permit its producers to use any sales promotion materials or any form of | ||
advertising other than that supplied or approved by Distributor. Issuer and Distributor shall provide only | ||
approved supplemental material, advertising and sales materials, including illustrations, for Broker | ||
Dealer’s use. | ||
8 | . | Broker Dealer will promptly forward to the appropriate office of Distributor, or its authorized designee, |
all Annuity Contract applications along with other documents, if any, and any payments received with | ||
such applications and will have no rights of set off for any reason. Any Annuity Contract application | ||
that is rejected, together with any payment made and other documents submitted, shall be returned to | ||
Broker Dealer or the source of the payments. | ||
9 | . | Broker Dealer shall ensure that the prospectus delivery requirements under the 1933 Act and all other |
applicable securities and insurance laws, rules and regulations are met and that delivery of any | ||
prospectus for Annuity Contracts will be accompanied by delivery of the prospectus for the underlying | ||
mutual funds, and, where required by state law, the Statement of Additional Information for the | ||
underlying mutual funds. Issuer or Distributor shall inform Broker Dealer of those states that require | ||
delivery of a Statement of Additional Information with the prospectus on initial sale. Broker Dealer is | ||
responsible for prospectus delivery requirements only on initial sale. Issuer and Distributor will be | ||
responsible for prospectus delivery annually after the original sale. | ||
10 | . | Broker Dealer agrees to maintain all books and records relating to the servicing and sale of Annuity |
Contracts or interests therein required under the 1934 Act, and any applicable rules promulgated | ||
thereunder, and applicable securities or insurance laws of any states. | ||
11 | . | Broker Dealer understands and agrees that in performing the services covered by this Agreement, it is |
acting in the capacity of an independent contractor and not as an agent or employee of Distributor or | ||
Issuer and is not authorized to act for, or make any representation on behalf of, Distributor or Issuer | ||
except as specified herein. Broker Dealer understands and agrees that Issuer shall execute telephone | ||
transactions only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the then current prospectus applicable | ||
to Annuity Contracts and agrees that in consideration for Broker Dealer's right to exercise the telephone | ||
transaction services neither Distributor nor Issuer will be liable for any loss, injury or damage incurred | ||
as a result of acting upon, nor will they be held responsible for the authenticity of any telephone | ||
instructions containing unauthorized, incorrect or incomplete information. Broker Dealer agrees to | ||
indemnify and hold harmless Distributor and Issuer against any loss, injury or damage resulting from | ||
any telephone transactions instruction containing unauthorized, incorrect or incomplete information | ||
received from Broker Dealer or any of its Registered Representatives. (Telephone instructions are | ||
recorded on tape.) | ||
12 | . | Broker Dealer has no authority to: incur any liability or debt on behalf of Issuer or Distributor; accept |
risks or contracts of any kind; make, alter, authorize or discharge any contract; fail to transmit promptly | ||
any contributions collected to Issuer or Distributor; or bind Issuer or Distributor in any way. | ||
13 | . | Broker Dealer agrees to notify Distributor promptly of any change, termination, or suspension of its |
status as a broker dealer or FINRA member. Broker Dealer shall immediately notify Distributor with | ||
respect to i) the initiation and disposition of any form of disciplinary action by the FINRA or any other | ||
agency or instrumentality having jurisdiction with respect to the subject matter hereof against Broker | ||
Dealer or any Registered Representative; ii) the issuance of any form of deficiency notice made part of | ||
the public record by FINRA or any such agency regarding Broker Dealer's training, supervision or sales | ||
practices; and/or iii) the effectuation of any consensual order with respect thereto. | ||
14. Broker Dealer agrees to notify Distributor and Issuer immediately of any customer complaints or legal |
or regulatory inquiries (including, but not limited to, subpoenas) regarding any Annuity Contracts |
offered or sold pursuant to the Agreement. Broker Dealer shall provide full, prompt cooperation and |
assistance to Distributor and Issuer in responding to and resolving any such complaints or inquiries. |
15. Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer Compliance: The Parties acknowledge that they are |
financial institutions subject to the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the Bank Secrecy Act (collectively, the |
“AML Acts”), which require, among other things, that financial institutions adopt compliance programs |
to guard against money laundering. Each Party represents and warrants that it is in compliance and will |
continue to comply with the AML Acts and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, FINRA, and |
any other self-regulatory organizations, as they now exist and as they may be amended in the future. |
Broker Dealer represents and warrants that it has adopted a customer identification program and will |
verify the identity of customers who purchase Annuity Contracts. Periodically, Issuer or Distributor may |
ask Broker Dealer to, and Broker Dealer agrees to, certify that it is compliance with the requirements, |
representations and warranties in this paragraph. The Parties further acknowledge that they have a |
current 314(b) notice on file with FinCEN in accordance with section 314(b) of the USA Patriot Act and |
agree to refile such notice annually (or as otherwise required to remain current in accordance with |
applicable rules and regulations) during the term of this Agreement. |
COMPENSATION |
16. Unless otherwise provided, Issuer, on behalf of Distributor, shall pay compensation to Broker Dealer as |
set out in this Agreement and the Exhibits. Compensation shall only be paid to Broker Dealer of record |
on premiums paid to and retained by Issuer while this Agreement is in force. Broker Dealer agrees to |
pay a commission to Registered Representatives in connection with the sales or servicing of Annuity |
Contracts under this Agreement. |
17. In those states where Broker Dealer has not obtained an insurance license, Broker Dealer represents and |
warrants that: it has entered into an insurance networking agreement with the undersigned duly licensed |
insurance affiliate(s) to act on its behalf in the capacity of a licensed insurance agent or agency |
(“Affiliated Agency”). Broker Dealer authorizes Issuer to pay any compensation owed to Broker Dealer |
from the sales or servicing of Annuity Contracts to such Affiliated Agency. Broker Dealer remains fully |
responsible for recordkeeping and supervision of the solicitation, sale and/or servicing of Annuity |
Contracts. All compensation received by Affiliated Agency in accordance with this section will be |
distributed by Affiliated Agency only to duly licensed and registered representatives who have been |
appointed by Issuer to solicit applications for Annuity Contracts. |
18. Issuer and Distributor may change the compensation schedules set forth in the attached Exhibits at any |
time and will notify Broker Dealer of the revised compensation schedules electronically or by other |
writing in advance of the effective date of the change. Any change to the compensation schedules will |
affect only commissions payable on Annuity Contracts with an effective date on or after the effective |
date of the change, unless otherwise provided or required by law. Issuer or Distributor may discontinue |
the issuance of any form of Annuity Contract and fix the amount of compensation on Annuity Contracts |
issued in exchange for previously issued Annuity Contracts. |
19. Broker Dealer agrees to return promptly to Issuer all compensation received for any Annuity Contract |
returned within the "free look" period as specified in the Annuity Contract. Issuer expressly reserves the |
right to change the broker dealer of record or Registered Representative in the event an Annuity |
Contract owner so requests. |
20. Any indebtedness or obligation of Broker Dealer to Distributor or Issuer, whether arising hereunder or | ||
otherwise, shall be set off against any compensation payable under this Agreement or any other | ||
agreement between or among the Parties or their affiliates. Indebtedness or obligations include but are | ||
not limited to any debt, liability, or debit balance resulting from Issuer’s reversal of compensation under | ||
this Agreement or any other agreement between or among the Parties or their affiliates. It also includes | ||
any amount paid by Issuer or Distributor, including reasonable attorney fees and costs, to settle a | ||
complaint or satisfy any judgment entered by any court, administrative agency or arbitrator related to | ||
any Annuity Contract sold by Broker Dealer, or its producers or breach of Broker Dealer’s duties and | ||
responsibilities contained in this or any prior Agreement, whether or not the liability for settlement or | ||
satisfaction of judgment arose after the termination of this Agreement. Issuer or Distributor reserves the | ||
right to use any remedies under the law to collect any indebtedness Broker Dealer owes Issuer or | ||
Distributor and Broker Dealer agrees to pay any reasonable attorney’s fees and actual costs of collection | ||
incurred as a result of such action. | ||
CONFIDENTIALITY | ||
21. | a. | Confidentiality. Each Party acknowledges that, in the course of performing its duties under this |
Agreement or otherwise, it may receive or learn information about individuals who have applied for | ||
or purchased financial products or financial services from the other Party, including, but not limited | ||
to, personal, financial and/or health information ("Confidential Information"). Each Party agrees | ||
that it will not use or disclose to any affiliate or third party, orally or in writing, any Confidential | ||
Information of the other Party for any purpose other than the purpose for which the Confidential | ||
Information was provided to that Party. Without limiting any of the foregoing, each Party agrees to | ||
take all precautions that are reasonably necessary to protect the security of the other Party’s | ||
Confidential Information. Each Party agrees to restrict access to the other Party’s Confidential | ||
Information to those employees who need to know that information to perform their duties under this | ||
Agreement. Each Party further agrees that, upon request of the other Party, it will return to the Party | ||
making such request all tangible items containing any Confidential Information of the other Party, | ||
including all copies, abstractions and compilations thereof, without retaining any copies of the items | ||
required to be returned. The obligations of this paragraph extend to the employees, agents, affiliates | ||
and contractors of each Party and each Party shall inform such persons of their obligations | ||
hereunder. | ||
21. | b. | Notification obligation. Each Party shall, upon learning of any unauthorized disclosure or use of any |
of the other Party’s Confidential Information, notify the other Party promptly and cooperate fully | ||
with such Party to protect such Confidential Information. | ||
21. | c. | Disclosure required by law. If Broker Dealer believes it is required by law or by a subpoena or court |
order to disclose any Confidential Information, Broker Dealer, prior to any disclosure, shall | ||
promptly notify Issuer in writing attaching a copy of the subpoena, court order or other demand and | ||
shall make all reasonable efforts to allow Issuer an opportunity to seek a protective order or other | ||
judicial relief. | ||
21. | d. | Non-restricted information. Except as stated in the final sentence of this paragraph, nothing in this |
Agreement shall be construed to restrict disclosure or use of information that: (a) was in the | ||
possession of or rightfully known by the recipient, without an obligation to maintain its | ||
confidentiality, prior to receipt from the other Party; (b) is or becomes generally known to the public | ||
without violation of this Agreement; (c) is obtained by the recipient in good faith from a third party | ||
having the right to disclose it without an obligation of confidentiality; (d) is independently | ||
developed by the receiving Party without the participation of individuals who have had access to the | ||
other Party’s confidential or proprietary information. The Parties acknowledge that certain laws | ||
governing Confidential Information about individuals are more restrictive than the foregoing | ||
statements and they agree to comply in all respects with such laws. | ||
21. | e. | Compliance with law. Each Party agrees, in connection with its performance under this Agreement, |
to comply with all applicable laws, including but not limited to laws protecting the privacy of non- | ||
public personal information about individuals. | ||
21. | f. | Survival. The provisions of this Agreement relating to confidentiality shall survive termination or |
expiration of this Agreement. | ||
INDEMNIFICATION | ||
22. In connection with the offer, sale or servicing of Annuity Contracts, Broker Dealer agrees to indemnify | ||
and hold harmless Distributor and Issuer from any damage or expense, including reasonable attorneys’ | ||
fees, as a result of (a) the negligence, misconduct or wrongful act of Broker Dealer or producers; (b) any | ||
violation of any securities or insurance laws, regulations or orders or (c) any actual obligation of the | ||
Affiliated Agency under terms of the agreement between Broker Dealer and the Affiliated Agency, | ||
including claims by one or more of Registered Representatives for compensation due or to become due | ||
on account of such Registered Representatives’ sale or servicing of Annuity Contracts and any claims or | ||
controversy between Broker Dealer and Affiliated Agency as to rights to compensation. | ||
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Broker Dealer shall not indemnify and hold harmless Distributor and | ||
Issuer from any damage or expense on account of the negligence, misconduct or wrongful act of Broker | ||
Dealer or producer if such negligence, misconduct or wrongful act arises out of or is based upon any | ||
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of material fact, or the omission or alleged omission of a | ||
material fact in: (i) any registration statement, including any prospectus or any post-effective | ||
amendment thereto; or (ii) any material prepared and/or supplied by Distributor or Issuer for use in | ||
conjunction with the offer or sale of Annuity Contracts, or (iii) any state registration or other document | ||
filed in any state or jurisdiction in order to qualify any Annuity Contracts under the securities laws of | ||
such state or jurisdiction. The terms of this provision shall not be impaired by termination of this | ||
Agreement | ||
23. In connection with the solicitation of applications for the purchase of Annuity Contracts, Distributor and | ||
Issuer agree to indemnify and hold harmless Broker Dealer from any damage or expense, including | ||
reasonable attorneys’ fees, as a result of the negligence, misconduct or wrongful act of Distributor or | ||
Issuer or any employee, representative or agent of Distributor or Issuer, including but not limited to, any | ||
damage or expense which arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue | ||
statement of material fact, or the omission or alleged omission of a material fact in: (i) any registration | ||
statement, including any prospectus or any post-effective amendment thereto; or (ii) any material | ||
prepared and/or supplied by Distributor or Issuer for use in conjunction with the offer or sale of Annuity | ||
Contracts; or (iii) any state registration or other document filed in any state or other jurisdiction in order | ||
to qualify any Annuity Contract under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction and/or any actual | ||
or alleged violation of any securities or insurance laws, regulations or orders. The terms of this | ||
provision shall not be impaired by termination of this Agreement. | ||
GENERAL PROVISIONS | ||
24. Issuer or Distributor may modify this Agreement at any time by written notice to Broke Dealer. Any | ||
notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date upon which it was either delivered personally or | ||
by fax or e-mail transmission to the other Party, or mailed post prepaid to his or its address as shown |
herein. |
25. Any Party hereto may terminate this Agreement at any time upon prior written notice. This Agreement |
shall automatically terminate if Broker Dealer voluntarily or involuntarily ceases to be or is suspended |
from being, a member in good standing of FINRA. In addition, Distributor and Issuer reserve the right |
to terminate this Agreement in the event that any producer of Broker Dealer is suspended, disciplined or |
found to be in violation of governing insurance or securities laws, rules or regulations. Failure of any |
Party to terminate this Agreement for any of the causes set forth in this Agreement shall not constitute a |
waiver of the right to terminate this Agreement at a later time for any such causes. |
26. This Agreement may not be assigned by Broker Dealer without the prior written consent of Issuer and |
Distributor, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. |
27. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Iowa. |
28. No failure or delay to exercise, nor any single or partial exercise of, any right, power, or privilege given |
or arising under this Agreement will operate as a waiver of future rights to exercise any such right, |
power, or privilege. |
29. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be considered an |
original, but all of those counterparts will together constitute only one Agreement. |
30. The determination that any provision of this Agreement is not enforceable in a particular jurisdiction |
will not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions generally, or in any other |
jurisdiction or as to any other entities not involved in that judgment. Such unenforceable provisions will |
be stricken or deemed modified in accordance with such determination and this Agreement, as so |
modified, will continue to be in force and effect. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on the date first above |
written. |
ABC Company, Broker Dealer |
By: ____________________________ |
_______________________________ |
Please type or print name |
_______________________________ |
Please type or print Title |
Date: __________________________ |
Princor Financial Services Corporation | |
By _______________________________________ | |
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |
Operations Officer | |
Date: ____________________________________ | |
Principal Life Insurance Company | |
By _______________________________________ | |
Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Assistant Vice President – Marketer Services | |
Date: ____________________________________ | |
Affiliated Agencies of Broker Dealer | |
By _______________________________________ | |
__________________________________________ | |
Please type or print name | |
__________________________________________ | |
Please type or print Title | |
Date: ____________________________________ | |
EXHIBIT A |
COMPENSATION SCHEDULE FOR |
PRINCIPAL VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS |
Products may not be available in all states and state variations may apply. |
Trail commissions are calculated as a percentage of account value. |
Commissions for variable annuities are based on the age of the oldest owner or annuitant. |
The trail commission is paid to the current servicing agent of record provided the Annuity Contract is still in effect. |
Servicing agent means the broker dealer or Registered Representative appointed by us and accepted by the contract owner |
as the servicing agent. If the contract owner requests a change in the servicing agent or if we decide that a change would |
be in the best interests of the contract owner, trail commissions will be paid to the new servicing agent or his/her broker |
dealer where appropriate. No trail commissions are paid after termination of this Agreement. |
Principal Variable Annuity (FVA)*/Principal |
Investment Plus Variable Annuity (IPVA)** |
A. Option Elections |
The Broker Dealer will be paid compensation on sales of Principal Variable Annuity/Principal Investment Plus Variable |
Annuitysm Contracts in accordance with the Compensation Options elected herein and which its Registered Representative |
shall elect, using the election procedures established by the Issuer, upon submission of the product application to the |
Issuer and for which good payment has been received. |
Compensation paid will be based on Option A unless, upon submission of the contract application, the Registered |
Representative elects another Option made available to it by Broker Dealer’s election below. |
Check the options available to your Registered Representatives. |
X_ Option A - Full front end compensation with no trail |
___Option B - Slightly lower front-end commission with a .10% annual trail commission paid quarterly starting at the end |
of the fifth quarter |
___Option C - Lower front-end commission with a .30% annual trail commission paid quarterly starting at the end of the |
fifth quarter |
___Option D – Low or no up front-end commission based upon issue age with a 1.0% annual trail commission paid |
quarterly starting at the end of the fifth quarter |