"I know a good team when I see it. The professionals at Gateway Financial have given us unprecedented access to the information we need, with total transparency and an unbiased approach to advice that has allowed us to protect our family’s future for generations to come."


- Art Rooney II, President, Pittsburgh Steelers

2021-06-18T22:30:42+00:00
"I know a good team when I see it. The professionals at Gateway Financial have given us unprecedented access to the information we need, with total transparency and an unbiased approach to advice that has allowed us to protect our family’s future for generations to come." - Art Rooney II, President, Pittsburgh Steelers

"When it comes to planning for your future, there is no more important quality to find in an advisor than trust. Gateway Financial has earned my trust through the course of a long-term relationship by delivering great results. Their professionalism and expertise helped simplify and de-risk my insurance portfolio in alignment with my legacy planning. For my entire career, nothing meant more than being able to show concrete results and Gateway delivers on that front, ensuring my family’s long-term multi-generational success."


- Jim Rohr, Former CEO, PNC Private Bank

2021-06-18T22:22:43+00:00
"When it comes to planning for your future, there is no more important quality to find in an advisor than trust. Gateway Financial has earned my trust through the course of a long-term relationship by delivering great results. Their professionalism and expertise helped simplify and de-risk my insurance portfolio in alignment with my legacy planning. For my entire career, nothing meant more than being able to show concrete results and Gateway delivers on that front, ensuring my family’s long-term multi-generational success." - Jim Rohr, Former CEO, PNC Private Bank

“I can’t think of a more reputable organization than Gateway Financial nor a more dedicated community leader. Gateway Financial has made a commitment to embrace diversity and strikes the perfect balance of fiscal stewardship, planning, and social responsibility. Insurance benefits play a pivotal role in the attraction and retention of top talent and business succession planning and we are incredibly lucky to have Gateway’s innovative solution and inclusive leadership right here in Pittsburgh.”


- Sabrina Saunders, President and CEO of Vibrant Pittsburgh

2021-06-18T22:42:05+00:00
“I can’t think of a more reputable organization than Gateway Financial nor a more dedicated community leader. Gateway Financial has made a commitment to embrace diversity and strikes the perfect balance of fiscal stewardship, planning, and social responsibility. Insurance benefits play a pivotal role in the attraction and retention of top talent and business succession planning and we are incredibly lucky to have Gateway’s innovative solution and inclusive leadership right here in Pittsburgh.” - Sabrina Saunders, President and CEO of Vibrant Pittsburgh

"Gateway Financial understands the unique challenges – and opportunities – of a serial investor and entrepreneur. At DNS Capital, we value people and relationships first and the Gateway Financial professionals have created an environment of confidence and transparency that has guided us to create a plan for success that will help preserve the future of our multi-generational family."


- Michael Pucker, President & CEO, DNS Capital

2021-06-18T22:38:54+00:00
"Gateway Financial understands the unique challenges – and opportunities – of a serial investor and entrepreneur. At DNS Capital, we value people and relationships first and the Gateway Financial professionals have created an environment of confidence and transparency that has guided us to create a plan for success that will help preserve the future of our multi-generational family." - Michael Pucker, President & CEO, DNS Capital

"Having worked with Gateway Financial, I appreciate why PNC has chosen to partner with them. I truly understand my insurance portfolio and I know I can depend on Gateway to continue to deliver unwavering commitment and extraordinary service. Gateway has been a great partner to me, employing an unbiased approach and delivering results that will guarantee a solid future for many generations of my family."


- Karen Larrimer, Head of Retail Banking and Chief Customer Officer, PNC Private Bank

2021-06-18T22:41:06+00:00
"Having worked with Gateway Financial, I appreciate why PNC has chosen to partner with them. I truly understand my insurance portfolio and I know I can depend on Gateway to continue to deliver unwavering commitment and extraordinary service. Gateway has been a great partner to me, employing an unbiased approach and delivering results that will guarantee a solid future for many generations of my family." - Karen Larrimer, Head of Retail Banking and Chief Customer Officer, PNC Private Bank

Our Differentiators

Objectivity

Gateway Financial is independent; we are not committed to any one insurance carrier. We have the freedom to choose the carrier and product that effectively fits our clients’ needs. Our clients benefit from a line-up of leading brands in the industry and dozens of product types. This supports our ability to create, implement, and administer customized solutions. Our recommendations are based on objective, quantitative and qualitative studies of all highly-rated carriers and competitive products in the marketplace.

Competitive and Forensic Underwriting Approach

Underwriting offers may have a dramatic impact on the cost of insurance. The premium cost difference between a “standard” underwriting offer and a “super-preferred” offer can be as much as 30%. Gateway Financial’s process is geared towards enhancing underwriting offers while minimizing medical and financial requirements.

In most circumstances, the client’s medical records and insurance exam results are submitted to various carriers on an informal basis via a centralized, confidential and secure on-line underwriting requirement depository. This portal allows invited insurance carriers to view the preliminary medical information provided, assess it, then submit a preliminary underwriting offer for our consideration. Our informal submission process facilitates direct discussions between Gateway and the senior underwriters from multiple insurance carriers, allowing Gateway to negotiate the most favorable underwriting offers and pricing. In addition, it avoids the potential for any adverse reports about the client’s underwriting results being submitted unnecessarily to the Medical Information Bureau (“MIB”).

Our underwriting team’s experience in a variety of key areas—including exam results, case presentation, carrier negotiations, and capacity management—enhances Gateway Financial’s ability to simplify the underwriting experience for clients, facilitate competitive underwriting offers, and deliver effective underwriting support and service.

Policy Documentation Packages

Each time a life insurance policy is issued through Gateway Financial, Gateway prepares and delivers a Policy Documentation Package to its clients and their advisors.

This is a bound package of information that includes: 1) An overview of the purpose of the coverage; 2) An explanation of how the insurance product works; 3) “As issued” policy projections at various assumed cash value rates/dividend scales; 4) an explanatory summary of those projections; 5) a one-page policy summary that lists the policy number, insurance carrier, insured, billing address, policy death benefit, premium, premium mode, premium payment window, policy owner, beneficiary, premium payor, policy date, etc.; 6) the policy itself; and 7) copies of agreements pertaining to the policy (e.g. trust agreement).

Objective Third-Party
Insurance Audits

An Objective Third-Party Insurance Audit is a written, bound summary and comprehensive assessment of an existing life insurance portfolio.

The audit compares the policy application, the policy and the “as-issued” policy illustration to identify inconsistencies and determine if each policy was issued correctly with regard to insurance age, back-dated age (if applicable) and underwriting risk. For Section 1035 exchange cases, the audit checks to ensure that the basis and cash value rollover from exchanged policies were properly credited to the existing policy on a timely basis. It identifies the risk factors inherent in each policy type and the impact that these risk factors have on future policy performance and funding requirements. In cases where the insured’s health may have improved, the audit quantifies the premium savings that may be attainable if the insured undergoes additional underwriting and results are favorable. It also assesses the carrier(s)’ financial strength and financial outlook and identifies any former or current tax-detrimental policy ownership, beneficiary and premium payer arrangements (e.g. violation of the Transfer-For-Value rules).

Periodic “Benchmark” Reviews

Every one to three policy years (depending on the policy structure and client’s preference), Gateway Financial prepares and presents a Policy Benchmark Report to the client and the client’s advisors.

These reports summarize the policy’s ownership and product structure, track premium payments, identify changes in post-issue pricing elements, project policy performance going forward based on several alternative cash value rate/dividend scale assumption scenarios, report on any changes in the carrier’s financial ratings, and provide financial models and projections of recommended changes. These reports are called “Benchmark Reports” because they benchmark current, projected policy performance against the policy projection provided in the Policy Documentation Package when the policy was issued (i.e., the benchmark).

High-Touch, White-Glove,
Concierge Service

Our policy service model hinges on the proper calendaring of all potential future service events when a policy is first issued, including scheduled planned premium changes, acceptable no-lapse guaranteed premium windows, potential underwriting class improvement opportunities, conversion-period expiration dates, Section 101(j) compliance reminders, etc. These tracked events also include future policy reviews (i.e. Benchmark Reports) that we compile, provide and review with the client and their advisors on a periodic basis.