How to set up your first product deck

Get started with Annuities Genius. By default, you will have access to view all the available products within the system. This allows you to explore different options, including those you may not be appointed with , to facilitate comparison and support your due diligence process. Here’s how to set up your first product deck and begin organizing your carriers and annuity products.

To get started, locate the button at the top near the small suitcase icon labeled "💼 All Products." If you only want to view the products you offer, be sure to configure this setting to filter out products you don't sell.

If your screen is smaller or the window isn’t fully expanded, the platform will collapse the navigation into the hamburger menu (three lines in the top left) Click that menu to open the

side navigation ☰ icon , where you will see Current Products and can switch your product deck.

Please note that the system will display all annuity products, including those you may not offer, such as Bank and Broker Dealer channels. If you're not a financial professional who sells these products or do not hold a securities license, it's a good idea to take a few minutes to review and adjust the settings as needed.

Carrier agents (may apply to you):

You may see products you work with, so double-check to ensure you're not missing any annuity products.

If you do not sell certain annuity products, it’s best to hide them. This will help you focus on the products that apply to you.

If you're unsure about which products you offer, it’s always a good idea to reach out to your upline or agency for help.

🎥 Here’s a full walkthrough tutorial for you to open and cross-reference with the system.

Now that we've covered the introduction, let's get started with Step 1. There are 3 steps in total, each with different settings to configure.

Step 1

Click on "New Deck"

Step 1: Name Your Custom Deck

To keep your different business models organized, start by giving your deck a unique name.

Action: In the DECK NAME field box, enter a specific name that identifies this selection (e.g., "My Independent Street Contracts" or "Bank-Only Products").
Purpose: This allows you to differentiate between various licensing setups so you can quickly switch views later.

Step 2: Define Your Distribution Channels

Filter the database to match your legal contract type.

Action: Under the DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS section, check the box for Indep. Agent.
Purpose: This ensures the deck only displays annuities available to independent producers and filters out products restricted to career agents or specific banks.

Step 3: Select Your Licensed Annuity Types

Only see the products you are actually licensed to offer.

Action: Under ANNUITY TYPES, check the categories that match your licensing (e.g., Fixed Index Annuities, MYGAs, or Income Annuities).
Purpose: This clears out irrelevant products, such as Registered Index-Linked Annuities (RILAs) if you do not hold a securities license.

Finally, click "Create" to proceed to the next page and begin. The entire process of naming the deck, selecting the distribution channel, and choosing the annuity types to determine what needs to be shown is essential for setting up a new deck.

Once you click "Create Deck," a new page will open with a list of annuity carriers you can select from:

Step 4: Enable Your Contracted Carriers

Ensure you are only seeing companies you are appointed with.

Action: Click on Edit carriers to open the "Appointed Carriers" screen.
Action: Use the Search by carrier name... bar to find companies like Allianz, F&G, or North American.
Action: Click the checkbox next to the carrier name to enable them in your deck.
Save: Hit the Save button to apply these carrier filters to your deck.

Step 5: Customize Your Portfolio to See Only What You Write

This final step is where you clean up your view so the software only shows the carriers and products you are actually appointed with.

Select Your Carriers: Click the Edit carriers button to see the full list of insurance companies available in the software.
Search for Your Companies: Use the Search by carrier name... bar to quickly find the companies you are appointed to write for, such as F&G, North American, or Allianz.
Enable the Carriers: Click the checkbox next to each insurance company you want to appear in your list.
Save Your Carrier List: Once you have selected all the companies you want to see, click the blue Save button at the top right.
Refine the Product List: Back on the main page, you can further customize your view. If there is a specific annuity you don't write (like the Allianz 360), click the blue checkbox next to the product name to uncheck it.
Add Missing Products: If you need to add a product back that you are now appointed to write, simply click the empty box next to the name to check it.
Final Lock-In: To lock in your changes for any specific carrier, you must click the green Save button located on the left side of that carrier's product box.

Quick Navigation Tips

Fast Search (PC): Hit Ctrl + F on your keyboard to find any specific name or word on the page instantly.
Fast Search (Mac): Hit Command (⌘) + F on your MacBook to find any name or word on the page instantly.
Missing a Category? Use the Edit annuity types button to ensure categories like FIAs or MYGAs are turned on.

Step 6: Verify the Header and Portfolio Label

The very last step is to verify that the header reflects your customized setup. This confirms that the software is now displaying only the specific list you just built.

Final Lock-In: Ensure you have clicked the green Save button on the left side of the carrier’s product box to finalize any individual product changes.
Check the Header: Look at the top-right corner of the screen at the Current products field.
Confirm the Name: After your setup is complete, this header should now display the specific name you gave your deck, such as "Appointed Carriers".
Ready to Write: If the header shows "Appointed Carriers", your view is now correctly defined and restricted to only those carriers and products you want to see.

If it still shows "💼All Products," it means you haven't switched it yet. This is the default view that displays all the carriers, products, and distribution channels (such as bank, BD, RIA, etc.) on the platform. Be sure to check all of this, as mentioned at the beginning of these instructions.

Not sure how to switch to a different deck you created? Click on the link below!

How to switch and confirm between different annuity lists on your deck

If you have any questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to contact us via email, the "Need Help?💭" blue bubble inside the system, or call us at 949-600-7707. 🙂