AI Revolutionizes Annuities: Zinnia and Royal Neighbors Lead Charge

GREENWICH, Conn. – January 12, 2026 – In a significant move poised to reshape the life and annuity landscape, technology firm Zinnia has successfully launched its AI-powered platform, The Policy Processor (TPP), with Royal Neighbors of America. The collaboration marks a pivotal moment for the industry, as Royal Neighbors becomes the first insurance carrier to process annuities on TPP, signaling a major leap forward in the digital modernization of a traditionally complex financial product.

The partnership aims to tackle long-standing inefficiencies in annuity case management, promising greater speed, simplicity, and transparency for both financial professionals and their clients. For Zinnia, a company backed by major investment firms Eldridge Industries, KKR, and Vista Credit Partners, this launch extends its technological footprint into a critical segment of the insurance market. For Royal Neighbors, a 130-year-old fraternal benefit society, it represents a core component of its ongoing digital transformation strategy, reinforcing its commitment to member service.

A Digital Overhaul for a Complex Product

Annuities have long been essential tools for retirement planning, yet their back-office processing has remained notoriously cumbersome, often mired in manual paperwork, fragmented data systems, and lengthy review cycles. This operational friction can lead to delays, potential errors, and a frustrating experience for agents and customers alike. Zinnia's The Policy Processor is engineered to dismantle these barriers.

TPP is a new business and underwriting platform that unifies all case information, workflow processes, and policy data into a single, intuitive dashboard. By leveraging AI-powered intelligence and integrated workflows, the system automates many of the manual steps that slow down case management. Industry analysts note that platforms like TPP represent a paradigm shift, moving the industry away from siloed legacy systems toward integrated, cloud-based solutions. The platform’s latest version boasts capabilities such as AI-enabled summarization, which can distill hours of evidence review into minutes, and low-code configuration tools that allow carriers to flexibly adapt the system to their unique products and processes without extensive custom development.

This implementation allows Royal Neighbors to manage its annuity business alongside its Single Premium Whole Life products on one consistent platform. The move eliminates the need for case managers to navigate multiple disparate systems, fostering more consistent and reliable decision-making across the organization.

Mission-Driven Modernization

For Royal Neighbors of America, the adoption of this advanced technology is not merely an operational upgrade but a direct extension of its long-standing mission to "Insure Lives, Supporting Women, and Serving Communities℠." The organization, which recently celebrated its 130th anniversary, views the partnership as a crucial investment in its member and agent experience.

“This launch gives us the flexibility to deliver the experience our members and agents expect,” said Zarifa Reynolds, CEO and President of Royal Neighbors of America. “Members will experience faster, more seamless service, while agents gain time to focus on their clients. It’s a meaningful advancement in our mission to insure lives and serve communities.”

This focus on service is backed by a foundation of financial strength and social commitment. In 2024, the organization delivered a record $43.85 million in Social Good impact alongside record revenue. Its financial stability is underscored by an "A Excellent" rating from AM Best, which was affirmed in December 2024, and it has been certified as a Great Place to Work® for eight consecutive years. By streamlining its internal processes, Royal Neighbors aims to free up resources to deepen its community impact and empower its agents to provide more personalized, high-touch service.

Zinnia Cements Its Leadership in L&A Tech

The successful deployment of TPP for annuities solidifies Zinnia's position as a dominant force in the life and annuity technology sector. This move comes after Zinnia's strategic acquisition of Ebix's life and annuity software assets in 2024, a deal that brought industry-leading platforms like AnnuityNet, LifeSpeed, and TPP under one roof. With AnnuityNet already processing over half of all annuities submitted by the bank and broker-dealer community in the U.S., Zinnia now commands a significant portion of the entire annuity value chain, from distribution to new business processing.

“Royal Neighbors is deeply focused on serving members and supporting agents, and this launch helps them do both,” said George Esposito, CEO of Zinnia. “TPP consolidates the work of annuity case management into one platform, cutting friction and enabling faster, more reliable processing. We’re proud to help advance their mission with a modern foundation that can grow with their business.“

This partnership sets a new benchmark in the industry, placing competitive pressure on other carriers to accelerate their own modernization efforts. The L&A technology market is fiercely competitive, with players like DXC Technology and Sapiens also rolling out AI-enhanced platforms. However, Zinnia's successful implementation with a respected carrier like Royal Neighbors for a product as complex as annuities serves as a powerful proof point of its capabilities and deepens its competitive moat.

The Future of Underwriting and Client Service

The collaboration between Zinnia and Royal Neighbors is emblematic of a broader industry-wide transformation driven by artificial intelligence. Insurers are increasingly turning to technology to not only cut costs and improve efficiency but also to fundamentally enhance the experience for advisors and end-consumers. AI is evolving from a back-office tool into a "co-pilot" for underwriters and agents, capable of summarizing complex documents, flagging risks, and ensuring application accuracy.

This technological evolution promises to make complex financial products like annuities more accessible and transparent. By automating routine tasks, platforms like TPP allow human experts to focus on higher-value activities: complex risk assessment, strategic decision-making, and building client relationships. For consumers, this translates into a faster, clearer, and more reliable path to securing their financial future. As more carriers follow the lead of innovators like Royal Neighbors, the industry is poised to deliver on the promise of a truly modern, human-centered insurance experience.