Research & Reports
Update: Variable ESG Portfolios
This spreadsheet is an update to our coverage of variable Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) portfolios with data through the fourth quarter of last year; at that time we counted 26 portfolios in operation, which...
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from March, 2026
Variable fund filing activity in March was moderate in our view. As usual, in this report we will provide coverage of noteworthy developments during that month, which included the registration of a new variable insurance...
LIMRA Numbers are in: A Few Thoughts on 2025 Industry Sales
LIMRA issued final 2025 annuity sales data not long ago, so in this report we’ll take the opportunity to weigh in on the numbers, in order identify prevailing trends and suggest how conditions might play...
Update: Variable Defined Outcome Portfolios
This spreadsheet contains data on variable defined outcome portfolios through the four quarter of 2025. At quarter’s end we counted 17 portfolios in operation which held $603.8 million in assets…
An Update on Variable Defined Outcome Portfolios Through 4Q25
In this commentary we’ll take the opportunity to get caught up with variable defined outcome portfolios, which have been declining in number steadily. Our intention is to conclude our coverage of them since we expect...
An Update on RILA Filings and Various Product Changes
About now we are getting clues as to where annuity product development is headed this year: we think there’s evidence that registered index-linked annuities (RILAs) will be in the forefront of activity, which makes sense...
Reading the Tea Leaves: About 4Q25 Annuity Industry Sales
We are still waiting for LIMRA to release final fourth quarter and full year 2025 annuity industry sales data so short of that we did see that WINK, Inc. released figures so we will discuss...
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from February, 2026
Variable fund filing activity in February is usually pretty active as industry players prepare for the May prospectus update season. This time around we saw one new registration along with an interesting batch of managerial...
Notes on 4Q25 Results of Selected Stock-Traded Annuity Insurers
Fourth quarter annuity business results for publicly traded insurers we track regularly were mixed in our view, with some carriers even saying they purposely lowered sales in order to be disciplined and “not chase a...
