Research & Reports
Thoughts on the Business in Q2 – Based on Preliminary Data
Earlier this week LIMRA came out with preliminary annuity industry sales data for the second quarter, and in this commentary we will give our take on the numbers and what they might portend moving forward…
Thoughts on the Annuity Value Proposition as Q2 Results Come In
As we write this, second quarter earnings season for insurers is well underway and, by most accounts, we can look forward to very positive news from most players, as early indications are that sales of...
Reviewing Notable VA Industry Filings from the Month of October
In this report we’ll cover a batch of notable variable annuity product filings from this month which includes a benefit buyback offer, a contract exchange offer, new contract registrations, multiple fee changes and other adjustments…
Thinking About the Variable Annuity Business in 2016 – and Beyond
Not long ago industry research firms released full-year 2016 variable annuity sales data, thus in this report we’ll give our thoughts on what the numbers revealed, and discuss some themes from last year might remain...
VA Industry Sales Remained Weak in Q2 – And May Drop Further
Leading industry research firms released second-quarter 2016 annuity sales data not long ago, and results for variable annuities were down substantially over last year, while some fixed annuity product types did fairly well…
Reflecting on the GMIB – And Its Current Place in the VA Industry
While the number of guaranteed minimum income benefits (GMIBs) has dropped dramatically from years past, a few still remain for sale, and in this report we will discuss them, and share thoughts on how they...
A Rough Market Start – Does it Portend Anything for Annuities?
Just as we were getting back into the swing of things after the holidays, there was a sharp decline in the stock market, which prompted us to think of what the implications could be for...
On 2015: A Time of Shifting Realities For the Variable Annuity Business
Each year we provide, with our last issue of December, a quick rundown of how the variable annuity business performed so far, from our perspective, and a few forward-looking thoughts for the New Year. While...
The Deferred Income Annuity – A Product With a Hopeful Future
In this report we’ll discuss deferred income annuities (DIAs), products that, in our view, were built to provide less risky forms of guaranteed income as compared to living benefits, and to answer longstanding objections to...