
Research & Reports
Notes on 2Q25 Results of Selected Stock-Traded Annuity Insurers
In our view, second quarter results for publicly traded insurers we track regularly were pretty good: earnings held up well despite annuity assets falling during the market turmoil in April. Sales remain on track for...
Another Reflection – on Annuity Industry Surrenders
Annuity surrenders are very much on the radar screen of the industry, because multiple studies say that in recent years surrender activity has increased – and is expected to rise this year as well –...
Quick Thoughts – on LIMRA’s Preliminary 2Q25 Sales Figures
Last week LIMRA issued preliminary second quarter sales data and in this commentary, we will give our thoughts on those numbers, which indicate the industry is maintaining its upward momentum – thanks to but a...
Our Customary Thoughts – on LIMRA’s 1Q25 Sales Figures
Last week, LIMRA issued final first quarter sales data and in this commentary we will give our thoughts on those numbers, focusing mainly on deferred annuities…
Contemplating Annuity Surrenders – and Their Link to Sales
A few months ago, some insurance equity analysts said they are forecasting heightened annuity surrenders during calendar year 2025, and that may generate increased sales into certain products at the expense of others, given the...
Notes on 4Q24 Results of Selected Stock-Traded Annuity Insurers
Annuity sales improved this past fourth quarter for most of the publicly-traded insurers we cover regularly, as did profitability, although not all the news was positive, as some companies reported issues with declining interest rates,...
Various Early-Year Thoughts on the Indexed Annuity Market
We were planning to weigh in with some thoughts on the indexed annuity side of the industry and, just before we were ready to publish this report, noticed that LIMRA came out with preliminary fourth...
Notes on 3Q24 Results of Selected Stock-Traded Annuity Insurers
Third quarter annuity sales were up nicely for most of the publicly-traded insurers we cover regularly, as conditions continue to be very favorable for fixed, indexed and registered-index linked annuities (RILAs), although traditional VAs had...
A Discussion of a Popular RILA Strategy: Dual Direction
For a while we have been meaning to delve into a product feature we think has become a must-have for serious competitors in the registered index-linked annuity (RILA) space, namely Dual Direction, which has the...