Research & Reports
Notes on 4Q23 Results of Selected Stock-Traded Annuity Insurers
Annuity sales for stock-traded insurers we monitor regularly went fairly well in the fourth quarter, reflecting momentum the industry sustained throughout 2023, but not all was positive: we did see a few instances where profits...
Thoughts on Current Challenges for the Annuity Business
We have to think most annuity insurers were optimistic as last year ended, as total sales were once again at record levels. Conditions proved near perfect for the industry, as rising interest rates and stock...
Notes on 3Q23 Results of Selected Stock-Traded Annuity Insurers
Our coverage group of stock-traded insurers performed well in the third quarter we thought. As has been the case this year, fixed annuity carriers fared the best, although we saw some flashes of growth on...
The U.S. Annuity Business In 2022 – Looking at a New Sales Record
In this, our last commentary of the year, we will give our thoughts on how the U.S. annuity business performed in 2022, based on sales and other data we have to date. It is admittedly...
Notes on Registered Index-Linked Annuity (RILA) Competition
Since we get the feeling that due to rising interest rates, registered index-linked annuities will be encountering stiffer competition from other annuities, we figured now would be a great time to get caught up on...
Wrapping Up Coverage of Variable Annuity Product Filings from 2021
This report will be like one we published around this time last year, in which we’ll give our final thoughts on variable annuity product filings from 2021, a time we would characterize as relatively slow...
Our Year-End Comments on How the Industry Performed In 2021
Each year we devote our last commentary to a consideration of how the U.S. annuity business performed – mostly on the variable annuity side, as it still is our primary focus – however over time...
Some Thoughts on a Very Active Fixed-Index Annuity Pipeline
Lately we’ve started to cover fixed-index annuities (FIAs) more closely, and in so doing noticed that part of the market has been quite active in terms of product development, this despite a decline in sales...
Covering Filings of VA Contracts and GLWBs – and a New RILA
In this commentary we’ll get caught up with filings of new variable annuities, registered index-linked annuities (RILAs) and guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits (GLWBs) that have been submitted to the SEC recently. While taking stock of...