
Research & Reports
Looking Ahead – to 4Q13 Variable Annuity Business Results
Fourth quarter earnings season for publicly-traded annuity insurers is close upon us, and we expect that most companies will report fairly decent earnings performance for the time period, given that the stock market finished on...
Insurers Are Developing More Variations on the Investment-Only VA
As the year began, we were confident more investment-only variable annuities were on the drawing board and we were curious as to how insurers might tinker with the concept. It just so happens that some...
More Thoughts on Shapes VA Product Innovation Will Take This Year
Now that we're getting fully into 2014 we're seeing indications that variable annuity product innovations that either got started last year or gained momentum during that time will be built upon moving foward…
In 2013, VA Sales Eased While Other Annuity Products Gathered Steam
Throughout most of 2013, variable annuity sales took a downward trajectory, due mostly to the de-risking undertaken by insurers, mirroring moves they had executed the year before. While net flows into VAs slowed, fixed and...
Concerning Directions in the Annuity Business in Late 2013
It's our opinion that the annuity business in the U.S. is showing signs of becoming more balanced in terms of its product offerings and sales practices. Some of this process of change is happening partly...
Concerning VA Industry Sales and Product Moves for the Rest of 2013
In this commentary we'll share our views on competitive conditions in the variable annuity space, and discuss emerging products that may influence sales over the remainder of this year, and beyond…
Earnings Held Up for Insurers in Q3 – But VA Sales? Not So Much
It seems to us that most variable annuity insurers fared well this third quarter from an earnings standpoint, helped by a rise in the stock market. However VA sales were down for the group of...
Principal Financial to Offer a GLWB Exchange Program – Not a Buyback
It’s our opinion that vintage variable annuity benefits remain problematic for quite a few insurers, and we expect more de-risking measures to be taken over time. Last week Principal Financial filed a program that will...
Jackson National Moves to Limit 1035s Over the Remainder of This Year
Last Tuesday Jackson National sent a letter to financial advisors announcing the temporary suspension of 1035 exchanges and qualified transfers of assets into three variable annuity contract suites effective October 25. In this commentary we’ll...