Research & Reports
Getting a Handle on VA Industry Progress – Based on Early Q2 Results
Each quarter, when we review variable annuity deposit and net flow results of publicly-traded insurers, we’re also trying to get some idea as to how the industry as a whole might be doing. We’ve performed...
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from May, 2007
After reviewing variable fund filings from the month of May we found, as usual, interesting new registrations plus numerous changes and adjustments to fees and expenses, sub-advisors and other matters. Of particular note were some...
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from April, 2007
During April we didn’t identify a great many new variable fund registrations, rather most SEC filings over the month consisted of routine annual prospectus updates, many of which reiterated, or made official, changes or adjustments...
From Flat to Just Slightly Up: VA Insurers See Moderate Sales in Q1
For the publicly-traded variable annuity insurers we track on a quarterly basis, 2007 seemed to start off on a slow note, at least on a sequential basis: a few companies saw modest increases in sales...
The Latest News on Variable Annuities in Defined Contribution Plans
In this commentary we’re going to quickly give our perspective on news and developments related to variable annuities and defined contribution (DC) plans, especially 401(k)s, since many insurers perceive these programs to be a possible...
More of a Bargain: Movements in VA Contract Design and Structure
If there’s any one trend in variable annuity design we see building momentum, it’s that of insurers offering contracts with lower-than-average costs, usually combined with a relatively modest number of sub-accounts and optional benefits. Since...
Beyond Product – Insurers Work to Become Retirement Planners, Aggregators
There’s little doubt that success in the variable annuity marketplace over the years has been largely dictated by product and distribution strength, competition depending on what’s currently in favor, whether it be the latest VA...
Continuing the Discussion: VA Industry Issues Informing Product Designs
With this commentary we’ll follow up on our previous report by reflecting on some important themes in the variable annuity industry and how they are intimately connected to the products, features and funds being marketed...
Public Insurers’ Q4 VA Results Point to Overall Improvement for the Industry
For the fourth quarter of 2006 variable annuity sales grew for all the publicly-traded insurers we track, reflecting the experience of the industry as a whole, which we hear rebounded from the lackluster sales of...