
Research & Reports
GLWB Update – Newest Riders Contain Risk-Related Components
There’s little doubt variable annuity insurers are carefully monitoring their benefit risk levels, leading them to come out with new Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefits (GLWBs) with elements that will make adjustments to ward off the...
Variable Annuity Sales from 1Q10 – Could The Industry Be Back on Track?
The fortunes of the variable annuity business are still largely dictated by the performance of companies with the most attractive guaranteed living benefits, and, based on some improvement we saw from a few insurers we...
The Adjustment Game – There’s No Set Formula to Tweaking VA Products
We are accustomed to seeing numerous variable annuity ideas get introduced in early spring, however lately things have become slower than usual. We attribute this to insurers being a bit tentative about taking any serious...
A Look Ahead – Question Marks for the VA Business as Q2 Begins
Because of the diminished sales of variable annuities last year, we can’t help but wonder whether the industry can eventually participate more fully in the recovery of the financial markets – or, will it continue...
Some of the Whys and Wherefores – Influencing VA Product Movements
The rate of filing in the variable annuity business has settled down a bit in recent weeks, although we figure that there are plenty of new concepts in the pipeline. Since things are a little...
“Playing the Percentages” – Where GLWB Competition is Headed
During this prospectus update season we intend to be vigilant in tracking variable annuity product developments, and in this commentary we’ll provide some more perspective on an area in which we’re seeing a good deal...
VA Contract Considerations – And Assorted Notes on Other Matters
We’ve been providing frequent commentary lately about guaranteed living benefits – which we think is warranted since they are so integral to the variable annuity sales story these days – however this week we’ll focus...
Ratcheting Rates – Insurers Develop GLWBs with Adjustable Withdrawals
The stream of variable annuity-related filings moving through the SEC has been speeding up of late, and a common theme we keep noticing is that insurers are building in new forms of flexibility to their...
Variable Annuity Sales from 4Q09 Reveal Uneven Patterns in the Industry
After reviewing fourth quarter variable annuity results of stock-traded companies we regularly monitor, we found a familiar mixed result – a few insurers did well while most others saw deposits decline – reflecting how the...