Research & Reports
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from September, 2020
This report contains our customary look back at notable variable fund filings from the prior month, in which we saw a good deal of activity for the autumn, with two insurers registering new portfolios and,...
It’s Been Quite Active Along the Variable Annuity Product Pipeline
Although times have been difficult for insurers, as they are coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, market volatility, rock-bottom interest rates, social upheaval and the stresses of an election year, those challenges haven’t kept them from...
An Update on Variable Managed-Volatility Portfolios Through 2Q20
This spreadsheet updates our coverage of variable insurance volatility-managed portfolios in 2020. By our count, at the end of the second quarter there were 204 such portfolios in operation, containing nearly $259 billion in assets…
An Update on Variable Managed-Volatility Portfolios Through 2Q20
This is our second quarter snapshot of developments in variable managed-volatility portfolios, in which we will cite data we compiled from trust semi-annual reports. As we usually do this time each year, we will have...
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from July and August, 2020
This report will cover noteworthy variable insurance fund developments from the months of July and August. We usually see light filing activity during the summer, but this time around it was pretty lively, with multiple...
Earnings Review: Stock-Traded Insurers’ Annuity Sales Fell in 2Q20
This report contains our customary review of second quarter annuity results for selected stock-traded insurers. With few exceptions the news was bad, as most companies – especially those who specialize in fixed-index annuities (FIAs) –...
Thoughts on the Business in Q2 – Based on Preliminary Sales Data
Second quarter earnings season will be wrapping up soon and next week we’ll devote these pages to our customary delving into what was revealed on insurers’ conference calls. For now we’ll provide some perspective on...
A Steady Stream of VA Product Filings – Calls for Another Update
It wasn’t that long ago that we provided an update on filings of new variable annuity contracts and guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits (GLWBs). Well, since then even more have entered the pipeline making it necessary...
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from June, 2020
In June we noticed no new variable insurance fund registrations come through but did see a great deal of activity involving changes to investment platforms, such as sub-advisory replacements and adjustments to fund fees and...