Research & Reports
Thoughts on Q1 Industry Sales – And Various Product Developments
Not long ago, first quarter annuity industry sales figures were released by the major tracking firms and we thought results were about as expected – although we were thinking fixed annuities would do better…
How Do We Think Q1 Variable Annuity Sales Moved? Not By Much, Either Way
Last week we finished reviewing first quarter results for stock-traded insurers we monitor regularly, and for most of them, variable annuity sales were lethargic, thus we expect the industry experienced similar results…
VA Product Launches, Changes Occurring this Month – and Onward
In this report we’ll run through an assortment of variable annuity product developments that are either taking place now, during the May prospectus update season, or will take effect later in the year. In our...
Random Reflections from the LIMRA/LOMA/SOA Retirement Conference
Last week we attended the annual LIMRA/LOMA/Society of Actuaries Retirement Industry Conference held in Washington, D.C., and in this commentary, as we have done in the past, we won’t try to completely recap the event,...
Various Reflections – from Last Week’s Retirement Industry Conference
We have found that the annual LIMRA/LOMA/Society of Actuaries Retirement Industry Conference always manages to stimulate healthy conversation and debate and this year’s edition, held last week in Las Vegas, was no different. In this...
About Optionality – in the Newest GLWBs and Income-Taking Methods
It’s our view that variable annuity insurers right now are experimenting with contract and rider designs that are geared to provide greater flexibility than ever before, both from the company’s perspective and that of its...
Tendencies in New VAs and Lifetime Withdrawal Benefits Filed this Year
This report will discuss variable annuity product trends and serve as a companion piece to the new Featured Research we published today covering new VA contracts and lifetime withdrawal benefits registered with the SEC so...
Musings on the VA Industry as Q1 Ends – and on Recent Product Filings
The first quarter will conclude tomorrow and it’s our view that variable annuity business sales probably did not pick up very much, if at all, during that time period…
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from February, 2015
This February we saw a fairly large number of new variable insurance funds get registered with the SEC, which is typical for the time of year, as insurers prepare to update their products in May....