Research & Reports
New Lincoln National Contracts – and Other VA Product Filing News
In this report we’ll discuss variable annuity filing activity from the past few weeks. Of particular note was the registration of new contracts from Lincoln National, aimed at IRA rollover money, which will include a...
An Update on Trends in Variable Insurance Volatility-Control Portfolios
Variable insurance volatility-control portfolios continue to gather assets at a brisk pace around the industry – and not just because of the introduction of brand-new ones. In recent months a large number of existing portfolios...
Thoughts About Directions in Variable Annuity Sales As Q3 Winds Down
The start of the fall season is close upon us, as is the end of the third quarter, so in this commentary we’ll provide some quick thoughts about where we think variable annuity industry sales...
Late Summer Filings Held Yet More IOVA Products, Assorted Changes
In this report we’ll get caught up with product filings from late August – of particular note is that the batch included a number of investment-only variable annuities (IOVAs), providing further evidence that the trend...
VA Insurers’ Profits Were Up in 2Q14 – But Sales? Perhaps by a Little
During the second quarter publicly-traded insurers we monitor regularly experienced increased profitability within their variable annuity operations, however sales for most were somewhat lackluster, as has been the case of late…
VA Insurers Move Ahead With Rider Buyback Packages, Other Incentives
In recent weeks we have seen new interesting things coming from variable insurers: rider buyout offers, benefit updates and other initiatives scheduled to come out later this year. In this commentary we’ll get caught up...
MetLife Files a New Simplified Variable Annuity – With a GMAB
In recent reports we’ve opined about how slow activity along the variable annuity product pipeline has become this summer. Yet last Friday MetLife cut through the seasonal doldrums by registering an interesting new contract with...
Summer – A Good Time to Evaluate Directions in the Variable Business
In recent weeks we’ve seen a reduction in variable annuity product flings, which is typical for this time of year. This slower pace gives us the opportunity this week to reflect on currents of activity...
Principal Financial Files a New VA Contract – With an Optional DIA Module
Late last week Principal Financial registered a new variable annuity containing a deferred income annuity (DIA) sleeve, and because of that development we thought we’d take the opportunity to consider the progress of such features...