Research & Reports
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...
Identifying Trends in Variable Annuity Industry Product Changes in 2014
Since the start of the year we have been steadily tracking modifications to variable annuity products and in this commentary we’ll share what we think are prevailing trends from around the industry…
Jackson is Revamping its GLWBs – Adding Tiered Withdrawal Rates, Fees
Jackson National is an insurer that tends to make interesting – if not downright intriguing – product moves and late last week we saw another example of this in a filing that contained alterations to...
Another Structured Annuity is On The Way – This Time from ING
To date, only a few insurers have come out with structured annuities, which contain a basket of index-linked options with buffers to protect investors against a set percentage of losses. That’s why we were somewhat...
Signs from Earnings Calls Point to Lower VA Industry Deposits in 1Q14
In the first quarter of this year variable annuity sales fell, on a sequential basis, for every member of our group of publicly-traded insurers we watch regularly, which makes us pretty sure that the industry...
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from April, 2014
In this commentary we’ll cover notable variable insurance fund filings from the month of April, which was a somewhat slow period in our opinion…
VA Benefit Buybacks, Special Offers Come Through in May Filings
While the May variable annuity prospectus update season has been somewhat slower than usual, we did see a few interesting product initiatives filed recently, including instances of buyout programs and other incentives targeting holders of...
Notable Product Happenings from Recent VA Contract Updates
This report will be a brief review of noteworthy product developments coming through in annual variable annuity prospectus updates filed recently with the SEC. We are sure more interesting changes and modifications will be coming...