Research & Reports
An Update on Managed-Volatility Portfolios With Data Through 4Q18
This report will conclude our tracking of variable insurance managed-volatility portfolios for 2018, referencing data we have gathered from trust annual reports. In addition to trends in fund assets and returns, we will discuss refinements...
New Contracts From Nationwide and AXA – Plus Other Developments
In recent weeks we’ve seen some interesting new contracts get filed with the SEC, which we’ll discuss in this commentary. They include a new structured annuity from Nationwide and next-generation variable annuities from AXA Financial....
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from February, 2019
Historically February is when many new variable funds are filed in preparation for the May prospectus update season when such funds will be added to variable contracts. That pattern was very much in effect this...
Despite a Drop in Q4, VA Industry Sales Finished 2018 on a Strong Note
While most stock-traded insurers we follow regularly reported declines in variable annuity deposits in the fourth quarter, most had improved results year over year, which is what we had been expecting given the demise of...
Catching Up – With Developments Along the VA Filing Pipeline
In this commentary we’ll have much to cover, as a large number of interesting variable annuity filings came through in recent weeks and they ran the gamut: from new contracts and riders to changes in...
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from January, 2019
In our view, the month of January was a rather busy one in terms of variable insurance fund filings, highlights of which we’ll cover in this commentary. In addition to multiple new registrations we saw...
Further Thoughts About Variable Annuity Benefits With Rate Sheets
This will be a brief follow-up to our last commentary in which we’ll discuss variable annuity guaranteed living benefits (GLBs) that incorporate rate sheets which allow insurers to change benefit elements periodically for new sales…
Concerning New VAs Filed by Ameriprise – With Rider Rate Sheets
This week we’ll discuss new variable annuities registered recently by Ameriprise Financial all of which include updates to existing guaranteed living benefits that, for the first time, will have features that may be set by...
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from December, 2018
This commentary contains our customary review of variable fund-related filings from the prior month. In December we saw a smattering of new registrations plus numerous investment platform changes, including sub-advisory replacements and proposed mergers….