Research & Reports

During September the rate of variable insurance fund filings with the SEC slowed down a bit – as is the tendency each year – and accordingly there were relatively few new registrations. We think activity...

Through the second quarter of this year, there remains a lead pack of variable annuity writers still offering relatively rich living benefits, and by our reckoning, this fact contributed to their robust sales during that...

During August we identified a number of new variable insurance portfolios filed with the SEC, most of them funds of funds (F-of-Fs), however the most frequent activity – as has been the case in recent...

The recovery in the financial markets that took place in the second quarter not only helped variable annuity sales bounce back for most insurers, another positive development was a reduction in the levels of risk...

In this report we’ll offer our monthly notes and comments on variable insurance fund filings, and we’d describe June as having been not very active in terms of new registrations, but there were numerous mergers,...

As we commence the third quarter – usually a pretty slow period for variable industry sales – the pace of de-risking seems to be settling down a bit, but the process is not over by...

It’s been rather busy around the industry in terms of tweaks to contracts and features, and by all accounts such activity is going to continue well into the summer. However we do need to stay...

Right now on the variable annuity scene insurers are still making changes and adjustments at a rather brisk pace, and we expect that pattern to continue well into the summer, even though it is usually...

We hear there is a feeling around the industry that, due to the impact of the tumultuous markets, annuity insurers are “looking for the next business model” and are re-appraising their contracts, underlying funds, distribution...