Research & Reports
In Anticipation – of Further Product Changes on the Variable Annuity Scene
Lately, most variable annuity insurers have been engaging in de-risking measures of one form or another, however right now we’d describe most of these movements as fine tuning of product rather than drastic reductions. That...
In Reactive Mode – VA Issuers Are Trimming Products in Response to Peers
This summer is shaping up to be a rather busy one, as a number of variable annuity insurers have been filing product changes aimed at either reducing their sales, trimming their benefit risk levels –...
On Q2 and Beyond – As VA Issuers Seek to Manage Expectations, Sales
As the summer proceeds we expect to see more variable annuity product adjustments and tweaks coming through, mostly in response to recent moves by leading issuers. This is a time when few players will simply...
VA Insurers’ Summer Projects – From De-risking to New Product Concepts
The summer is usually a slow period for the variable annuity business, with sales dropping off, at least by a small margin. This year, however, it seems that activity has been picking up, most of...
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from April-May, 2012
Recently there’s been quite a bit of interesting product tweaking and modification activity occurring around the variable annuity space, enough for us to get a little behind on our monthly coverage of what’s happening in...
Early Signs Point to Headwinds for the Variable Annuity Marketplace in 2012
Based on recently released industry sales figures, as well as the kinds of signals we’ve been getting from leading insurers, we are of the opinion there will be strong downward pressure on variable annuity sales...
VA Insurers Are Taking Measured Steps in Adjusting Their Products
It seems to us that most variable annuity insurers lately have been exercising great care in making changes to their contracts and benefits in response to competitive conditions. In recent weeks we have seen more...
Departures, De-Risking Dampened Variable Annuity Sales in 1Q12
As we usually do on each quarter, we compiled variable annuity sales results for 10 stock-traded insurers we watch on a regular basis, because performance of this group has proven to be a good early...
Product Revisions are Becoming Nuanced Given the Current Environment
Around the variable annuity space we’d have to characterize this time period as one in which insurers are attempting to make careful adjustments to their contracts and features so as to address risk and competitive...
