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Research & Reports

Soleares Research, LLC is a market research and consulting firm servicing the annuity and life insurance businesses. We provide, through our website, periodic articles that cover important industry trends; we also offer clients phone or on-site consultations, executive briefings and presentations. We pride ourselves on first-class customer service and responsiveness to our clients. We aim to be an indispensable resource to the marketplace.
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Impressions on the Variable Annuity Business in 2007 – Part II

In this report, our last of the year, we’ll conclude our two-part commentary summarizing key forces influencing the sale of variable annuities in 2007 – our main three being “features, shelf space and scale” –...

A Simpler Story – Insurers Move to Streamline VA Sub-Accounts, Features

In getting started with the New Year, we’ll comment on a growing tendency for insurers to trim the number of sub-account options and features on their variable annuities in order to make them simpler for...

On Revenue Sharing, Directed Brokerage Deals – More Disclosure is Coming

Variable product insurers and mutual fund companies have at times used creative means to pay for, or receive compensation from, financial firms they have relationships with, while not always revealing these arrangements to shareholders. Now...

Impressions on Consumer-Friendly Issues for the Variable Annuity Business

In our last report we discussed how insurers are building fee reductions into their variable annuities, which we think is good for the industry in that it may help counter some negative perceptions. This week,...

New York’s Stance on Standard Non-Forfeiture Law May Curtail VA Benefits

Last week there was concern within the variable insurance business over a draft circular letter from the New York State Insurance Department that clarifies how standard non-forfeiture law applies to separate account contracts. The letter...

Red Flags Flying: Thoughts on Regulatory Issues in the Annuity Space

We’re thinking that 2006 will be a time when many things will happen on the regulatory and compliance front, both positive and negative, for the VA business. If we look on the bright side of...

Initial Comment: Considerations on the Current State of the Annuity Business

In approaching the annuity business, we must admit, at times, to conflicting feelings. For one thing, we believe in the value of these products, regardless of type: fixed, variable, index, deferred, immediate and all types...