Research & Reports
A Brief Reflection on Current Conditions in the Variable Annuity Market
Given that not much variable annuity product filing activity has occurred since our last update, this week we will provide a simple reflection on current conditions in the industry…
Looking at Public Insurers’ Variable Annuity Sales Results in 4Q17
As we typically do each earnings season, we reviewed variable annuity business results for a small number of selected stock-traded insurers and for most of them, sales improved in Q4, however we can’t say the...
Some Random Thoughts Regarding Trends in VA Contract Design
With this report we’ll conclude our coverage of variable annuity contracts registered last year and provide some thoughts on current directions in product design…
On an Interesting Move by Transamerica – and Other Thoughts
The New Year is now well underway, however we can’t say we’ve seen a great deal of noteworthy variable product filings yet, with the exception of changes Transamerica made to certain guaranteed living benefit rate...
Our Customary Look Back on the Variable Annuity Industry In 2017
As usual, our last commentary of December is a reflection on how the variable annuity business performed this year, based upon what we know thus far from sales levels and product developments…
Some Bright Spots Amid Insurers’ Variable Annuity Sales Results in Q3
After reviewing earnings calls of stock-traded insurance companies we cover regularly, we came away with the impression that for of them, variable annuity results were lackluster, although there were a few instances of modest improvement…
Notes on Recent Variable Annuity Benefit Rate Sheet Updates
In our following of activity along the variable annuity product filing pipeline of recent weeks, we came to the opinion that things are rather slow going; however we did see multiple benefit rate sheet updates,...
Thoughts on VA and Structured Annuity Filings – And Related Topics
Activity has been a bit slow along the variable annuity product pipeline of late – which is typical of this time of year – however we do have a few notable filings to report on,...
Uncertainty Regarding DOL Rule Negatively Impacted VA Insurers in 1Q17
In first quarter earnings calls of stock-traded insurers we watch regularly, a common theme was discussed on pretty much all of them: issues in dealing with the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule which put a...
