Research & Reports
Thoughts on Current Challenges for the Annuity Business
We have to think most annuity insurers were optimistic as last year ended, as total sales were once again at record levels. Conditions proved near perfect for the industry, as rising interest rates and stock...
Random Notes From Annuity Product Filings of Late 2023
In this report we’ll cover an assortment of SEC filings, mostly containing changes to existing annuities, which came through towards the end of last year. Most had to do with registered index-linked annuities (RILAs), although...
The Year in Review: the Industry Sustained its Record Pace
It has been customary for us to devote our last commentary to an appraisal of the annuity business, as the year is drawing to a close, to help our readers start their process of evaluation...
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from November, 2023
This commentary contains our customary coverage of variable fund filings from the prior month; in it we will also get caught up with trends in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) portfolios, which have been growing...
Covering Some New Registered Index-Linked Annuity Registrations
This year we’ve had our hands full following developments related to registered index-linked annuities (RILAs), as that part of the market is: a) on pace to set a new annual sales record and b) highly...
Notes on 3Q23 Results of Selected Stock-Traded Annuity Insurers
Our coverage group of stock-traded insurers performed well in the third quarter we thought. As has been the case this year, fixed annuity carriers fared the best, although we saw some flashes of growth on...
Update: Notable VA and Benefit Rate Sheet Changes in 2023
This spreadsheet contains two sections: one with contractual VA product changes, the other a rate sheet tracker, mostly covering changes to guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits (GLWBs); it is an update of a sheet we published...
Another Update on VA Product Changes and Benefit Rate Sheets
This report will be another installment in our periodic coverage of product change and rate sheet activity related to traditional variable annuities and registered index-linked annuities (RILAs)…
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from October, 2023
Last month the pace of variable insurance fund filing activity picked up considerably, as several new registrations came through – including a brand-new trust – as well as numerous changes, mergers, liquidations and managerial replacements…