
Research & Reports
Some Speculation on Q1 Performance of the VA Business – and Other Matters
Now that the first quarter has ended and we are well into the next one, we’ll share some thoughts on how we think the variable industry may have done so far this year. We think...
Jackson National Jumps to Top of VA Industry Sales Standings for 4Q12
From some of our sources we heard that Morningstar was to report final fourth-quarter 2012 variable annuity sales data today, and, if early indications prove correct, we think Jackson National took the No. 1 spot...
“What’s Working?” – Thoughts On the Industry As it Awaits Q4 Sales Data
In this report we’ll try to break from our usual preoccupation with product nuances to raise questions as to where the variable annuity business is headed. It’s clear that most insurers are moving beyond offering...
Thanks to De-Risking, Sales Were Down for Leading VA Insurers in Q4
By the end of last week we finished reviewing the fourth-quarter earnings reports of selected publicly-traded insurers we watch regularly, and we came away with the suspicion that variable annuity industry sales were probably down...
Industry VA Sales Look Steady for Q3 – But Earnings Results Were Mixed
After reviewing the variable annuity business results of the group of stock-traded insurers we track regularly, we’re figuring that third quarter industry sales were flat to slightly up sequentially, and probably got a little lift...
Reviewing VA Guaranteed Benefit Assets, NAR Movements From Q2
At different points in the past we have combed through quarterly financials of stock-traded insurers for data related to variable annuity guarantees, in an effort to gain insight on how such benefits might be impacting...
Earnings Season Review: VA Insurers Weathered Q2 Market Dip
We were under the impression that second quarter sales for variable annuity insurers might have suffered due to the drop in the equity markets, along with the effects of various de-risking moves – which are...
Hot-Button Issues for VA Insurers as Q2 Results Start to Come In
Second quarter earnings season for stock-traded insurers has gotten underway and we are very much looking forward to hearing how variable annuity players performed because in our opinion, the quarter was a stressful one…
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...