Research & Reports
Getting Further Perspective on VA Spousal Withdrawal Benefits for Life
In our last report we discussed a number of spousal withdrawal benefits for life and figured we wouldn’t revisit the subject again for awhile but, since Hartford came out with its first such GMWBs relatively...
An Update on Variable Annuity Products and Features Filed in Recent Months
In the process of identifying the more important changes to variable annuity contracts and features this update season, we haven’t seen quite the volume of new ideas as in the past, but we can say...
Q1 Earnings Calls Continued: Evidence of Further Need for Innovation
With this commentary we’ll resume our coverage of first quarter earnings calls and show how some insurers, due to their scale and ability to offer cutting-edge ideas, have seen resurgence in their variable annuity sales,...
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...
Rollout Reviews: What’s New in Variable Annuity Product Features
In our quick look at spousal lifetime withdrawal benefit provisions last month, we commented on some features that were still in the filing stage. It turns out that a few of these were formally launched...
Q4 Roundup: Variable Annuity Results Stay Relatively Strong in 2005
In the second installment in a regular commentary of The Soleares Report, we are going to review variable annuity business fourth quarter reports and consider what happened in 2005 as a whole. In future weeks...
The Latest Thing in Lifetime GMWBs: Spousal Protection Provisions
It’s been well documented that lifetime withdrawal benefits were the primary sales driver in the variable annuity business in 2005, and should figure prominently in companies’ efforts this year. The most commonly added “tweak” of...
Secondary Guarantees Continue to Be Added to Variable Life Contracts
Generally speaking, we think the path insurance is taking is towards ever more commoditization, with products built for specialized purposes. Such movement has been occurring in the annuity business for quite some time and lately,...