Research & Reports
Rate Switch – Pru Discloses Details of New Lifetime Withdrawal Benefits
We were all set to publish a commentary on another subject, but since Prudential submitted filings to the SEC late this afternoon with particulars on new guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits it has in the pipeline,...
Mixed Messages – Can VA Insurers Hope for a Strong Showing in Q4?
We have a somewhat positive outlook for variable annuity industry sales in the fourth quarter, even though things tend to slow down during that time period, there has not been a great deal of product...
Matching Up – VA Insurers Plan Moves to Answer Competitors
We have been noticing some rather interesting variable annuity product filings lately, which we think hint at strategic directions insurance companies will be taking, both now and into next year. The catch is that in...
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from October, 2010
In recent years we have tended to see a modest number of variable insurance fund filings during the month of October, and the same pattern held true this time around. There were a few interesting...
An Agreeable Summer – Insurers Post Respectable VA Sales in Q3
As is our custom, we delved into the variable annuity business results of 10 stock-traded insurers we track, and, overall, came away with a pretty positive impression about the third quarter. We say this even...
Concerning the RIA Market – and Noteworthy Product Filings
The number of variable annuity contracts designed for fee-based financial advisors has been growing of late, and in this commentary we’ll share some thoughts as to the why this is happening, and weigh in on...
GLWB Movements – Answering the Competition, Preparing for Next Year
It’s our feeling that newer variable annuity lifetime withdrawal benefits getting filed of late – plus various modifications to existing ones – are being introduced this quarter to “prime the pump” for next year. Barring...
Reviewing Variable Insurance Fund Filings from September, 2010
It’s time again for us to conduct our monthly review of variable insurance fund filings. We thought the industry was pretty active during September, with insurers making quite a few modifications to their investment platforms…
Q4 Launches – Products Insurers Hope Will Attract Sales into the New Year
It’s our feeling that these days, most variable annuity insurers are in a “reactive mode” in that few are making truly bold moves with their products; rather they are content to make modifications and enhancements...
