Skip Navigation

Cover Stories

Which Way Out?

by Virginia M. Citrano

Which Way Out?

Wed, Mar 03, 2010

With the worst of the Crisis apparently over, Fed watchers are wondering about Chairman Bernanke's exit strategy from a low interest rate environment.

“Face-Off” at the IRI Marketing Conference

by Kerry Pechter

“Face-Off” at the IRI Marketing Conference

Thu, Feb 25, 2010

Annuity manufacturers and distributors went eyeball-to-eyeball at the Insured Retirement Institute's marketing conference in New York this week, where medical economist J.D. Kleinke (pictured here) was a featured speaker. Photo by IRI.

In League with the Angel of Death

by Kerry Pechter

In League with the Angel of Death

Wed, Feb 17, 2010

Lawsuits filed in Rhode Island, New York and Illinois shed light on the sinister, multi-million-dollar strategy of using the dying as fronts to exploit variable annuity loopholes.

Easing a Widow’s Hardship

by Kerry Pechter

Easing a Widow’s Hardship

Wed, Feb 10, 2010

What's the best way for a 62-year-old man to say “I love you” to his wife? By waiting to claim Social Security benefits until he reaches full retirement age or later. Here's our third article in a series on retirement risks.

News

Vanguard’s Forecast of Future Returns

Vanguard’s Forecast of Future Returns

Wed, Mar 03, 2010

The Vanguard Group's data suggests that annualized real returns will most likely be 6% for stocks and zero to 2% for bonds over the next 10 years.

In a Down Year, Four Firms Grow Their VA Sales

Tue, Mar 02, 2010

Prudential Annuities, MetLife, Jackson National Life and Sun Life Financial found a silver lining last year.

AIG Sells Its Asian Crown Jewel

Wed, Mar 03, 2010

The sale of Hong Kong-based AIA, would help repay some of the $180 billion that AIG owes to the U.S. government.

Not Much Interest in Income Products: Cogent

Wed, Mar 03, 2010

Only 14% of those surveyed said they were very familiar with income products and only three percent said they were very interested in such products.

Western National #1 in 4Q Fixed Annuity Sales

Wed, Mar 03, 2010

Beacon Research has released its fixed annuity sales rankings for fourth quarter 2009.