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Cover Stories

A Fortune in Reversals

by Kerry Pechter

A Fortune in Reversals

Mon, Oct 04, 2010

New federal reverse mortgage rules make it cheaper for seniors to tap their home equity for a line of credit.

Maine Squeeze

by Joseph A. Tomlinson, CFP

Maine Squeeze

Mon, Sep 27, 2010

By merging its pension plan with Social Security, Maine could offer its public employees a more equitable deal. But can the state’s budget handle the potentially higher costs?

Where's the Scandal?

by Edward Jay Epstein

Where's the Scandal?

Tue, Sep 21, 2010

Did the New York Fed blunder when it bought the CDOs owned by big banks and insured by AIG? So far, the government hasn't done badly, says our guest author.

Making a Case for the 401(k) Annuity

by Kerry Pechter

Making a Case for the 401(k) Annuity

Tue, Sep 14, 2010

Executives from major plan providers, including Christine Marcks, president of Prudential Retirement, along with trade group officials and ERISA experts, pitched ideas about in-plan income options at DoL/Treasury Department hearings Tuesday and Wednesday.

News

Quote of the Week

Wed, Oct 06, 2010

"The federal government is like 10,000 bugs on a log floating down a river, and every bug thinks he's steering the log."--Herman Kahn, as quoted by Marsh Carter, chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, at the RIIA annual meeting this week.

Pacific Life Launches Its First SPIA

Wed, Oct 06, 2010

Pacific Income Provider offers 10 payment options, including Life with Cash Refund, inflation adjustments, and the one-time ability to increase or decrease income payments.

Allianz Life Introduces First Inflation-Protected FIA Income Rider

Wed, Oct 06, 2010

For an extra annual fee of 60 basis points, the Simple Income III Rider also offers an 8% annual roll-up of the benefit base.

Wealth2k Enhances Income Illustration Software

Wed, Oct 06, 2010

The software will solve for a “floor” of guaranteed retirement income, and can incorporate a variety of income sources in the “flooring” calculation.

Milliman Assesses Impact of Dodd-Frank Act on Insurers

Wed, Oct 06, 2010

The two biggest effects of the legislation are likely to be greater access to market for nonadmitted insurers and single-state regulation and financial reporting for reinsurance companies.

The Bucket

Wed, Oct 06, 2010

Late-breaking items about the Financial Planning Association, InFRE, Principal Financial, Mutual of Omaha, AllianceBernstein and more...