Indexed Annuity Sales Reach New Highs: LIMRA
'VA sales make up 54% of the overall annuity business, down from 67% just in 2012. This decline in VA market share has certainly contributed to the growth...
Annuities
MassMutual’s new VA offers exposure to alternatives
Besides MassMutual funds, contract owners can invest in BlackRock, Fidelity, Ivy and Oppenheimer funds.
LIMRA launches AnnuityCompass database (for members only)
AnnuityCompass will allow LIMRA members to “query data via a state-of-the-art online system” in order to “mine, filter, and analyze the data anytime from anywhere,” the LIMRA website said....
Voya adds volatility-controlled index to its FIAs
"The Point-to-Point Volatility Control Strategy tracks Deutsche Bank's proprietary CROCI (Cash Return on Capital Invested) US 5% Volatility Control Index," a Voya release said.
Kehrer Bielan releases bank annuity sales study for 2014
The ten largest third-party broker dealers, which support annuity and investment sales in 2,559 banks and credit unions, accounted for 38% of the total annuity premium sold through financial...
Will the ‘BIC’ Affect QLAC Sales?
We're talking about the DOL's proposed Best Interest Contract exemption and sales of Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts. "Most firms will just pass on this uncertainty and risk," said Caleb...
New investment-focused variable annuity from Nationwide
Nationwide posted $2.76 billion in variable annuity sales in the first six months of this year, for a 4% market share. The Columbus, OH-based firm ranked eleventh in total...
New York Life offers dividend-paying income annuity and QLAC
The release didn’t say whether or not the initial income payout from Mutual Income would be lower than the initial income payments of an annuity that does not offer...
Wink releases second quarter 2015 indexed annuity sales data
With a market share of 17.3%, Allianz Life was the top-selling carrier. American Equity Companies, Great American Insurance Group, American General Life Companies and Athene USA completed the top...
Jackson National adds income rider to indexed annuity
While Jackson dominated the variable annuity business in the first half of this year, with $11.8 billion in sales and an 18.4% market share, it isn’t among the 20...
Annuity sales up in second quarter, but down for first half of 2015: LIMRA
In the first half of the year, total annuity sales reached $114.6 billion, 5% lower than prior year. LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute's second quarter U.S. Individual Annuities Sales Survey...
Symetra rides new FIAs to record quarterly sales
Sales were driven by the March 2015 introduction of the Symetra Edge Plus Fixed Indexed Annuity and the Symetra Edge Premier Fixed Indexed Annuity, the company said.
If It Ain’t Fixed Indexed, It’s Broken
Fixed indexed annuities remain a niche product, representing only about 10% of annuity sales. But that the niche has grown into an almost $50 billion-a-year business. Sales of FIAs...
Switcheroo: New FIA credits benefit base, not account value
In most annuities with living benefits, the notional "benefit base" grows by a guaranteed "roll-up" amount each year, while the contract's account value depends on market performance. In Fidelity...
MetLife launches retail QLAC
Like several other insurers, MetLife is positioning its qualified longevity annuity contract in part as a way for IRA owners to exclude 25% of their tax-deferred savings (up to...
Northwestern Mutual offers dividend-paying QLAC
Northwestern Mutual’s actuaries have reproduced some of the attractive features of the variable-annuity-with-guaranteed-lifetime-withdrawal-benefit rider, but on a fixed income annuity chassis instead of a mutual fund chassis.
In FIA Arms Race, Hybrid Indexes are the Arms
Investors in Nationwide's New Heights fixed indexed annuities have a new index option: a globally diversified, multi-asset managed-volatility index from JP Morgan called MOZAIC.
Ruark reports “good news” on FIA policyholder behavior
AIG Life & Retirement, Allianz, American Equity, Athene, EquiTrust, Forethought, Midland National, Nationwide, OneAmerica, Pacific Life, Phoenix, and Security Benefit participated in Ruark Consulting's study of surrender and partial...
Lincoln’s new FIA links to risk-controlled S&P500 Index
The interest credited on the new OptiBlend option is based on the performance of the S&P 500 Daily Risk Control 5% Index.
MetLife launches QLAC as plan distribution option
Participants in plans with MetLife group annuity contracts can put 25% of their qualified savings (up to $125,000) into this new deferred income product, whose premium can be excluded...
