Jackson National, New York Life, lead annuity sellers: LIMRA
YTD, sales of deferred income annuities grew 151% to nearly $1 billion, versus the first half of 2012. DIA sales are on pace to reach $2 billion by the...
As Equities Rise, So Do VA Sales—A Little
Prudential's variable annuity sales fell by 42% and MetLife's by 21% in the second quarter of 2013, compared to the first quarter, but other market leaders appeared to make...
Pardon My Cynicism
Though well-intended, the proposal to put projections of future income on plan participants' statements may simply divert time and energy from more important issues that remain unresolved--like the fiduciary...
Patented pricing mechanism aims to unlock LTCi hybrid market
Strategic Health Management has developed and Ruark Consulting will market the Flexible Insurance Pricing Option, or FIPO, which enables the calculation of rising premiums.
RIJ Advisor will return on August 26
Due to a vacation break, the next issue of RIJ Advisor will appear on August 26 rather than as scheduled on August 19.
RIJ Advisor will return on August 26
Due to a vacation break, the next issue of RIJ Advisor will appear on August 26 rather than as scheduled on August 19.
Funds receive $665 billion net inflow worldwide in first half of 2013
Funds outside the US collected $360 billion on a net basis, of which nearly 75% went to European funds, including cross-border UCITS funds that are sold globally, according to...
Class-action 401(k) fee lawsuit against Lockheed Martin will proceed
"Abbott v. Lockheed Martin" was one of several 401(k) fee-related class action lawsuits filed in 2006 by the St. Louis law firm of Schlichter, Bogard & Denton.
Canadian men and women are living longer
Adoption of the new proposed mortality tables could immediately increase pension accounting liabilities by 5% to 10% for many Canadian defined benefit plans, according to Towers Watson.
Study estimates public cost of Social Security claiming strategies
The “claim now, claim more later” strategy, which can be used by two-earner couples, could have cost $9.7 billion if widely used in 2006, according to the Center for...
Large private DB plans are mending fast: Milliman
"The last 12 months were the best 12-month period for corporate pension funded status in the history of our study," said John Ehrhardt, co-author of the Milliman Pension Funding...
Investors flock back to stocks
“The strong enthusiasm for equities should give contrarians pause,” said David Santschi, CEO of TrimTabs. “Four of the ten largest inflows into U.S. equity funds occurred at the peak...
Variable annuity filings in May: Beacon Research
Principal Life, First Investors Life, Allianz Life, Lincoln National Life and Lincoln Life & Annuity of NY all filed N-4/A contracts for approval. (Links to contracts included.)
IRI announces speakers for its September 22-24 meeting
Featured speakers will include Roger Ferguson of TIAA-CREF, Dan Arnold of LPL Financial, Jonah Berger of the Wharton School, Lisa Bodell of futurethink, Joseph F. Coughlin of the MIT...
Letter to the Editor
J. Spencer Williams, CEO of Retirement Clearinghouse, comments on our cover story last week on "Zombie" 401(k) Accounts.
Chicago could learn from St. John
The Second City's municipal pensions are underfunded by billions of dollars. The mayor wants Chicago's public employees' unions to make the kinds of concessions that unions in St. John,...
Living longer—and livelier
“Our major conclusion is that time spent in poor physical functioning is being increasingly compressed into the period just before death,” write David Cutler of Harvard, Mary Beth Landrum...
Want more referrals from clients? Prudential white paper explains how
Clients were likely to refer people to advisors who “set realistic expectations about investments returns,” “delivered on what was promised,” “achieved strong investment performance” and “disclosed their fee levels.”
Those who secure America feel financially insecure
Many "military families are concerned about the increased possibility of involuntary separation and... worry that changes to military retirement benefits will encourage fewer years of service,” according to a...
Advisors are encouraged to make clients more Medicare-conscious
On average, retirees without employer-sponsored health coverage must navigate among 31 prescription drug plans (Part D) and 20 Medicare Advantage plans. Their financial advisors can help them do...
