Repealing ‘Obamacare’ Would Bring Back ‘Donut Hole’—EBRI
“Medicare beneficiaries with high outpatient drug use would be most affected by repeal and would need to save an additional roughly 30‒40 percent to make up the shortfall,” said...
The Secret to MetLife’s VA Success
MetLife was able to knock off Prudential as the top seller of variable annuities in the second quarter because it de-risked its income benefit in a way that actually...
Czech politicians split over private pension accounts
"The current opposition is strongly against the fact that part of the contributions to the pay-as-you-go system will be transferred to the private system,” said Jiri Rusnok, director of...
Broad markets conducive to active management, says Dutch firm
On average, active managers will underperform a portfolio of investable index funds. But 20-40% of managers show persistent outperformance, says Dutch asset manager Robeco.
Many health-impaired Britons overpay for life annuities—Towers Watson
Many people in the U.K. buy straight life annuities from their plan provider instead of using the Open Market Option to find out if they qualify for a higher-paying...
Sales of income annuities up 30% in 2Q—Beacon Research
“Looking ahead, we believe that indexed and income annuities will continue to do well. The outlook for fixed rate annuities is more uncertain," said Jeremy Alexander, CEO of...
It pays not to panic, Fidelity survey shows
Plan participants who dropped to zero equities but then returned to some equities after the 2008 crisis saw an average account balance increase of 25% by June 30, 2011,...
Financial illiteracy costs Americans tens of billions
If they were more financially sophisticated, Americans could be paying much less in mortgage interest and mutual fund fees, says financial literacy scholar Anna Lusardi.
NAIC ponders regs on separate accounts
What, if any, variable product guarantees would be covered by a guaranty association, the regulators want to know.
Does Decumulation Spell Doom?
Economists at the San Francisco Fed suggest that P/E ratios are bound to suffer as the Boomer cohort gets older and liquidates its assets.
MetLife Tops VA Sales in 2Q
Variable annuity sales improved for the fifth consecutive quarter in the second quarter of 2011, while fixed annuity sales were one percent less than in the year-ago quarter, according...
IRS seeks discussion on annuity – LTC hybrids
Although taxpayers are allowed to make the exchanges, they have not been sure how to report the exchanges, or how the exchanges might affect their income taxes.
Many factors point to a longer average working life
The average retirement age for men, which was 65 in 1962, fell to about 62 between 1985 and 1995 but has since risen to 64, according to a new...
Indexed annuity sales reached $8.2 billion in 2Q 2011
“This was one of the top-five best-selling quarters for indexed annuity sales,” said Sheryl J. Moore, president and CEO of AnnuitySpecs.com.
Many elderly carry mortgages
About a third of the 65-and-older households that owned a home in 2009 had a mortgage, according to the Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey.
East and West Approach Retirement from Opposite Directions
Starting from a level of great wealth, North Americans and Europeans feel a sense of decline, while Asians, starting from a level of deep poverty, feel a sense of...
How to Demonstrate the Value of an Income Annuity
In this edited version of a monthly bulletin from the Qwema Group, Moshe Milevsky (left) and Simon Dabrowski show advisors how to demonstrate the value of an income annuity...
American General announces FIA income benefit
The guaranteed lifetime income rider features an income base that is guaranteed to grow at no less than six percent compounded annually for up 20 years.
Aon Hewitt releases biennial report on DC trends
Plan sponsors say they are concerned about fees, but the share of sponsors who calculate all their fees didn’t rise in the past two years. It dropped.
