‘Pent-up demand’ lifted annuity sales in 2Q2018
'The Insured Retirement Institute has remained confident that annuities sales would rebound due to pent up demand for these solutions,' said IRI President and CEO Cathy Weatherford, in a...
iPipeline announces annuity distribution partnership
Under the alliance, BCS Insurance Agency will offer fixed and indexed annuities through Four Seasons Financial Group using iPipeline's 'SimplyAnnuity' tool.
Securian to offer “unitized model portfolios” to 401k plans
The unitized portfolios are positioned as more customizable than target date funds as qualified default investment alternatives in 401(k) plans.
Personal Capital launches tax-efficient drawdown tool
To arrive at personalized recommendations, the service integrates account level tax status, household tax filing status, and the latest state-by-state and federal tax date with a goal of extending...
With new pension policy, California links retirement income to global warming
Senate Bill 964, which was passed last week, requires CalPERS and CalSTRS to identify climate risk in their portfolios and report on that risk to the public and to...
Asset managers focus on advisor behavior: Cerulli
'Just 53% of practices with assets under management (AUM) between $50 million and $100 million in-source their investment decision making,' said Ed Louis, a senior analyst at Cerulli, in...
Honorable Mention
New Jackson National campaign depicts aging as beginning, not an end; T. Rowe Price’s new ad campaign explains its active management philosophy; Global Atlantic announces annuity product ‘overhaul.'
Ascensus’ TPA empire continues to grow
'This addition to Ascensus TPA Solutions goes a long way toward helping us build a national TPA,' said Jerry Bramlett, head of TPA Solutions at Ascensus.
Allianz Life leads in total sales of fixed deferred annuities: Wink
Indexed annuity sales for the second quarter were $17.3 billion; up nearly 22.0% when compared to the previous quarter, and up more than 18.4% when compared with the same period...
Net income of U.S. life/annuity industry drops in first-half 2018: A.M. Best
Mortgage loans constituted 12.4% of total invested assets in the first half of 2018, up 41% from the first half of 2014, according to a new Best's Special Report.
Honorable Mention
Allianz Life annuities join Envestnet platform, Aviva (U.K.) transfers pension risk to Prudential, Millennium Trust notes growth milestones, EY announces technology investment, leadership moves, Joe Celentano succeeds Dewey Bushaw...
Annuity sales jump 10% percent in 2Q2018: LIMRA SRI
LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute research chief Todd Giesing predicted that fixed-rate deferred annuity sales would increase 15% to 20% percent this year and by as much as 25% in...
Inside new target date funds, Lincoln offers risk-adjustment options
Morningstar Investment Management LLC will provide the glide path, portfolio construction and ongoing management for each of the portfolio strategies.
New 5-year indexed annuity contract from Eagle Life
Eagle Select Focus 5 offers a new allocation option with the uncapped upside that investors seem to prefer: the 'S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Daily Risk Control 5% Excess Return with...
US sends ‘myRA’ accounts to Retirement Clearinghouse
The Treasury Department will transfer the remaining unclaimed IRA assets in the canceled Obama-era workplace savings program from Comerica Bank, the original custodian.
Mortality “much lower” in annuities with living benefits: Ruark
'Aggregate variable annuity mortality has declined 3% since 2015, attributable to a combination of underlying mortality improvement and changes in business mix,' according to Ruark Consulting LLC.
Sri Reddy joins Principal’s Retirement and Income Solutions group
Reddy was previously the senior vice president and head of Full Service Investments for Prudential Retirement where he was responsible for the investments and retirement income businesses.
A new concept for defined contribution plans: The Retiree MEP
'Within an open multiple employer plan would exist a guidance platform--the Retiree MEP--where participants could receive objective information about retirement saving and distribution,' said Ted Goldman, Senior Pension Fellow...
Ireland establishes guidelines for master trusts
Ireland’s government is exploring several pensions and welfare reforms, including changes to the state pension, new protections for defined benefit plans and participants, and the introduction of automatic enrollment....
With HSAs, raising contribution limits will raise contributions: EBRI
House passed a bill raising contribution limits to health care savings accounts (HSAs). The Employee Benefit Research Institute expects individual contributions to HSAs to rise as a result.
