Lincoln Financial adds fee-based options to VAs and FIAs
In addition to creating a fee-based version of the Lincoln Core Capital indexed annuity, Lincoln has added fee-based versions of its Covered Choice 5 and Covered Choice 7 indexed...
Voya launches ‘Journey’ indexed annuity
Returns are pegged to either the J.P. Morgan Meridian Index and the Citi Dynamic Asset Selector 5 Excess Return Index, Voya said in a release this week.
Wealth, like cream, keeps rising to the top
The investable assets of households with between $1 million and $10 million grew by $809 billion last year, to a total of $17.8 trillion, according to a study of...
Allianz Life issues no-commission fixed indexed annuity with income riders
Retirement Foundation ADV offers two income options. One starts with a higher age-dependent payout percentage that is fixed for the life of the contract. The other has a lower...
Who buys income annuities, and why most people don’t: EBRI
“Those with inadequate assets might value a regular stream of income very highly and those with the most might expect to live longer and can also afford it...
Average 401(k) balances up 33% since 4Q2011: Fidelity
“More than one-in-four Fidelity 401(k) savers increased their savings rate in 2016—an all-time high—and the number of people with a 401(k) loan dropped to its lowest point in seven...
MassMutual offers customized pension yield curves to DB clients
MassMutual issued a white paper on its yield curve methodology and compares it with other yield curves available on the market. The white paper is available to plan sponsors...
Merrill Lynch launches hybrid digital-human advice platform
Through the new platform, investors at any asset level can access strategies “built and managed by the Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM) Chief Investment Office, not by algorithms,"...
Honorable Mention
Brief or late-breaking items from LifeYield, Northwestern Mutual and Envestnet | Retirement Solutions, Lincoln Financial, AICPA, and Mercer.
New issue of Journal of Retirement appears
The new issue contains articles by Wade Pfau, Joe Tomlinson and Steve Vernon; John Turner, Andrew Biggs, and other eminent retirement researchers.
Target Date Funds: What’s Under the Hood?
TDF investment returns, on average, fall short of their benchmark indices but perform about the same as all other mutual funds, say the authors of a new brief from...
‘Focus on issues in your direct control,’ A.M. Best urges annuity issuers
The '2017 Review & Preview Best’s Special Report' notes that the ratings agency has revised its outlook for 2017 on the L/A industry from stable to negative.
Honorable Mention
Brief or late-breaking items from Edward Jones, Hanlon Investment Management, Pantheon and Transamerica/Aegon.
TIAA offers double-shot of income solutions for DC plans
Plan sponsors and/or their third-party consultants select the investment options and design the glide paths formulas for their TDFs and combine them with one of two income solutions on...
Jackson issues fee-based version of popular Elite Access VA
Elite Access as a B-share VA was first issued in 2012, when advisors were hungry for access to so-called liquid alternative assets. Its sales through the first three quarters...
Index and ETF providers dominate fund flows in 2016: Morningstar
December 2016 saw overall outflows from alternative strategies of $4.4 billion, with full-year outflows of $4.7 billion. This marked the worst showing for alternative funds since 2005.
Interest rate drought not over: A.M. Best
'While aggregated industry bond portfolio yields have consistently declined to 4.71% in 2015 from 4.88% in 2014 and 4.99% in 2013, strategic investment decisions have helped mitigate further declines...
Fifth Third Bank acquires The Retirement Corporation of America
The Retirement Corporation of America provides 'education platforms, lifestyle focused events and investment programs designed to help maximize post-retirement income.'
Transamerica’s statement on its new no-commission VA with income benefits
'Transamerica has built the Variable Annuity I-Share (and all of our products) with an intent to be fully compliant with existing regulations and the coming DOL fiduciary regulations,' wrote...
Northwestern Mutual starts $50 million fintech venture fund
Investments will range from $500,000 to $3 million. The insurer will focus on"digitizing internal capabilities" rather so-called robo-advice per se.
