Three Solutions for Social Security’s Shortfall

By Kerry Pechter

Better to cut benefits for the 'rich' than to raise taxes, says one school of pension experts. Investing payroll taxes in securities won't solve the underlying demographic problem, an MMT advocate warns.

Shorts Reveal Jackson National’s Journey toward ‘Bermuda Triangle’

By Kerry Pechter

QVT is shorting Jackson Financial's stock. The investment firm thinks Jackson National Life is using affiliated reinsurance to release capital for share buybacks. To me, Jackson National is playing a longer game than the shorts might realize.

Bermuda Shorts

Marsh to support triangular-strategy companies in Bermuda; Ratings downgrades for two A-CAP annuity issuers; Florida passenger railroad in private credit restructuring.

State guaranty funds are imperfect safety nets

By Kerry Pechter

The existence of state guaranty associations shouldn't encourage purchases of high-yield fixed annuities from weaker life insurers, we're told. 'You can roll the dice and bottom-feed for the best rate,' an expert told us, 'but the odds of things turning out badly are likely not worth the extra interest.'

PE-led life insurers hold half of industry’s affiliated investments: NAIC

Life insurers owned or led by private equity companies, or alternative asset managers, also accounted for about 95% of affiliated asset-backed securities (ABS), half of affiliated issuer credit obligations, and one-third of other affiliated long-term investments, the NAIC said in a new report.

Data Connection: Data Connection

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