A ‘Blueprint’ to Sell Income Annuities Direct

Abaris Financial, founded in 2014 to market SPIAs, DIAs and QLACs online, has rebooted itself as Blueprint Income. It hopes to sell single-premium immediate and deferred annuities as well as multi-premium 'personal pensions.'

Tax Cut Will Drive Global Growth: Chao

By Philip Chao
'The likelihood of an inverted yield curve in 2018 has been reduced, so the likelihood of a recession has been pushed out further into 2020 and beyond,' writes Chao, principal and Chief Investment Officer of Chao & Co., a consulting firm in Vienna, VA.

‘Missing’ group annuitants give MetLife a share shock

By Editorial Staff
“It's not just embarrassing, it could cost MetLife future business,” wrote Canadian pension blogger Leo Kolivakis, who follows global pension issues and insurance companies. A.M. Best affirmed MetLife's A+ strength rating this week.

High demand for bond mutual funds is ‘concerning’: TrimTabs

By Editorial Staff
The inflow of $38.2 billion into bond mutual funds (MFs) and ETFs this month through Thursday, January 25 is on track to be the highest since October 2009, driven by an estimated inflow of $32.3 billion into bond MFs, the investment research firm said.

Prudential plays the ‘index card’

By Editorial Staff
The PruSecure fixed indexed annuity offers one-, three-, and five-year index term options. Initial cap rates provide “up to a 32% return” based on the chosen index, credit term, and surrender period.

ISO seeks to support opportunities of aging

By Editorial Staff
Dementia, preventative care, ageing workforces, technologies and accessibility are just some of the areas of standardization that the committee proposes to work on, said ISO/TC 314 Secretary Nele Zgavc from BSI, ISO’s member for the UK, in the release.

COVER STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

January 18, 2018

Spain’s Pension Outlook: Sunny with a Chance of Austerity

By Kerry Pechter
To study the Spanish retirement system, RIJ has temporarily relocated to Seville. We start with a look at the public pension system (a contributory, pay-as-you-go system like Social Security in the US).
January 11, 2018

The Elusive ROI of Financial Wellness Efforts

By Kerry Pechter
Estimates for the return-on-investment from financial wellness programs vary. One source puts the savings at $50 per employee per year for every incremental (1 to 10) increase in average financial fitness. Another says programs...