Genworth Exits the VA Race

“They’re editing their lineup,” said Eric Berg, an analyst at Barclays Capital. “They’re getting out of the businesses where they lack meaningful size." (Above, Genworth CEO Mike Fraizer.)

A ‘Turbit’ Drawdown Strategy

In a recent paper, two Vanguard CFPs detail the merits of a hybrid between the ‘turtle’ and the ‘rabbit’ approaches to decumulation.

RIJ’s Top Ten List for 2010

Letterman, look out. Retirement Income Journal offers its own list of the year's highlights in the retirement income industry (or in one person's small corner of it).
Featured

2010: A Truth Odyssey

Each January, Ron Surz, president of PPCA Inc. and Target Date Solutions of San Clemente, California, unveils his proprietary interpretation of the prior year's market performance. We've publish a summary, with a link to the complete, chart-rich document.

Are Direct-Sold Funds a Better Value?

New research argues that broker-sold mutual funds—both active and passive—tend to generate lower returns at higher costs than direct-sold mutual funds.
News

National Life Group adds income option to IUL products

If the policy owner is between ages 60 and 85 and the policy has been in force for at least 15 years, and the policy has sufficient value independent of any outstanding loans, the owner can exercise the rider and receive a lifetime income stream.

Poland mixes politics with pensions—with mixed results

Polish workers pay 19.5% of taxable income into the mandatory pensions system, of which 12.2% goes into a plan like our Social Security and 7.3% goes into privately-run DC plans. Starting this year, much of the 7.3% will go to a government-run DC plan instead.

Health spending grew less rapidly in 2009

Health spending rose only 4% in 2009 to $2.5 trillion, or $8,086 per person, down from 4.7% in 2008. Consumers spent $299.3 billion out-of-pocket on health care, up 0.4%.

VA from Fidelity and MetLife marks $1 billion in sales

MGGI simplifies the investment option selection for the customer by offering a single fund, the Fidelity VIP FundsManager 60% Portfolio, which uses an asset allocation approach to achieve exposure to multiple asset classes.