Modeling Variable Annuity Owner Behavior

Americans own almost $900 billion worth of variable annuities with lifetime income guarantees. Uncertainty over the way policyholders and their advisers might use the contracts can keep life insurer actuaries up at night. They often turn to Ruark Consulting for guidance.

Why Sammons MYGA Sales Spiked in 2020

By Kerry Pechter
'No one predicted the pandemic, but when spreads gapped, we had an opportunity get some attractive yields. So we saw a monstrous increase in sales of fixed multi-year guaranteed rate annuities,' said Bill Lowe, president at Sammons Institutional Group.

AM Best assesses variable annuity regulatory reforms

By Editorial Staff
The NAIC's VA reforms 'will serve to diminish the noneconomic volatility..., but ongoing developments related to the pandemic will likely lead to more uncertainty, with potential increases in equity market volatility,' the ratings agency said.

New law to show who qualifies for a PPP loan

By Wagner Law Group
This article, provided by the Wagner Law Group, explains the modifications made to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act, a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

Honorable Mention

By Editorial Staff
Annuity distribution expert Scott Stolz joins SIMON; TIAA private equity affiliate raises $6.4 billion in new capital; MetLife unit in longevity reinsurance deals with Legal & General; Thrivent promotes two new senior managers; MRA Associates joins CAPTRUST; Financial illiteracy costs Americans $415 billion in 2020: NFEC; Lincoln partners with Morningstar on 401(k) managed accounts.

COVER STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

January 7, 2021

Trends RIJ Will Track in 2021

By Kerry Pechter
When will annuities be loved? After all the creative destruction of the past 10 years, what’s next for the annuity industry? Which trends will persist? Which products will flourish? We discuss the trends that...
December 17, 2020

The Catch-22 of In-Plan Annuities

By Kerry Pechter
Fixed deferred annuities may be the most promising candidates for inclusion in 401(k) plans. But in order to adapt these contracts to the defined contribution space, they must lose some of the 'illiquidity' that...
December 10, 2020

Bermuda Triangle Part IV: The Reinsurance Angle

By Kerry Pechter
Publicly-held life insurers are using reinsurance to improve their balance sheets. But at what cost? 'I believe that many of these blocks of business are only being funded in part with real assets,' a...