A Summer Crop of Variable Annuities

Allianz Life, Genworth Financial, John Hancock Life, and MetLife have all introduced new variable annuity contracts. Of the four new entries, John Hancock's stands out as the simplest and cheapest.

CalPERS Gives Rating Agencies an FFF

In a new lawsuit, California's state pension fund blames the 'issuer pay system' at the top three rating agencies for part of its investment losses last year.

Feeling TIPSy

Seeing the potential for inflation ahead, analysts now recommend inflation-protected Treasuries, or TIPS, more strongly than ever. But 401(k) participants buy few TIPs, and not every plan offers them.

A Short Cut to Long-Term Care Insurance

United of Omaha, Genworth Life, Bankers Life, and OneAmerica have introduced LTC/annuity hybrids in the run-up to January 1, 2010, when distributions from annuities to pay nursing home bills will be tax-free.
Featured

Will SEC Rustle Insurers’ Cash Cow?

A federal appeals court has ruled that index annuities are risky enough to be called securities, but it also gave insurance forces time to pursue a legislative remedy in this regulatory turf war.
News

Goldman Sachs Eyes DC Market

“We've been in the retirement business for 20 years managing defined benefit assets, but are now really ramping up our DC effort,” a Goldman executive said.

The Hartford Continues to Shed Jobs

“The reductions reflect the need to realign our expenses with the reduced volume of business that we have experienced in our investment products business, particularly variable annuities,” a Hartford Life spokesman said.