The FIA ‘Loophole’

By Kerry Pechter
At the Society of Actuaries Life & Annuity Symposium in Toronto this week, the invasion of the fixed indexed annuity market by private equity firms was of keen interest. Several presenters described how these firms get an edge over traditional issuers.

Buenos DIAs

By Kerry Pechter
It’s morning in America for manufacturers of deferred income annuities, or DIAs. Are they a passing fancy, or do they offer the perfect balance between risk and reward?

Roll Over, Rollovers: ‘Roll-Ins’ Have Arrived

By Kerry Pechter
Retirement Clearinghouse (formerly RolloverSystems) CEO Spencer Williams wants people to consolidate (roll in) their retirement accounts in their current 401(k)s. It would mean fewer ‘stranded’ retirement accounts and less ‘leakage,’ he claims.

A Man of Conviction

By Kerry Pechter
How did Matthew Hutcheson, once a poster boy for fiduciary rectitude, turn into the wanted-poster man for fiduciary misconduct? But his ill-fated deal for the Osprey Meadows golf course (pictured) in Idaho was just a subplot within a subplot of the 2008 real estate bust.
Featured

Snoopy Takes a Cue from the Gorilla

By Editor Test
With the brand-new MetLife Shield Level Selector accumulation annuity, as with as the similar AXA Equitable Structured Capital Strategies product, investors can get a higher cap on their index-linked crediting rate if they accept a portion of the downside risk.
News

Athene divests Aviva USA’s life insurance business

By Editor Test
Athene Holding, a private equity firm, needs a life insurance operating company in order to issue fixed indexed annuities, but it has no interest in being in the life insurance business per se.

Quote of the Week

By Editor Test
“The largest theme in the VA product space is still de-risking--though I don’t remember it being called 'risking' back in 2005 and 2006,” quipped Casey Malone of Milliman’s Seattle office at the Society of Actuaries Life & Annuity Symposium in Toronto this week.