A Case of Low Book Yields

By Kerry Pechter
“Even if rates were to slowly rise, they would still be historically low. There would be less pressure on companies, but the overall portfolio rate of return could continue to go down,” said Mary Pat Campbell, a life insurance investment analyst at Conning.

The ‘Floor-Leverage’ Model

By Kerry Pechter
An easy income recipe from Financial Engines: Put 15% of your savings in a triple- leveraged stock ETF and the rest in something safe, like a TIPS ladder.

A Roundup of RIIA’s Meeting in Texas

By Kerry Pechter
Michael Finke of Texas Tech, John Salter of Evensky & Katz Wealth Management, Larry Cohen of Strategic Business Insights and others presented at the Retirement Income Industry Association's annual meeting, held this year at Dimensional Fund Advisors headquarters in Austin, Texas. (Above, the DFA lobby).

A Conspiracy against Public Pensions?

By Kerry Pechter
Either paranoid or perceptive, public pension administrators say they are being sandbagged by a pervasive, persistent stealth effort to convert their DB plans to DC and gain greater control over their collectively immense assets. Maybe they're just observing business as usual.
Featured

How the Economic Machine Works

By Kerry Pechter
In this informative and entertaining video, hedge fund billionaire Ray Dalio explains the U.S. economy as he sees it, in terms that anyone can understand, if not agree with. The video is also available at www.economicprinciples.org.

Retirement Savings in a Co-Ed Dorm?

By Kerry Pechter
The investment industry wants to benefit from the tax-deferral subsidy and charge whatever it likes on the subsidized money in rollover IRAs. That’s asking for a lot. More important, it invites Uncle Sam to think about taking the subsidy away.
News

Annuity cash flows perk up in 3Q 2013: DTCC

By Kerry Pechter
Net flows into annuity products nearly doubled in the third quarter, to $4.4 billion from $2.3 billion in the second quarter. Outflows fell to 20.6 billion from $21.1 billion, a decline of over 2%, according to Analytic Reporting for Annuities, a service of DTCC.

Low COLA: The pause that doesn’t refresh

By Kerry Pechter
Since 2000, Social Security benefits have lost 31% of their buying power, according to The Senior Citizen League's 2013 Survey of Senior Costs. During that period, benefits rose 38% but typical expenses for the elderly rose an estimated 81%.

American General launches ‘Power Index Plus’ FIA

By Kerry Pechter
The new fixed indexed annuity offers three interest-crediting strategies, a one-year fixed interest account and two that are pegged to the S&P500 (excluding dividends): an annual point-to-point index interest account, and a monthly point-to-point additive index interest account.

Quote of the Week

By Kerry Pechter
“Never let the perfume of the premium distract you from the stench of the risk”—a maxim expressed by a reinsurance company executive at the American Council of Life Insurers’ annual conference in New Orleans this week.