One Life Insurer’s Pivot to Private Assets

American Equity Investment Life’s ‘AEL 2.0’ strategy is designed to help it thrive even in a low yield environment. Allocating up to 40% of its money to ‘private assets’ is key to the fixed annuity specialist's plan.
Anecdotal Evidence

The Trust Gap between Advisers and Black Women

By Kerry Pechter
A new study by The American College's Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality shows that Black women don't trust financial advisers. But to learn the origins of that mistrust, you need to look elsewhere.

Breaking News

By Editorial Staff
New bill would tax billionaires’ unrealized gains; Largest defined benefit pensions near 100% funding: Milliman; Know your ‘end-investor,’ Cerulli urges asset managers; Envestnet Insurance Exchange will carry Equitable RILA. 

Re-Think the Safe Retirement Spending Rate: Morningstar

By Christine Benz
The safe withdrawal rate is now 3.3%, writes Morningstar Director of Personal Finance Christine Benz. But she adds that retirees could withdraw as much as 5% a year if they obey certain rules and accept certain risks.

SRI Survey: Annuities fit middle-income and mass-affluent

By Editorial Staff
Of advisers who serve retirees and pre-retirees with less than $500k in financial assets, 48% say that annuities are more appropriate for these clients than wealthier clients, the Secure Retirement Institute has found.

COVER STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

November 4, 2021

NAIC Eyes ‘Bermuda Triangle’ Strategy

By Kerry Pechter
A document from the NAIC's Financial Stability Task Force reflects the concerns that the NAIC has heard from a variety of sources about the increased ownership of life insurers by private equity firms. (Image...
October 28, 2021

Charting the Bitcoin Universe (and other New Research)

By Kerry Pechter
This Research Roundup offers a map of the world of cryptocurrency trading, a look at 'Participating Longevity-Linked Annuities,' an investing strategy for low-yield times from David Blanchett, and answers to the 'annuity puzzle.' ...
October 21, 2021

Another Annuity Issuer Enters the ‘Bermuda Triangle’

By Kerry Pechter
American Equity Investment Life Insurance Co., a top-ten fixed indexed annuity seller, is partnering with Brookfield Asset Management on a $10 billion reinsurance and investment deal. Their plan looks a lot like the 'Bermuda...