NAIC Urged to Limit ‘Bermuda Triangle’ Strategy

'The ability of insurers to significantly lower the total asset requirement for long-duration blocks of business that rely heavily on asset returns appears to be one of the drivers of the significant increase in reinsurance transactions,” wrote a New Jersey and an Iowa insurance regulator. 'A stunning development,' said one federal official.

Of Athene, Pension Risk Transfers, and Fiduciaries

The ERISA Advisory Council recently heard comments on changing the criteria that fiduciaries use when vetting annuity providers in pension risk transfer deals. Athene's vice chairman defended his company's practices.

Why Annuity Issuers Use Bermuda Reinsurance

Reinsurance helps life insurers transfer risk and release capital. But when it's internal--between affiliates--and the reinsurer is offshore, it's hard to tell if the deal is real or just 'regulatory arbitrage.'
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What Happens Now for Retirement Policy?

The author, a senior vice president of Retirement Policy at ERIC.org, predicts that the Trump administration will reverse several Obama initiatives: the overtime rule; paid sick leave for federal contractors; revisions to EEOC EEO-1 form; and the Conflict of interest rule.
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Edward Jones’ 401(k) plan accused again of ERISA violations

A federal class action suit in St. Louis charges the Edward Jones 401(k) plan with offering its participants high-cost funds from asset managers that were also paying tens of millions of dollars a year for shelf space on the firm's brokerage platform.

NAIC Urged to Limit ‘Bermuda Triangle’ Strategy

'The ability of insurers to significantly lower the total asset requirement for long-duration blocks of business that rely heavily on asset returns appears to be one of the drivers of the significant increase in reinsurance transactions,” wrote a New Jersey and an Iowa insurance regulator. 'A stunning development,' said one federal official.

Of Athene, Pension Risk Transfers, and Fiduciaries

The ERISA Advisory Council recently heard comments on changing the criteria that fiduciaries use when vetting annuity providers in pension risk transfer deals. Athene's vice chairman defended his company's practices.

Honorable Mention

New York Life pays dividend on deferred income annuity, Capital One Financial drops IRA commissioned sales, and Voya Financial Advisors touts its technology-led growth.