A Fixed Index Annuity with a Dash of Risk

The Momentum Growth contract from Delaware Life introduces a bit of gambling to the FIA product category—but within guardrails, and only with what contract owners might call 'house money.'

F-H-L-B Spells Cheap Cash for Big Annuity Issuers

The largest borrower from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) system in 2024 was Athene Annuity and Life, at more than $15 billion. For at least 16 other top annuity issuers, FHLB loans are a key source of "fungible," low-cost borrowed capital.

RIJ and ChatGPT Discuss ‘Funding Short’

Life insurers used to be known as champions of 'asset-liability matching,' or ALM. Today, many of them are doing the opposite by 'funding short.' Here's a transcript of RIJ's recent conversation with ChatGPT about the risks and rewards of funding short, and its role in today's annuity business.
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QLACs: The ‘Greek yogurt’ of Retirement Products?

Longevity annuities were the topic of a two-hour discussion at the Brookings Institution two weeks ago and of a RIIA/New York Life webinar this week. Having read the transcript of the first one and attended the second, I offer these highlights.

Going Dutch, with a DB-DC Hybrid

Can the use of "buffers" in collectively-managed defined contribution funds offer defined benefit-like income predictability? In the Netherlands, where pensions are a passion, a team of business, academic and governmental experts is recommending it.
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