A Fortune in Reversals
New federal reverse mortgage rules make it cheaper for seniors to tap their home equity for a line of credit.
Maine Squeeze
By merging its pension plan with Social Security, Maine could offer its public employees a more equitable deal. But can the state’s budget handle the potentially higher costs?
Where’s the Scandal?
Did the New York Fed blunder when it bought the CDOs owned by big banks and insured by AIG? So far, the government hasn't done badly, says our guest author.
Making a Case for the 401(k) Annuity
Executives from major plan providers, including Christine Marcks, president of Prudential Retirement, along with trade group officials and ERISA experts, pitched ideas about in-plan income options at DoL/Treasury Department hearings Tuesday and Wednesday.
Featured
Craig Israelsen’s Seven Percent Solution
Think your clients need $1.25 million to retire comfortably? In a new book, advisor Craig Israelsen argues that they can live even better on less than $750,000.
Madoff’s Unsolved Mysteries
On September 26, Los Angeles moneyman Stanley Chais may have taken the secret of the Ponzi artist’s missing billions to his grave.
News
Quote of the Week
"The federal government is like 10,000 bugs on a log floating down a river, and every bug thinks he's steering the log."--Herman Kahn, as quoted by Marsh Carter, chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, at the RIIA annual meeting this week.
Pacific Life Launches Its First SPIA
Pacific Income Provider offers 10 payment options, including Life with Cash Refund, inflation adjustments, and the one-time ability to increase or decrease income payments.
Allianz Life Introduces First Inflation-Protected FIA Income Rider
For an extra annual fee of 60 basis points, the Simple Income III Rider also offers an 8% annual roll-up of the benefit base.
Wealth2k Enhances Income Illustration Software
The software will solve for a “floor” of guaranteed retirement income, and can incorporate a variety of income sources in the “flooring” calculation.
Milliman Assesses Impact of Dodd-Frank Act on Insurers
The two biggest effects of the legislation are likely to be greater access to market for nonadmitted insurers and single-state regulation and financial reporting for reinsurance companies.
The Bucket
Late-breaking items about the Financial Planning Association, InFRE, Principal Financial, Mutual of Omaha, AllianceBernstein and more...
