Principal Financial Group® Announces Results of Strategic Review
{June 29th, 2021} by Principal
DES MOINES, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Principal Financial Group® (Nasdaq: PFG) today announced changes to its portfolio and capital management strategy to drive profitable growth, reduce capital intensity, sharpen its strategic focus, and generate long-term value for shareholders. These changes were approved by the Principal Board of Directors following a comprehensive review of the company’s business mix and capital […]
Structured Annuity Sales Begin To Close The Gap On Indexed Annuities
{June 29th, 2021} by Staff
Annuity research firm Wink, Inc. has released it 1st Quarter, 2021 deferred annuity sales results. Wink’s Sales & Market Report is the insurance industry’s #1 resource for annuity sales data since 1997. Sixty-one indexed annuity providers, 46 fixed annuity providers, 66 multi-year guaranteed annuity (MYGA) providers, 14 structured annuity providers, and 43 variable annuity providers […]
Annuity Rates: No Reason to Get Psyched Out: Reprint #AnnuityAwarenessMonth
{June 29th, 2021} by Sheryl J. Moore
Let me guess: you nor your agents haven’t sold fixed annuities for at least a decade. Am I right? Well, give me a minute. I am going to challenge you about why we all should probably keep that arrow in our quivers. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why fixed annuities aren’t […]
Principal to cease offering fixed annuity retirement products
{June 29th, 2021} by Tyler Jett
Principal is ending some of its retail business after an activist investor called for a review of all of the company’s operations. The Des Moines-based financial services company announced Monday that it will stop selling fixed annuities, term life and universal life insurance products to retail customers. The company will continue to sell those life insurance products to […]
Principal to Drop Fixed Annuities and Retail Life, Keep Variable Annuities
{June 29th, 2021} by Allison Bell
Principal Financial Group Inc. is joining the list of life insurers that’s trying to minimize its exposure to life insurance and annuity interest rate risk. The Des Moines, Iowa-based life insurer announced Monday that it to plans to continue to sell individual variable annuities in the United States, but that it plans to end U.S. […]
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and Its Subsidiaries
{June 29th, 2021} by AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “aa+” (Superior) of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) (domiciled in Springfield, MA) and its life/health subsidiaries, C.M. Life Insurance Company and MML Bay State Life Insurance Company (both domiciled in Enfield, CT). Concurrently, AM Best […]
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
{June 29th, 2021} by AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “aa+” (Superior) of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans (Thrivent) (headquartered in Minneapolis, MN). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect Thrivent’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, […]
Athene and Annexus Announce Expanded Index Lineup
{June 29th, 2021} by Athene USA and Annexus
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, June 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Athene USA (“Athene”), a leading provider of retirement savings products, and Annexus, the leading independent designer of fixed indexed annuities (FIAs), today announced enhancements to the index portfolio in the Athene® BCA® suite of FIAs, including BCA® 2.0 and Athene® Velocity. The expanded lineup includes the latest index from noted economist Prof. Robert Shiller and Barclays, and […]
Best’s Special Report: U.S. Insurers Increased Holdings in Private Equity by 15% in 2020
{June 29th, 2021} by AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Private equity holdings by the U.S. insurance industry grew by 14.8% in 2020, with the life/annuity insurance industry seeing its highest value in five years, at $71.7 billion, according to a new AM Best report. The Best’s Special Report, “Private Equity Investments Still Attractive to US Insurers,” states that U.S. property/casualty insurers also increased the book-adjusted/carrying […]
Conversation Conundrum – Despite Lingering Worry, Majority of Americans are Reluctant to Discuss Retirement Concerns
{June 29th, 2021} by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America
Key Findings: Americans are more worried than ever about a variety of retirement risks in 2021 including concerns about healthcare costs (71% versus 65% in 2020), the rising cost of living (67% vs. 59% in 2020) and the impact of a market downturn on retirement savings (66% vs. 54% in 2020) People are most interested […]
New Survey Reveals How the Pandemic Has Impacted Trends in Retirement
{June 29th, 2021} by The Indexed Annuity Leadership Council
DES MOINES, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Indexed Annuity Leadership Council (IALC) today announced the launch of a survey that examines the impact of the pandemic on trends in retirement. The study found that almost a third (30%) of American workers said the pandemic delayed their plans for retirement. “The pandemic has impacted the way Americans are planning, […]
Best’s Special Report: An Approach to Comparing Insurers’ Interest Rate Assumption Changes
{June 29th, 2021} by AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AM Best believes using a 20-year annuity factor facilitates a level playing field in comparing the conservatism of insurers’ GAAP interest rate assumptions embedded in their reserve calculations. In a new Best’s Special Report, “An Approach to Comparing Insurers’ Interest Rate Assumption Changes,” AM Best notes that the long-term low interest rate environment has […]
American Family Life Insurance Company and Protective Life Insurance Company to Provide Customers With More Retirement Options
{June 29th, 2021} by American Family Insurance
MADISON, Wis. & BIRMINGHAM, Ala.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–American Family Insurance Life Company has entered into a relationship with Protective Life Insurance Company (Protective Life) to give American Family agency owners more ways to help meet their customers’ retirement needs. The opportunity with Protective Life gives American Family agency owners the ability to offer four of Protective Life’s most popular annuity […]
NOTEBOOK – ONE GOOD READ: Survey by indexed annuity consortium turns up surprising twists on retirement knowledge
{June 29th, 2021} by Joe Gardyasz
Nearly one-third of American workers said the pandemic delayed their plans for retirement, according to a new survey by the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council. “The pandemic has impacted the way Americans are planning, saving, and living in retirement and created a financially insecure environment,” writes Jim Poolman, the council’s executive director. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic […]
The Index Standard Launches Comprehensive, First-of-Its-Kind Index Ratings Coverage for Growing Index Annuities Market
{June 29th, 2021} by The Index Standard
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Index Standard, the leading provider of index rating and forecasting services to the fund and insurance industries, today announced coverage of the full range of standard and risk control indices used in fixed index annuities products (FIAs) and registered index-linked annuities (RILAs). This focus area is the first of its kind and […]
The 2021 Retirement and Annuity Interactive Atlas
{June 29th, 2021} by Allison Bell
If you want to advise clients where to live, or simply to generate content for websites, newsletters and social media posts, you may look enviously at the elegant maps appearing on newspapers and news websites. The maps show everything from where the rich people live to what’s happening to nursing home vacancy rates. Today, you […]
The 7 Drawbacks to Fixed Annuity Products
{June 29th, 2021} by Harry N. Stout
Today’s fixed annuity products possess great intrinsic value (e.g., tax deferral, guaranteed income options, probate avoidance and others), but they come with drawbacks that a buyer must understand before committing their hard-earned cash. In my view the drawbacks are not deal breakers but must be carefully considered by the buyer before the products are purchased. […]
Alliance For Lifetime Income: Annuities Add Fuel To Bucket Lists
{June 29th, 2021} by Steve Morelli
What is on your bucket list? Or maybe the more important question is how will you pay to live out those dreams? The answer could be an annuity, according to the Bucket List campaign coming this summer from the Alliance for Lifetime Income awareness campaign Click HERE to read the full story via INN
Who Really Buys Annuities? IALC Has Surprising Answers
{June 29th, 2021} by Allison Bell
Older U.S. residents may be more likely to own annuities if they live in households with annual income from $50,000 to $74,999, or with income from $100,000 to $149,999. The Indexed Annuity Leadership Council (IALC) found those two pockets of annuity ownership strength when it commissioned a new survey. A team conducted the survey in […]
Covid Isn’t Done Changing the Life Insurance Industry Just Yet
{June 29th, 2021} by Telis Demos
The pandemic, and our reemergence from it, are reshaping the economy, government and business in lasting ways. Read more analysis of how Covid has changed the world forever from the Journal’s Heard on the Street team. Even once the pandemic has definitively ended, the effects of Covid-19 on the life and health insurance industry could linger on […]
Male FAs Should Do More for Industry Gender Balance
{June 29th, 2021} by Jocelyn Yang
Men in the financial advisory industry need to start shouldering more of the work of correcting a gender imbalance, a move that could potentially serve to attract clients, according to David Griswold, president and founder of Vantage Point Financial. There are currently many more men than women in the industry, but many male financial advisors tend to […]
Finra Reports Jump in Fines in 2020, Net Income of $20M
{June 29th, 2021} by Alex Padalka
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority collected around 43% more in fines in 2020 than in the prior year while reporting nearly $20 million in net income. The industry’s self-regulator posted net income of $19.8 million in 2020, after reporting a net loss of $45.9 million in 2019, according to the regulator’s 2020 annual financial report. That […]
Integrity Adds Montalto United Insurance Agency to its Growing Family of Partners
{June 29th, 2021} by Integrity Marketing Group, LLC
DALLAS, June 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Integrity Marketing Group, LLC (“Integrity”), the nation’s largest independent distributor of life and health insurance products, today announced it has acquired Montalto United Insurance Agency (“Montalto United”), an independent marketing organization (IMO) based in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. As part of the transaction, Ryan Montalto, President of Montalto United, will become a Managing Partner […]
More Than Half of Americans Say They’re in Financial Recovery Mode, Almost All of Them are Confident They’ll Recover Fully
{June 29th, 2021} by Northwestern Mutual
MILWAUKEE, June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Most Americans are still contending with the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest set of findings from Northwestern Mutual’s 2021 Planning & Progress Study. The research finds more than half (58%) of U.S. adults aged 18+ say they are in financial recovery mode, but among them nine of out […]
Northwestern Mutual Contributes $1.9 Million to Amplify Neighborhood Revitalization
{June 29th, 2021} by Northwestern Mutual
MILWAUKEE, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Milwaukee residents are taking action to build stronger, healthier and safer communities by raising awareness of available health resources in their community, improving housing conditions and providing youth with educational programming. Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, is continuing to partner with residents to enhance community-led efforts by contributing $1.9 million in grants to 33 […]
Foresters Financial again makes it easier for Americans living with type 2 diabetes to access non-medical life insurance
{June 29th, 2021} by The Independent Order of Foresters
TORONTO, June 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – Foresters Financial™, the fraternal life insurer that is quietly redefining the industry, today announced that it continues to lead in expanding the availability of life insurance to Americans living with type 2 diabetes. Effective June 28, 2021, Strong Foundation(1), Foresters industry-leading non-medical term life insurance designed to meet a range of client needs, […]
LifeQuotes.com: U.S. Life Insurers Lift COVID-19 Underwriting Restrictions; Life Insurance Prices Fall to All-Time Lows
{June 29th, 2021} by LifeQuotes.com
DARIEN, Ill., June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — LifeQuotes.com, the award-winning life insurance platform that offers instant, comparative rate quotes from 40 highly-rated life insurers and allows customers to buy from the company of their choice, today released the results of a new life insurance survey that confirms COVID-related underwriting restrictions imposed in 2020 are being peeled […]
New Insurtech Hub for Wealth Management Launches with Hybrid Distribution
{June 29th, 2021} by Financial Independence Group
CORNELIUS, N.C., June 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Wealth managers can now view, analyze, and manage structured investments alongside fixed and registered insurance products through one centralized platform jointly launched by financial services conglomerate Financial Independence Group, LLC (FIG) and fintech company SIMON Markets (SIMON). Strategically aligned with the commitment of both companies to streamline the wealth management experience […]
How Affluent Parents Are Teaching Their Children About Finances: BofA
{June 29th, 2021} by Michael S. Fischer
Parents are providing more financial support for their children in light of the pandemic, and are committed to imparting more financial knowledge than they received growing up, according to a new study from Bank of America. The independent market research firm Concentrix conducted a panel-sample online survey from Oct. 28 to Nov. 5 among 2,000 affluent […]
Why Data-Driven Hiring Is the Only Way to Go
{June 29th, 2021} by Dr. Christopher Croner
Chicago, IL (June 2021)—How many times have you said (or heard someone in your company say), “Wow, I just know in my gut this person will be a good salesperson.” This is how too many sales managers go about hiring. But according to Dr. Chris Croner, there’s really no such thing as the “golden gut.” And […]
Halo Investing Adds AIG Life & Retirement to Its Annuities Platform
{June 29th, 2021} by Halo Investing
CHICAGO, June 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Halo Investing (“Halo”), the world’s first and only independent, multi-issuer technology platform for protective investments, today announced that AIG Life & Retirement has joined Halo’s growing digital annuities platform. AIG Life & Retirement will offer its Power Index Advisory® and Assured Edge® Advisory annuities on Halo, enabling financial advisors to seamlessly include AIG’s retirement solutions […]
Voices: The CFP Board has given up on protecting the public from unscrupulous advisors
{June 29th, 2021} by Allan S. Roth
The CFP Board states it has a lofty mission, but is no longer trying to live up to it. Here’s what the group espouses, as seen on its website: The mission of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) is to benefit the public by granting the CFP certification and upholding it as […]
An Unknown Consequence to a 4th of July DUI: The Inability to Get Life Insurance
{June 29th, 2021} by Ethos
SAN FRANCISCO, June 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Fourth of July is historically one of the worst holidays for driving and alcohol-impaired accidents. Drivers who drive under the influence are not only risking their life and the lives of others, they are risking being able to ever get life insurance for their families, according to new data from Ethos […]
8 New Retirement and Annuity Jokes
{June 29th, 2021} by Allison Bell
Three months ago, laughing was just starting to return to being a thing. Now, masks and vaccines have cut the COVID-19 infection rate sharply in most of the country, and humor is back. Here’s a new batch of 8 new retirement and annuity jokes featuring one of the safest available targets — insects and other […]
Low rates to persist, drive quest for yield -Allianz Life CEO
{June 29th, 2021} by Alwyn Scott
NEW YORK, June 22 (Reuters) – U.S. interest rates likely will stay relatively low with ample cash in the financial system for the foreseeable future, the head of Allianz Life (ALVG.DE) said, despite Federal Reserve comments that sent stock prices tumbling last week. A gradual rate rise and slow withdrawal of excess liquidity would put emphasis on […]
Virginia Finalizes Best Interest Rule For Annuities
{June 29th, 2021} by InsuranceNewsNet
In addition to Virginia’s new regulation, Alabama passed its own regulation modeled off the NAIC’ s rule in the past several weeks, while Texas recently finalized its own legislation governing best interest conduct for annuity providers, according to Jason Berkowitz, the chief legal and regulatory affairs officer for the Insured Retirement Institute. Click HERE to […]
7 myths about annuities, debunked
{June 29th, 2021} by Kristen Beckman
Annuities have attracted both fans and critics throughout the years along with a variety of perceptions about their value as a retirement income tool. As we observe National Annuity Awareness Month in June, TIAA’s Dan Keady, CFP, chief financial planning strategist, debunked a few of the more common myths about annuities. Click HERE to read […]
Global Atlantic in $5.7bn annuity reinsurance transaction with Great American
{June 29th, 2021} by Luke Gallin
Global Atlantic Financial Group Limited, a U.S. retirement, life re/insurance company, has completed a $5.7 billion fixed and fixed-indexed annuity reinsurance transaction with Great American Life Insurance Company, an affiliate of American Financial Group. Global Atlantic is set to co-invest in the transaction, alongside its subsidiaries, by leveraging the third-party capital benefits of its Ivy […]
IOWA VIEW Opinion: Why American Equity Investment Life Insurance Co. is making a commitment to the soccer stadium and the community
{June 29th, 2021} by Anant Bhalla
American Equity Investment Life Insurance Co., a New York Stock Exchange publicly traded company, is proud to have its headquarters in the greater Des Moines metro area. For over 25 years, we have supported American families by offering annuity and investments solutions as they plan to secure their financial futures. We take our client promise of providing […]
Launching Jeff Bezos into space is a leap too far for insurers
{June 29th, 2021} by Reuters
Launching one of the richest individuals on earth into orbit has proved a leap too far for insurers, who are not ready to price the risk of losing Jeff Bezos or his fellow space travelers. Amazon CEO Bezos, a lifelong space enthusiast, has been vying with Elon Musk and Richard Branson to become the first […]
Equitable Announces 2021 Equitable Excellence℠ Scholarship Winners
{June 29th, 2021} by Equitable
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Equitable, a leading financial services organization and principal franchise of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH), today announced the 2021 Equitable ExcellenceSM Scholarship recipients. This year, the program recognizes 369 deserving students from all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in academics, exemplary leadership skills and a commitment to improving their […]
Why Annuity Adoption Among Fee-Based Advisors Is Still So Slow
{June 29th, 2021} by Warren S. Hersch
In the first quarter, a sliver of the deferred annuities sold, or 2.28%, were fee-based, according to new Wink data. That’s only slightly higher than the 1.87% recorded in the last quarter of 2020. “Sales of fee-based annuities are increasing quite steadily, but the growth really isn’t too much to get excited about,” says Sheryl Moore, the CEO of […]
Annuity Sales Rise 10% in Q1: Wink
{June 28th, 2021} by Allison Bell
Low interest rates are continuing to push U.S. life insurers toward offering annuities without minimum annual return guarantee, according to new issuer survey data from Wink Inc. U.S. sales of individual deferred annuities climbed to $58 billion, up 10% from the total for the first quarter of 2020, the Des Moines, Iowa-based firm says. Click HERE […]
Structured Annuities Trump Indexed Products In 1Q Wink Sales Report
{June 28th, 2021} by Staff Reports
“Things couldn’t look brighter for the structured annuity market,” said Sheryl J. Moore, CEO of both Moore Market Intelligence and Wink, Inc. “My latest forecasts show structured annuity sales eclipsing indexed annuities’ before 2022 closes. Low fixed interest rates and market volatility have not been kind to indexed annuity sales.” Click HERE to read the […]
FIRST QUARTER 2021 ANNUITY SALES
{June 28th, 2021} by Sheryl J. Moore
Deferred Annuity Sales Total 1Q2021 deferred annuity sales were $58,167,100,339. First quarter deferred annuity sales were up more than 3% when compared to the previous quarter and were up more than 10% when compared to the same period last year. Deferred annuities include sales of fixed, indexed, multi-year guaranteed, structured, and variable deferred annuities. Non-Variable […]
Wink, Inc. Releases 1st Quarter, 2021 Deferred Annuity Sales Results
{June 22nd, 2021} by Press Release
— FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION — NEWS RELEASE STRUCTURED ANNUITY SALES BEGIN TO CLOSE THE GAP ON INDEXED ANNUITIES’ SALES Wink, Inc. Releases 1st Quarter, 2021 Deferred Annuity Sales Results Des Moines, Iowa. June 21st, 2021– Wink’s Sales & Market Report is the insurance industry’s #1 resource for annuity sales data since 1997. […]
(Sheryl) Moore’s Law on Annuities in 2021
{June 22nd, 2021} by Kerry Pechter
RIJ talks with Sheryl Moore of Wink, Inc., the annuity data and consulting firm, about the results of her first-quarter 2021 survey of annuity sales. She shares her opinion on a range of annuity-related topics. “The structured annuity is the golden child right now,” Moore told RIJ. “It’s relatively new, and everybody likes a bright shiny […]
Delaware, NY, Debate Legislation To Join The Insurance Compact
{June 22nd, 2021} by John Hilton
A pair of states are considering legislation to join the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission, commonly referred to as the “insurance compact.” Created by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2000, the compact reviews and approves (or disapproves) individual and group annuity, life insurance, disability income, and long-term care insurance products. States steadily joined […]
F&G Introduces New Category-Defining Annuity Product with “FILA”
{June 22nd, 2021} by Fidelity & Guaranty Life
DES MOINES, Iowa, June 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — F&G, part of the FNF family of companies and a leading provider of annuities and life insurance, today announced a new annuity product category – the Fixed Index-Linked Annuity (FILA) with the launch of Dynamic Accumulator. The new product is built on a Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) chassis offering 100% […]
Lincoln Financial Group Helps Provide Control Over Investment Outcomes Through First-Of-Its-Kind Annuity Solution
{June 22nd, 2021} by Lincoln Financial Group
RADNOR, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Lincoln Financial Group (NYSE: LNC) is expanding its broad portfolio of annuities with the launch of Lincoln Investor Advantage Pro® variable annuity featuring Lincoln Defined Outcome Funds. This unique annuity solution provides clients with a platform of more than 125 funds, enabling financial professionals to build portfolios and increase or decrease the level of protection on their […]
Kelly Rowland Emphasizes the Power of Life Insurance in Partnership with Nonprofit Life Happens
{June 22nd, 2021} by Life Happens
ARLINGTON, Va., June 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Life Happens, a national nonprofit educating consumers about the importance of life, disability and long-term care insurance in a complete financial plan, announces today its partnership with four-time Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, author, businesswoman, actress, and mother Kelly Rowland to underscore the value of life insurance for Life Happens’ annual Life Insurance Awareness […]
Insurers See Record Returns With Riskier Bets, NAIC Reports
{June 22nd, 2021} by Steve Morelli
Insurance companies had the best return on assets in 10 years in 2020, despite last year’s volatility and persistent low interest rates, according to a National Association of Insurance Commissioners report. Carriers made 7.7% on their cash and invested assets in 2020 year over year, totaling $7.5 trillion, on top of a banner 7% they […]
State of North Dakota Proclamation Annuity Awareness Month
{June 22nd, 2021} by Governor of the state of North Dakota
Whereas, annuities provide a safe alternative for individuals who want a predictable way to meet immediate, ongoing and future financial obligations and objectives; View Proclamation here: Annuity Awareness Month 2021
Best’s Market Segment Report: Individual Annuity Providers Still Challenged by Low Interest Rates
{June 22nd, 2021} by AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Despite COVID-19’s operational and sales impacts on the U.S. individual annuity industry, the bigger issue for writers remains the low interest rate environment, according to a new AM Best report. The Best’s Market Segment Report, “Individual Annuity Providers Still Challenged by Low Interest Rates,” states the low interest rate environment continues to limit the levers insurers […]
Prudential launches FlexGuard Income indexed variable annuity – a new investment and income strategy with enhanced flexibility and control
{June 22nd, 2021} by Prudential
NEWARK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Prudential Financial Inc. (NYSE: PRU), today launched FlexGuard® Income, a new indexed variable annuity that provides customers with investment strategies for growth potential, along with different levels of protection and the ability to help enhance income in retirement. “FlexGuard Income is designed to help customers and their financial professionals feel more in control […]
OneAmerica® Emerges From “Pandemic Year” with Strong Capital Position and Profitable Growth
{June 22nd, 2021} by OneAmerica
INDIANAPOLIS, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As the pandemic experience continues to recede and the world regains some normalcy, OneAmerica® looks back on the past year with noted achievements, including strong capital levels, profitable growth and nearly $98 billion in assets under administration. The mutual organization’s financial strength and stability were again affirmed by national ratings agencies, despite the challenges […]
Women of Color, Millennial Women Take Outsized Financial Hit from Pandemic
{June 22nd, 2021} by Josh Azar
The pandemic has affected women’s finances more than men’s, with women of color and millennials bearing the brunt of the impact, according to a recent survey. In fact, around 40% of women surveyed expect 2020 to leave a lasting impact on their finances, with 28% saying they expect the pandemic to delay their retirement, a […]
Ex-FA Gets Spot on US Olympic Team After Winning Decathlon Trials
{June 22nd, 2021} by Alex Padalka
A former financial advisor will represent the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics after coming in first during the Olympic trials in decathlon over the weekend, according to news reports. Garrett Scantling earned a personal-best score of 8,647 points at the trials held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., earning him a spot on the U.S. Olympic […]
Generation X Turning to Annuities at Higher Rates in Search of Protection as Private Sector Pensions Disappear
{June 22nd, 2021} by Alliance for Lifetime Income
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the Alliance for Lifetime Income and CANNEX released the first installment of the Protected Retirement Income and Planning Study, a joint research effort with both investors and financial professionals, designed to better understand and forecast retirement income trends. The inaugural study finds investors eager for financial protection amid a challenging fixed-income […]
Gen X Wants To Talk Annuities, Study Shows
{June 22nd, 2021} by Steve Morelli
Gen Xers know the value of creating their own pension as company pension plans fade and they realize they are on their own more than their older siblings and parents are, according to a new report. A large majority (71%) of 45- and 54-year-old investors are at least “somewhat interested” in purchasing an annuity, according […]
NAIC Forms Work Group To Better Regulate Index-Linked Annuities
{June 22nd, 2021} by John Hilton
Registered index-linked annuities are the shining star of recent annuity sales reports and now they have earned the attention of state insurance regulators as well. A National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ task force today created a subgroup to focus solely on the index-linked annuity products. “These products are exclusively filed in the states as variable […]
The NAIC’s Top 10 Annuity Issuers of 2020
{June 22nd, 2021} by Allison Bell
COVID-19 may have reshaped the U.S. population, but about 38 million baby boomers are on track to turn 65 over the next eight years. The pandemic, low interest rates, worries about inflation, and the loss of defined benefit pension plans have all combined to complicate those boomers’ retirement planning efforts. Annuity issuers could play a […]
New York Life climbs to No. 67 in 2021 Fortune 500.
{June 22nd, 2021} by New York Life
New York Life ranks No. 67, six positions up from last year, in the 2021 Fortune 500. We remain both the largest mutual insurance company and in the Fortune 100. Our write-up this year explains: “New York Life, which jumps six spots this year, was well prepared for COVID-19. After all, the 175-year-old company previously survived yellow […]
Mixed Ruling Issued in MetLife Mortality Table ERISA Lawsuit
{June 22nd, 2021} by John Manganaro
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has published an order in an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) lawsuit filed against MetLife by a proposed class of retirees who were formerly employed by the company. In basic terms, the order grants in part and denies in part a motion to […]
Thrivent’s purpose-driven RIA aims to be ‘household name’ under Carolyn Armitage
{June 22nd, 2021} by Tobias Salinger
Aiming to turn its hybrid arm into a destination for “purpose-driven” advisors, financial services firm Thrivent picked 30-year industry veteran Carolyn Armitage to lead the RIA. Thrivent Advisor Network spans 180 advisors managing $6.5 billion in client assets. It launched in 2019 with 130 former representatives from the fraternal benefit society’s legacy insurance broker-dealer, Thrivent […]
Treasury Secretary Fears the Attack of the Bad Interest Rate Benchmarks
{June 22nd, 2021} by Allison Bell
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen wants to see banks, life insurers and other organizations preparing now to shift away from the Libor interest rate benchmark Jan. 1, 2022. Yellen and other top federal regulators are calling for U.S. companies to tie the rates in variable-rate contracts to the new Secure Overnight Financing Rate benchmark. “We have […]
Advisors Carson Group Partners With FIG on Insurance Solutions
{June 22nd, 2021} by Jeff Berman
Carson Group has entered a strategic partnership with Financial Independence Group that will provide Carson advisors with access to FIG’s fee-based insurance products. Most of our advisors have been in the planning business for years so insurance is a core part of the planning process,” Jamie Hopkins, Carson managing partner of wealth solutions, told ThinkAdvisor […]
Integrity Marketing Acquires Two Distributors: Deals
{June 22nd, 2021} by Allison Bell
Integrity Marketing Group LLC — a big insurance distributor — has acquired two smaller distributors: Theodore Group and Aspect Management. Integrity Marketing is a Dallas-based company that’s been growing rapidly through acquisitions. It has ties to 370,000 agents, and those agents could make about $7 billion in sales this year. Theodore Group is a 12-year-old, […]
Advisors Embrace Financial Education for Students: Survey
{June 22nd, 2021} by Michael S. Fischer
Many advisors have risen to the opportunity to deliver financial education to students as a core component of their business model, according to a new survey from MoneyGuide. The survey was conducted in mid-May among some 700 advisors in the U.S., all of whom provide financial advice. Seventy-eight percent of respondents agreed that financial education […]
What’s Behind the Soaring Social Security COLA Estimates for 2022?
{June 22nd, 2021} by Ginger Szala
As inflation rises, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that Social Security recipients can expect rises along with it. The easing COVID-19 pandemic has led to some unusual increases in certain components of the price index on which COLAs are based. That index, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), rose 5% in May, leading The Senior […]
BofA Chief: All Vaccinated Staff to Return to Offices in September
{June 22nd, 2021} by Alex Padalka
Bank of America expects all of its employees who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 to return to the office after Labor Day, according to news reports. “After Labor Day, our view is all the vaccinated teammates will be back and we’ll be able to operate fairly normally, and we’ll then start to make provisions for […]
SEC Plans More Changes to Accredited Investor Definition
{June 21st, 2021} by Melanie Waddell
The Securities and Exchange Commission plans to further amend rules pertaining to the accredited investor definition as well as the agency’s whistleblower rules, according to its just-released Regulatory Flexibility Agenda filed with the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Republican SEC Commissioners Hester Peirce and Elad Roisman issued a joint […]
‘Financial Freedom’ More Appealing Than ‘Retirement’: Survey
{June 21st, 2021} by Michael S. Fischer
A big majority of respondents in a poll released Monday by Franklin Templeton said retirement now looks different for everyone and there is no single path to retirement today. Respondents were more likely to find the concept of financial freedom appealing than the concept of retirement, but less likely to consider that goal achievable. Most […]
For many bank employees, remote work is here to stay
{June 21st, 2021} by Laura Alix
The percentage of U.S bank employees who work at least partially from home nearly doubled over the past year, and more than half of the industry’s workers want to keep performing job duties remotely. At the same time, more than seven out of 10 bank staffers believe that their employer is likely to allow […]
Simplicity Adds Insurance Network America to its Group of Companies and Welcomes Lauri Beck as Newest Partner
{June 21st, 2021} by Simplicity Group
SUMMIT, N.J., June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Simplicity Group (“Simplicity”) is pleased to announce that Insurance Network America (“INA”), a leading provider of insurance solutions for over 30 years, has joined the Simplicity Group of companies. INA is a leading resource for independent agents for nearly all lines of life insurance and annuities and one of the premier […]
In-Plan Retirement Annuity Surge Predicted as Pandemic Subsides
{June 21st, 2021} by Austin R. Ramsey
Asset managers are gearing up for a surge in new in-plan retirement annuity products enabled by the 2019 SECURE Act after weathering an economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19 intervened in what was expected to be a record launch of in-plan annuities after the federal legislation made it easier for retirement plan sponsors […]
Examining the Indices in Index-Linked Annuities
{June 15th, 2021} by Kerry Pechter
Relatively speaking, an indexed annuity was once as simple as a Schwinn bicycle with fat tires and a three-speed gear shift. The early contracts gave policyholders partial exposure to the growth of just three or four common indices: the S&P 500, the NASDAQ and the Russell 2000 or MSCI-EAFE. Today’s indexed annuities are more like […]
Second Season of OneAmerica® Speaker Series
{June 15th, 2021} by OneAmerica
INDIANAPOLIS, June 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — OneAmerica® launches its second virtual speaker series, Leading Tomorrow with OneAmerica, this month. The webinar series will feature thought leaders who will speak on important topics in the financial services industry and today’s workplace. The season will kick off with author Jeff Bush of The Washington Update® on June 10. Kim Thomas and Wendy Dukes of OneAmerica will present on July 15, […]
DOL to Redefine ‘Fiduciary’ in New Retirement Account Rule
{June 15th, 2021} by Alex Padalka
The Department of Labor appears to be rewriting the rules about what constitutes a fiduciary when it comes to retirement accounts. The revisions look to revive elements of the Obama-era rule that called for retirement account advisors to always put client’s interests ahead of their own, which was challenged by the Trump administration and then killed by the […]
Baby Boomers’ Biggest Financial Risk: Cognitive Decline
{June 15th, 2021} by Randall Smith
For baby boomers who manage their own nest eggs, a risk is looming that has nothing to do with stock prices or interest rates. The risk is cognitive decline, which can rob them of their judgment, often without much warning. One big mistake—or a series of smaller ones—can go unnoticed by loved ones, and potentially […]
Finra proposes annual regulatory education
{June 15th, 2021} by Mark Schoeff Jr.
Finra is proposing to increase the frequency of continuing education regarding regulatory developments while providing a longer runway for former brokers to reenter the industry as long as they keep up with educational requirements. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews
Financial Independence Group Partners with Carson Group to Provide Life Insurance, Annuities, Disability, and Long-Term Care Solutions
{June 15th, 2021} by Financial Independence Group
CORNELIUS, N.C., June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Financial Independence Group, LLC (FIG), a leading financial services conglomerate, and Carson Group, one of the fastest-growing wealth advisory firms and financial planning ecosystems in the United States, have entered a strategic partnership to power Carson Group’s insurance solutions. The new partnership is the first of its kind in financial services. […]
TIAA Annuitants Who Stayed the Course Enjoy Historic CREF Payment Increases
{June 15th, 2021} by TIAA
NEW YORK, June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Patience during the pandemic literally paid off for those who stayed in the equity markets despite the market unsteadiness at the beginning of the crisis. TIAA annuitants who elected lifetime income from CREF equity strategies saw a year-over-year payment increase of 60% or more from 2020 to 2021, the first time […]
CUNA Mutual Group Collaborates with LPL Financial as it Accelerates Digital Experiences in its Credit Union Member Financial Advisory Program
{June 15th, 2021} by CUNA Mutual Group
MADISON, Wis., June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — CUNA Mutual Group, a broad financial services provider, today announced another phase of their strategy to accelerate digital experiences for credit unions and their members. After three years of steady growth through strategic investments, innovation and partnerships, CUNA Mutual’s latest update now focuses their wealth management business, CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. […]
Penn River Partners with Hannover Re US to launch Reinsurance addition to its digital platform for life and annuity insurers
{June 15th, 2021} by Penn River
NEWTON SQ, Pa., June 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Penn River Inc, a leading life and annuity software company, today announces its partnership with top tier reinsurer Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America (“Hannover Re US”), to launch a reinsurance addition to its ProductHub platform. This addition to the platform gives Penn River’s clients the ability to seamlessly integrate with Hannover […]
PHP Agency Launches Podcast Series Showcasing Agent Diversity and Success
{June 15th, 2021} by PHP Agency
DALLAS, June 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The financial services industry can be a tough field where only the strong and focused will survive. The rewards, however, are huge when you succeed. There are a select few who have cracked the code and are earning fortunes in this industry. Though one would think they would keep the secrets […]
How an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust Can Be Used to Avoid or Reduce the Estate Tax
{June 15th, 2021} by Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.
With the federal estate tax exemption possibly about to be lowered, it may be time to think about steps you can take to keep your estate from being taxed. An irrevocable life insurance trust allows you to pass on money to your heirs while avoiding both the federal estate tax, as well as any applicable […]
Ameritas launches new survivor life insurance product
{June 15th, 2021} by Ameritas
LINCOLN, Nebraska, (May 26, 2021) – Ameritas will now offer a new survivor life insurance product, Value Plus Survivor Index Universal Life Insurance (Value Plus SIUL), issued by Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. Value Plus SIUL provides protection for two people and the death benefit is payable at the death of the second insured. The product […]
We Met the COVID-19 Challenge: Life Insurer CEOs to World
{June 15th, 2021} by Allison Bell
Life insurance company executives spent some time Wednesday talking to S&P Global Ratings Insurance Conference attendees about the effects of low bond yields on their companies’ plans for the future. But what the executives spoke about with the most passion is the role their companies played in helping hundreds of thousands of families in the […]
Panic life insurance purchase is the new bad hairstyle
{June 15th, 2021} by Business Insurance
A research report for Expertise.com that found many young Americans “panic bought” life insurance during the pandemic and now 21% of them regret it. Of a survey of 1,000 Americans, the report revealed that 25% of Americans bought a life insurance policy during the pandemic and within this group, 21% were ages 18-24, 32% were ages 25-34, […]
Life Insurer Protective Launches RIA
{June 15th, 2021} by Karen Demasters
Protective Life Corporation, a life insurance company headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., has launched a registered investment advisor to create a family of financial service companies. Protective will launch Concourse Financial Group on July 19, Protective announced today. The move will create an organization consisting of Protective’s insurance and financial planning affiliates, which include ProEquities, a […]
Advisors say life insurance may help combat Biden’s proposed tax increase
{June 15th, 2021} by Kate Dore
President Joe Biden wants to raise taxes on inheritances to help fund his lofty infrastructure plans. The proposals call for taxing capital gains on inherited property at death, treating the transfer like a sale. Heirs may exclude the first $1 million of gains ($2.5 million for married couples). This new tax hike is separate from […]
Franklin Templeton’s Voice of the American Worker Study Reveals Changing Concept of Retirement
{June 15th, 2021} by Franklin Templeton
SAN MATEO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Retirement today feels “less cookie cutter than it used to be”, according to 82% of those polled in Franklin Templeton’s Voice of the American Worker Survey. The vast majority of respondents indicate that retirement now looks different for everyone (88%) and that there is no single path to retirement today (82%). A […]
The Impact Genome Project® and MassMutual Foundation Announce New Research Measuring Social Capital – particularly critical in post-pandemic America
{June 15th, 2021} by MassMutual
CHICAGO & SPRINGFIELD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–New research from The Impact Genome Project® and the MassMutual Foundation finds marginalized populations face barriers to higher paying jobs, healthcare, and financial stability. The research reveals a higher percentage of low-income Americans and marginalized groups have limited or no personal networks to help them benefit from the nation’s post-COVID economic […]
Majority of Americans Support Sustainable Investing and Are Ready to Act
{June 15th, 2021} by Allianz Life
MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Perhaps once considered a passing fad, sustainable investing has solidified its place at the investing table and will likely hold that position for years to come, according to a new study* released today by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life). In addition, the study found Americans are now turning their attention […]
The Standard Hires Paul Garofoli as Regional Sales Director, Individual Annuities
{June 15th, 2021} by The Standard
PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Standard announced the hiring of Paul Garofoli as a regional sales director of Individual Annuities. Based in Texas, he will work with independent distributors and advisors across the country. Garofoli has 38 years of insurance brokerage and distribution experience. His career has included the disciplines of underwriting, product development, marketing and sales with […]
Protective Life Launches Concourse Financial Group, Bringing Together ProEquities, First Protective and Protective Distributors
{June 15th, 2021} by Protective Life Corporation
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Protective Life Corporation (Protective), a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. (TSE:8750), today announced the launch of Concourse Financial Group (“Concourse”). The move will create a unified organization consisting of Protective’s insurance and financial planning affiliates – ProEquities, a leading independent broker-dealer and RIA; First Protective, a multi-faceted brokerage general […]
Clients Have Unrealistic Investing Expectations: IRI Advisor Counci
{June 15th, 2021} by Allison Bell
Members of the Insured Retirement Institute’s Advisor Council see television shows giving some clients unrealistic expectations about financial returns. The Washington-based annuity industry group talks about that challenge in the latest IRI State of the Industry Report. Market Snapshot: The heart of the report is a compendium of annuity market data. IRI says, for example, that individual […]
Inflation Is A Yay For Yellen – And Annuities
{June 15th, 2021} by Steven A. Morelli
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s assurance that a little inflation and higher interest rates would be good for the economy might have some worried about inflation’s erosion of retirement security, but the higher rates could actually help some retirees. Yellen was responding to concerns about the inflationary effect triggered by the trillions of taxpayer dollars that […]
Van Mueller: It’s The ‘Greatest Time Ever’ For Cash-Value Life Insurance
{June 15th, 2021} by John Hilton
Asking question can be the most effective way to sell life insurance. As long as they are the right questions, said Van Mueller, a Milwaukee-based insurance agent. “This is the greatest time to be an insurance and financial professional,” Mueller said. “There’s never been a time like this. And it is the greatest time ever to sell […]
Ten Rules-of-Thumb for Choosing Indices in Annuities
{June 15th, 2021} by Kerry Pechter
Once an adviser and client decide to buy a specific index-linked annuity contract, they need to allocate the client’s premium to one or more of the indices on whose performance their returns will depend. The client, on his or her own, will have no idea how to make that decision. When it comes to the […]
Diversification and Insurance: Which Should Come First?
{June 15th, 2021} by Retirement Income Journal
To see the complete text of this article, click here. To visit the ‘Retirement Investing’ page at EDHEC-Risk Institute, click here. The authors are Nicole Beevers, Hannes Du Plessis, Lionel Martellini, and Vincent Milhau. MODERN PORTFOLIO THEORY suggests that the complex problem of investor welfare maximization subject to various constraints is best handled by jointly using three […]
Jury Awards $114M in United of Omaha Rescission Case
{June 15th, 2021} by Allison Bell
Astate court jury in Harrison County, Texas, awarded $113.85 million to the plaintiff Friday in a case involving a dispute over payment of life insurance death benefits. The plaintiff, Johnny Costello, has been trying to collect death benefits under a $500,000 life insurance policy that United of Omaha Life Insurance Company issued to his late […]
Guaranteed Income Belongs on the Retiree Balance Sheet
{June 15th, 2021} by David Blanchett
Retirement is the largest purchase most people will ever make. Fortunately, a good chunk of that expense is covered from a variety of guaranteed income sources, such as Social Security retirement benefits. Despite the importance of guaranteed income, though, in my experience most advisors view guaranteed income only as an income source and do not attempt […]
Trendspotter: Uncertainty About Mortality Will Rattle Life, Health and Pension Sector
{June 15th, 2021} by Allison Bell
The Trend: Life insurers will have to prepare for the possibility that the life span of life insurance policyholders, annuity holders and pension plan participants could fall. The Driver: U.S. life expectancy at birth increased, or at least stayed the same, almost every year from 1943 through 2014. Insurers, actuaries and personal financial advisors […]
Some Countries Skip Insurer Systemic Risk Evaluations: IAIS
{June 15th, 2021} by Allison Bell
Regulators in many countries are skeptical about the idea that problems at insurance companies could rock the financial system. Officials at the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) talk about that finding in a report on how well 26 IAIS member countries are implementing the new IAIS “Holistic Framework” — the Holistic Framework for the […]
SRI Study: Owning An Annuity Increases Retirement Confidence
{June 15th, 2021} by Staff Reports
Year after year, Secure Retirement Institute research shows that pre-retirees’ and retirees’ top concern is running out of money in retirement. The latest SRI data suggests that retirees who own an annuity are more confident than non-owners that their savings and investments will not run out if they live to age 90 (69% versus 44%). […]
New Study Reveals Health Priorities
{June 14th, 2021} by Charles K. Hirsch, CLU
Lincoln Financial Group recently released a study focused on the prioritization of employee mental health. This new study, similar to one released by The Hartford last fall, reveals that employees today have needs and expectations of their employer that too often are not being met. Highlighted in a statement released in late April, the Lincoln […]
The Insurance Matchmaker — With Jerald Tillman
{June 14th, 2021} by Susan Rupe
Shortly before he was due to graduate from Miami University of Ohio back in 1974, Jerald Tillman was invited to meet with a recruiter for an insurance carrier. His response? “I did not go to college for four years to go into the insurance business.” Click HERE to read the full story via INN
New York DFS Appeals State Court Ruling Tossing Out Regulation 187
{June 14th, 2021} by John Hilton
The New York Department of Financial Services has appealed an April 29 decision by a state court tossing out Regulation 187, the state’s tough rules governing the sales of life insurance and annuities. The appeal was expected and confirmed by a source with the DFS. The appeal goes to the New York Court of Appeals, […]
Lawsuit Claims Ameriprise Tolerated ‘Sexually-Harassing Conduct’ of FAs
{June 14th, 2021} by Alex Padalka
Ameriprise Financial is facing a lawsuit filed by a former registered client associate who claims that two financial advisors with who she had worked at the firm created an “intolerable” environment for her by their “sexually-harassing” behavior.In April, Stephanie Henninger filed a civil action in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Somerset County, […]
Single Premium Buy-Out Sales Drop 77% In 1Q, LIMRA SRI Reports
{June 11th, 2021} by Staff Reports
WINDSOR, Conn., June 10, 2021—Following strong fourth quarter 2020 sales results, U.S. single premium buy-out sales totaled $1 billion in the first quarter, down 77% from first quarter 2020, according to the Secure Retirement Institute U.S. Group Annuity Risk Transfer Sales Survey. “Pension risk transfer activity slowed significantly in the first quarter, with just 42 single premium […]
World Financial Group Already Breaking Records in 2021
{June 10th, 2021} by WFG
JOHNS CREEK, Ga., June 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Over the past several months, World Financial Group’s independent agents and representatives have set company records in a variety of key business metrics, in particular with more than 299,000 policies sold and over 225,000 new individuals joining World Financial Group in a 12-month period. These results represent a 24% […]
RILAs Pop 88% In Sales, Continuing Shift To Variables
{June 9th, 2021} by Steven A. Morelli
Annuity sales continued their shift from fixed to variable products in the first quarter with registered index-linked annuities booming with an 88% jump from the first quarter of 2020. RILAs popped 9% over the previous quarter, as did traditional variable annuities, but VAs were down 1% compared with the year-ago quarter, according to the Secure […]
REPRINT: CONSUMERS DEMAND INDEXED ANNUITIES #AnnuityAwarenessMonth
{June 8th, 2021} by Sheryl J. Moore
CONSUMERS DEMAND INDEXED ANNUITIES October 31, 2012 by Sheryl J. Moore by Sheryl J. Moore Just fifteen years ago, I was hard-pressed to find any information about indexed annuities in the public domain. Nothing was ever found in the newspaper or at the library; not even on that confounded thing they called “the internet.” It […]
REPRINT: The (Annuity) sky isn’t falling #AnnuityAwarenessMonth
{June 8th, 2021} by Sheryl J. Moore
Part of what I do for my full-time hustle is to track every annuity, its features, rates, and sales. AnnuitySpecs may look like a simple website, but there is A LOT of work that goes into that tool. Almost a dozen people are needed just to keep up with all the product information that goes […]
REPRINT: HOW CAN SO MANY BE SO WRONG ON ANNUITIES? #AnnuityAwarenessMonth
{June 8th, 2021} by Sheryl Moore
April 13, 2018 by Sheryl J. Moore Did you know that the biggest fear of Americans age 50 and older is running out of money in retirement?1 Did you know that an annuity is the one financial instrument that can guarantee an income you will never outlive? Let that sink in. We’ll get back to that in […]
The Point of Indexing (in Annuities)
{June 8th, 2021} by Kerry Pechter
Today, a single indexed annuity contract might include as many as 15 different index choices. About 48% of all fixed indexed annuity (FIA) sales are still allocated to the S&P 500 Index, according to Wink. But almost 40% now gets applied to “hybrid” indexes that blend the performance of stocks and bonds or dynamically allocate between […]
Seeking ‘An Index that Moves’
{June 8th, 2021} by Kerry Pechter
Bryan Anderson owns Annuity Straight Talk in northwest Montana. He’s a licensed insurance agent who sells fixed annuities to people all over the US. Lately he’s been podcasting and training other advisers in how to communicate the indexed annuity value proposition to their clients. Click HERE to read the full story via RIJ
Could Life Insurance Pricing Skyrocket As A Result Of COVID-19?
{June 8th, 2021} by Jay Scheiner, JD, CLU
Could life insurance rates skyrocket? As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the health of people throughout our country and the world, producers are questioning how the virus will affect life insurance pricing for their clients going forward. I spoke with several industry experts and actuaries–here’s what I found: COVID has made it harder for […]
Embrace Our Scars
{June 8th, 2021} by Charlie Gipple
At 43 years old I am no longer a young puppy. I remember being a 20-something in the business wishing that I could be older because I would then have more experience and credibility. Naturally, somebody who is 20-something in this business is dealing with people that are multiples the age of him or her. […]
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Sees Potential for ‘Big Shock’ From Inflation
{June 8th, 2021} by Annie Massa
BlackRock Inc. Chief Executive Officer Larry Fink said that investors may be underestimating the potential for a spike in inflation. “Most people haven’t had a forty-plus year career, and they’ve only seen declining inflation over the last 30-plus years,” Fink said at a virtual event hosted by Deutsche Bank AG on Wednesday. “So this is […]
MDRT Virtual Annual Meeting to Offer ‘Matchmaking’ Option
{June 8th, 2021} by Allison Bell
Million Dollar Round Table is using a member matchmaking service and a one-on-one video chat feature to add a human touch to this year’s annual meeting. MDRT is a Park Ridge, Illinois-based group that provides educational and networking opportunities for 65,000 high-volume life insurance, health insurance and financial services professionals. Click HERE to read the […]
Life Application Activity Levels Off
{June 8th, 2021} by Allison Bell
Individual life application volume rose 1.9% between May 2020 and May 2021, according to MIB Group Inc.’s new individual life application activity report. In April, application activity climbed 10.7%. MIB helps life insurers in the United States and Canada share some of the resources used to vet applications for life insurance and related products. The Braintree, […]
American National Announces Two New Indices and Strategies to Signature Performance IUL
{June 8th, 2021} by American National Insurance Company
GALVESTON, Texas, June 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American National is enhancing and expanding its industry leading indexed universal life product. In addition to the current crediting strategies based on the S&P 500® index; Signature Performance IUL will offer two new index crediting strategies. These new strategies include a low volatility strategy based on the S&P […]
Life Sales’ Strong Spring May Be A Harbinger For A Record Year
{June 8th, 2021} by Steve Morelli
The life insurance sales boom in the first quarter may not be a pandemic-induced outlier – in fact, it might even be a spring harbinger for a record year in sales, according to LIMRA’s CEO. The first quarter was unusually strong for life sales with 11% increase in policy count and a 15% boost […]
Insurance Brokerage Market to grow by USD 20.52 billion through 2025|Impacts of Drivers and Challenges|Technavio
{June 8th, 2021} by Technavio
NEW YORK, June 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Technavio has been monitoring the insurance brokerage market and it is poised to grow by USD 20.52 billion during 2021-2025, progressing at a CAGR of almost 6% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Frequently […]
Annuity Rebound Is Coming, Secure Retirement Institute Says
{June 8th, 2021} by Staff Reports
The Secure Retirement Institute is forecasting all individual annuity product lines except traditional variable annuities and fixed-rate deferred annuities to rebound in 2021. Overall individual annuity sales could see a slight increase in 2021, as the U.S. and the insurance industry slowly transition from the global pandemic. Longer term, SRI expects the total annuity […]
Annuity Interest Grows Among Workers
{June 8th, 2021} by Amanda Umpierrez
More workers are inquiring about guaranteed lifetime income products, reports new research from BlackRock. Surveying just over 1,000 defined contribution (DC) plan participants, the 2021 BlackRock DC Pulse Survey finds that 89% of participants are interested in owning a product designed to generate retirement income, and almost nine in 10 believe that having guaranteed income […]
Variable Annuities: Winning By Not Surrendering
{June 8th, 2021} by Steve Morelli
After all the analysis is done on rates, fees and performance, there is really one key metric that means more than the others – patience. Great returns don’t mean much if investors motivated by emotion or misplaced confidence in their market timing skills jump in and out of funds. When investors jump, those small gaps […]
NFP Launches a Newly Designed Administration Platform for Bank Owned Life Insurance
{June 8th, 2021} by NFP
NEW YORK, JUNE 4, 2021 – NFP, a leading insurance broker and consultant providing property and casualty (P&C), corporate benefits, retirement, and individual solutions, today announced the launch of its newly designed administration platform for bank owned life insurance (BOLI), powered by NFP Connect. The new platform replaces the current administration platform, CPADS, one of the first […]
The State of Annuities
{June 8th, 2021} by InsuranceNewsNet
A look at how annuities are evolving from a year of disorder. Register today for this educational webinar on how annuity markets are rebounding from a year of disruption, both around the COVID-19 pandemic and apart from it. Sheryl Moore, President and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence, will discuss the latest trends and data from […]
Too Much ‘Hocus Pocus’
{June 8th, 2021} by Kerry Pechter
David Lau has been marketing fee-based annuities to Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firms and their Investment Advisor Representatives for years. He helped start Jefferson National Life, which pioneered the sale of low-cost variable annuities to RIAs; the firm was later sold to Nationwide. A serial entrepreneur, he then launched DPL Financial Partners, a web platform […]
Integrity Marketing Is Still Shopping: Deals
{June 8th, 2021} by Allison Bell
Integrity Marketing Group LLC has announced three new deals. The Dallas-based insurance distributor has acquired: The Cornerstone Group, which is a Wake Forest, North Carolina-based independent marketing organization that expects to produce about $35 million in annual paid premiums this year. Unified Health, a Sunrise, Florida-based Medicare plan call center company, which helps about 60,000 Americans […]
Best Annuity Companies
{June 8th, 2021} by John Rampton
Despite the fact the annuities can be traced back to Ancient Rome, they haven’t been given the same level of respect as other innovations from that time. I mean when was the last time you criticized the concept of aqueducts, bound books, newspapers, or highways? And, yet, for years people have proclaimed that annuities […]
InsurTech Market to grow by USD 21.72 billion during 2020-2024, Alan SA and Clover Health emerge as Key Contributors to growth| 17,000+ Technavio Reports
{June 8th, 2021} by Technavio
NEW YORK, June 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Technavio has been monitoring the Insurtech market and it is poised to grow by USD 21.72 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 36% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Impact of COVID-19 The […]
Athene to Speak at the S&P Global Ratings Annual Insurance Conference
{June 8th, 2021} by Athene Holding, Ltd.
HAMILTON, Bermuda, June 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Athene Holding Ltd. (“Athene”) (NYSE: ATH) today announced that James Belardi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Athene, will participate in the “Executive Perspectives: Views from Life Insurance CEOs” panel discussion at the S&P Global Ratings “37th Annual Insurance Conference” on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, beginning at 11 a.m. ET. S&P Global Ratings will […]
New, Expanded Member Benefits Announced for AARP Members
{June 8th, 2021} by AARP
WASHINGTON, June 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — AARP members can take advantage of several new and expanded benefits beginning this summer. These new additions to the extensive list of member benefits include savings and special offers from Barclays, Porch, and Guardian General Insurance Limited trading as NEMWIL – A Trinidad and Tobago Affiliated Company. “Once again, we are pleased […]
Sammons Financial Group Life Division Leader to Retire at Yearend
{June 8th, 2021} by Sammons Financial Group
DES MOINES, Iowa, June 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Steve Palmitier, President and Chief Operating Officer of Sammons Financial Group’s life insurance division, announced today his plan to retire at the end of the year. Palmitier is a financial services industry veteran and has been instrumental at growing Sammons Financial Group’s life insurance business lines – Midland National and […]
Conning: Disruption to Life-Annuity Consumers Provides Large Opportunity for U.S. Life Insurers
{June 8th, 2021} by Conning
HARTFORD, Conn., June 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The pandemic disrupted the world in 2020 and into 2021, with broad impacts on the U.S. life-annuity consumer market. Consumers became aware of mortality, morbidity, and economic risks in a novel way, providing opportunities for life-annuity insurers. The Conning Focus Series Report, “Covid-19: the Consumer Impact and Life Insurer Opportunities“, and […]
Financial Literacy Survey: Mothers More Likely than Fathers to Teach Kids about Money
{June 8th, 2021} by National Financial Educators Council
LAS VEGAS, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Parents play an important role in preparing their children to reach self-sufficiency and helping them establish a firm financial foundation. Yet, according to the latest National Financial Educators Council’s surveys, most parents have not taught their children enough about money to prepare them for adult life. Between April 28th and May 4th, 1,040 […]
The Impact Partnership announced today a new partnership with The Lafayette Life Insurance Company to launch Legacy Span, a deferred fixed indexed annuity and whole life insurance policy.
{June 8th, 2021} by The Impact Partnership
ATLANTA, June 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Legacy Span is a double policy product that features a deferred indexed annuity with tax-deferred growth, beneficiary protection, and protection from market downturns. The annuity pays into a whole life insurance policy with generally an income tax-free death benefit, and tax-deferred cash value growth. Clients also have protection of principal, a guaranteed legacy […]
Efma and Accenture Announce the Winners of Innovation in Insurance Awards 2021
{June 8th, 2021} by Efma
PARIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Efma, an association of more than 2,550 retail financial services companies in 133 countries, and Accenture (NYSE: ACN) today announced the winners of the sixth annual Innovation in Insurance Awards during a virtual ceremony. The awards competition, which recognizes the best insurance technology innovations, attracted 460 entries from nearly 300 institutions in 55 countries […]
Wells Fargo Launches “About Money” Podcast
{June 8th, 2021} by Wells Fargo
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management has launched a new podcast, “About Money,” focusing on the healthy and productive conversations people can have about money to help empower their financial decision-making. Hosted by Michael Liersch, head of Advice and Planning for Wells Fargo’s Wealth & Investment Management division, “About Money” will focus its […]
Symetra Launches Two New Registered Index-linked Annuities
{June 8th, 2021} by Symetra Life Insurance Company
BELLEVUE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Symetra Life Insurance Company has introduced two new single-premium registered indexed-linked annuities (RILAs) for clients seeking retirement products that offer growth potential with some downside protection options—Symetra Trek® Plus Index-linked Annuity and Symetra Trek® Frontier Index-linked Annuity. The newest additions to Symetra’s broad product suite join the fast-growing index-linked annuities space, which had Q1 sales of […]
AM Best Removes From Under Review and Affirms Credit Ratings of Great American Life Insurance Company and Subsidiaries
{June 8th, 2021} by AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AM Best has removed from under review with developing implications and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa-” (Superior) of Great American Life Insurance Company (GALIC) and its key subsidiary, Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company (AILIC) (collectively referred to as Great America Life […]
Best’s Special Report: Net Income in U.S. Life/Annuity Industry’s First-Quarter 2021 Results Show Sharp Year-Over-Year Improvement
{June 7th, 2021} by AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The U.S. life/annuity (L/A) industry saw its net income jump in the first three months of 2021 to $13.3 billion in the first quarter of 2021, compared with a $23.2 billion loss in the same prior-year period, according to preliminary financial results. This financial review is detailed in a new Best’s Special Report, “First […]
Majority of Americans Support Sustainable Investing and Are Ready to Act
{June 7th, 2021} by Allianz Life
MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Perhaps once considered a passing fad, sustainable investing has solidified its place at the investing table and will likely hold that position for years to come, according to a new study* released today by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life). In addition, the study found Americans are now turning their attention […]
Ric Edelman stepping down from current role at Edelman Financial Engines
{June 7th, 2021} by Emile Hallez
Ric Edelman by the end of this year will step back from his role at Edelman Financial Engines, moving further away from the firm he co-founded. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews
Olympian Apolo Ohno joins Personal Capital wellness campaign
{June 7th, 2021} by Nicole Casperson
The most decorated U.S. male athlete of all time, Apolo Anton Ohno, is the latest addition to the Personal Capital marketing campaign that employs star power to boost brand recognition. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews
