Annuities + Living Benefits = Unknown Future
{March 27th, 2013} by Linda Koco
The possibility that the very popular guaranteed living benefit (GLB) features in annuities could one day become a so-yesterday item is difficult for today’s annuity professionals to fathom. Yet that is something that state regulators are thinking about as they put the finishing touches of a new Annuity Buyers Guide. Regulators don’t want to describe […]
How to choose a marketing organization
{March 20th, 2013} by Sheryl J. Moore
One of the biggest challenges that newly licensed independent insurance agents face today is identifying the marketing organization that they will appoint with. It seems logical that the typical independent agent is licensed with 26 different insurance companies. After all, the agent needs to have the most competitive products in their arsenal regardless of who […]
Beacon Exec: Solvency II May Have Caused Some US Companies to Limit 4Q 2012 Indexed Annuity Sales
{March 19th, 2013} by Fran Lysiak
OLDWICK, N.J. – Solvency II requirements, increasing reserves and shareholder concerns all put a slight damper on indexed annuity sales, according to the director of sales and marketing at Beacon Research. Total sales of indexed annuities in the United States were nearly $34 billion in 2012, up about 5% from 2011, according to AnnuitySpecs.com, a […]
Indexed annuity activity down in Q4, up from 2011
{March 19th, 2013} by Michael Stanley
Total fourth quarter indexed annuity sales were $8.4 billion, down three percent from the previous quarter but up two percent when compared to the same period last year. The results, found in AnnuitySpecs.com’s Fourth Quarter, 2012 Indexed Sales Results released on Monday, March 18, were buoyed by the fact that annuity sales in 2012 set […]
Valuation of Marketing Organizations
{March 1st, 2013} by Sheryl J. Moore
The past four or five years have been a major struggle for distributors in the life insurance business. The collapse of our nation’s economy, while catastrophic, was only the first domino in a vast Rube Goldberg Machine of economic destruction. Capital became scarce as the smoke cleared, causing insurance companies to pull back on their […]
The only two annuity sales you will make in a volatile market
{February 12th, 2013} by Jonathan Musgrave
In today’s marketplace, there are only two suitable FIA sales. The first is obviously the income sale. But the second sale to make is often overlooked. Click here to read…
Learn from the experts
{February 8th, 2013} by Van Mueller
The Chinese symbol for danger also represents opportunity. This is a dangerous time for Americans with concerns about taxes, investing, planning for retirement and insuring their futures. Are you ready to help them turn it into an opportunity? Click here to read…
Need an Rx for retirement? The doctor is in.
{February 7th, 2013} by Sheryl J. Moore
It took me a long time to get my “doctorate in lifetime income.” The journey commenced once I reviewed my retirement account statement after the dot-com bubble burst. I felt absolutely nauseous. Click here to read…
Private Equity Increasingly Tapping Into the Potential of US Fixed, Indexed Annuity Market
{January 29th, 2013} by Fran Matso Lysiak
OLDWICK, N.J. – Private equity firms are increasingly tapping into what they view as a potentially lucrative financial opportunity in fixed annuities, including indexed, in the United States. In December, the U.K.-based Aviva plc agreed to sell its U.S. life and annuity business, Aviva USA Corp., to the Bermuda-based Athene Holding Ltd. for $1.8 billion […]
The variable annuity buyout binge, part 2
{January 4th, 2013} by Sheryl J. Moore
Last month, we explored the recent trend of variable annuity (VA) insurers deciding that they no longer want to be obligated to the “shadow” value guarantees that are offered through their products’ guaranteed living benefit (GLB) and/or guaranteed death benefit (GDB) riders. While these riders were initially developed to equalize the sales of VAs (particularly […]
On Guggenheim, Sun Life Financial, and Annuities
{December 19th, 2012} by Linda Koco
Wouldn’t you know it? Once again, just when the annuity industry had stopped talking about the Guggenheim Partners expansion into “the annuity space,” the Chicago- and New York-based private equity went and made another annuity-infused deal. The natural question is, will this deal have much impact on the annuity market? First, an overview of the […]
Another ratings cut for big seller of indexed annuities
{December 14th, 2012} by Darla Mercado
Moody’s lowers financial strength grade for Aviva Life; third reduction in three months By Darla Mercado December 14, 2012 Moody’s Investors Service Inc. has downgraded Aviva Life and Annuity Co.’s insurance financial strength ratings to Baa1, from A1, as its parent prepares to sell the unit. This is the third ratings cut the insurer has […]
Out of tune
{December 14th, 2012} by Walter White
Opinion Exactly what do pianos have to do with annuities? This may seem like an odd question, but customers of insurance companies owned by Baldwin-United Corp. would have been wise to make that inquiry when deciding which companies to trust with their retirement savings. In the 1960s and 1970s, Baldwin Piano & Organ Co. was […]
AnnuitySpecs.com: sales of indexed annuities rise in third quarter
{December 11th, 2012} by Warren S. Hersch
Sales of fixed indexed annuities edged up in the third quarter, according to a new report. AnnuitySpecs.com, Pleasant Hill, Iowa, published this finding in a summary of results from its Indexed Sales & Market Report. Forty-five indexed annuity carriers participated in the 61st edition of the report, representing 99 percent of indexed annuity production. Click […]
AnnuitySpecs.com Releases Third Quarter, 2012 Indexed Sales Results
{December 10th, 2012} by Wink, Inc.
Pleasant Hill, Iowa. December 10, 2012– Forty-five indexed annuity carriers participated in the 61st edition of AnnuitySpecs.com’s Indexed Sales & Market Report, representing 99% of indexed annuity production. Total third quarter sales were $8.7 billion, up 0.04% from the previous quarter. As compared to the same period last year, sales were up 0.24%. “This […]
(Q32012) Annuity Interview w/ Sheryl J Moore
{December 7th, 2012} by Matt Neuman
Indexed Annuity Report – Tips and Trends from Expert Sheryl Moore! Recently I had the great opportunity to interview fixed indexed annuity expert, Sheryl J. Moore. Sheryl is the President and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence, and collects data on indexed annuity industry trends and the marketplace. Sheryl has helped me to personally stay on […]
The variable annuity buyout binge
{December 5th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
Variable annuities (VAs) have risen in popularity since their development in 1952. This increased attention is due to the products’ annuity benefits being coupled with the potential for market-based gains. Yet, it is this same potential for unlimited gain that has caused volatility in sales for companies issuing these products. Why? Click here to read…
How can the industry recruit more annuity salespeople?
{November 5th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
Can we ‘captivate’ our independent agent distribution? October 22, 2012 A “dinosaur business.” That is how one life insurance company conducting business via the Internet refers to life and annuity agents that sell face-to-face. I would disagree, since the reference sounds so…negative, offensive, and so wrong. However, they are not far from the truth. […]
Top 25 Online Resources for Financial Professionals
{November 5th, 2012} by AnnuityThinkTank
18 September 2012 Today, the internet plays a role in the lives of almost every American. From checking your emails on a smart phone, to watching funny Youtube videos, to buying and trading stocks, all the way to completing college courses online…the digital presence in our lives is on a fast moving train with no […]
Top 25 Online Resources for Financial Professionals
{November 5th, 2012} by AnnuityThinkTank
PRWeb – Wed, Sep 19, 2012 Early adopters of digital marketing and technology in the financial services industry compiled a “Top 25” list of online resources available to financial professionals. The Annuity Think Tank, with the help of their readers and viewers, published this “Top 25” list to provide a reference guide of online content […]
Consumers Demand Indexed Annuities
{October 31st, 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 was difficult to find any information about the products, a mere […]
CONSUMERS DEMAND INDEXED ANNUITIES
{October 31st, 2012} 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 […]
How can the industry recruit more annuity salespeople?
{October 29th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
Can we ‘captivate’ our independent agent distribution? By Sheryl J. Moore October 22, 2012 A “dinosaur business.” That is how one life insurance company conducting business via the Internet refers to life and annuity agents that sell face-to-face. I would disagree, since the reference sounds so…negative, offensive, and so wrong. However, they are not […]
AnnuitySpecs.com Releases Second Quarter, 2012 Indexed Sales Results
{September 24th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
A period of flux for indexed annuities Pleasant Hill, Iowa. -Forty-five indexed annuity carriers participated in the 60th edition of AnnuitySpecs.com’s Indexed Sales & Market Report, representing 99% of indexed annuity production. Total second quarter sales were $8.7 billion, up more than 8% from the previous quarter. As compared to the same period last year, […]
R.I.P. Combo Annuities
{August 9th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
Several years ago, I attended one of the most exciting CE courses of my life. It emphasized a new type of product that was going to be hot. Because of legislation that was passed shortly before the class, this new type of annuity promised to be the messiah of the insurance industry: the combo annuity. […]
Allianz Life Insurance Sales Up, Annuities Down
{August 3rd, 2012} by Business Wire, Inc.
MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Minneapolis-based Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life®) posted operating profit of $381 million for the first half of 2012 compared to profit of $315 million during the first six months of 2011. A growing asset base combined with gains realized on investments was the driving force behind the strong profit […]
Indexed Annuities: Back to the Basics
{July 31st, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
For years, indexed annuities have provided a strong value proposition to those saving for retirement: guaranteed safety of principal while having the ability to earn limited interest based off of the performance of a stock market index. This must appeal to at least a few people; the insurance industry has experienced record sales of indexed […]
Indexed Life as a Replacement for Indexed Annuities?
{July 30th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
IUL should only be sold to fulfill a life insurance need. If you asked me four years ago what the average cap was on an indexed annuity’s annual point-to-point crediting method, my response would have been, “a decent 6.86 percent.” Today, my response is, “a lousy 3.13 percent.” How are you, the independent insurance agent, supposed […]
Aviva USA poised for big changes
{July 3rd, 2012} by Victor Epstein
1:54 PM, Jul 2, 2012 | by Victor Epstein | Employees of Aviva USA, the West Des Moines-based subsidiary of the global insurance giant, are bracing for change as their beleaguered employer looks to boost profits by shedding business units. Aviva Plc is the second-largest insurer in the United Kingdom by market value and its […]
Before You Sell That 7-Year Annuity…
{June 11th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl J. Moore May 30, 2012 • One of the biggest pieces of state regulation that I have fought against for the past decade is the 70/10 regulation. Known to the masses as the “10/10 Rule,” this anti-competitive rule limits surrender charges on fixed and indexed annuities to no more than a 10-year period, […]
Sell Only Variable Annuities? Plans Change, and so Should You.
{June 11th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl J. Moore March 29, 2012 • What are the possibilities that your clients will use their annuities for purposes other than what you discussed at point-of-sale? This question should be of particular interest to agents who sell their clients only variable annuities (VAs). If I had a dollar for every time a “VA […]
Annuities fell in 1Q; indexed up
{May 31st, 2012} by Darla Mercado
Annuity sales took a dive during the first quarter, but sales of fixed indexed annuities jumped, thanks in large part to guaranteed-lifetime– withdrawal-benefit riders. Click HERE to view the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required Sales of fixed annuities, too, slipped amid low interest rates. Sales fell 10% from […]
AnnuitySpecs.com Reports 13% Rise in Fixed Indexed Annuities Sales
{May 24th, 2012} by Warren S. Hersch
By Warren S. Hersch May 22, 2012 • Sales of fixed indexed annuities rose 13% in the first quarter of 2012, according to a new report. AnnuitySpecs.com, a unit of Moore Market Intelligence, published this finding in the site’s 59th edition of Indexed Sales & Market Report, which provides sales by product, company, crediting method, […]
Why Indexed Annuities Keep Charging Ahead
{May 24th, 2012} by Linda Koco
By Linda Koco AnnuityNews In the first quarter, indexed annuities topped the charts in sales growth among all annuity lines as compared to first quarter 2011. The sales volume still did not surpass that of more traditional annuity products, such as variable annuities and fixed deferred annuities, but in terms of sales growth, the products […]
Getting Started with Fixed Annuities
{May 2nd, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
Posted By: Editor On 5/2/2012 10:51:00 AM By Sheryl Moore This article is part one in a series of articles, explaining the basic product features of several types of annuities. This first piece in the series focuses on traditional fixed deferred annuities. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with a “life insurance guy.” He […]
The Atypical Annuity Purchaser
{May 2nd, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl J. Moore April 30, 2012 • If you had asked me 10 years ago to guess the average issue age for indexed annuities, I would have likely guessed age 35. In reality, AnnuitySpecs.com’s Indexed Sales & Market Report for fourth-quarter 2011 indicates that the average age of indexed annuity purchasers today is 65. […]
Analysts say it's unlikely Aviva can sell its U.S. division
{April 24th, 2012} by Adam Belz
11:44 PM, Apr. 23, 2012 | Written by ADAM BELZ Aviva may want to sell its U.S. business, but the real question may be whether anyone wants to buy it. Analysts say it’s unlikely the British insurer Aviva PLC can sell its U.S. division — headquartered at a $140 million campus in West Des Moines where […]
Aviva would consider sale of U.S. unit; 1,300 employed in West Des Moines
{April 15th, 2012} by Adam Belz
5:19 AM, Apr. 13, 2012 Written by ADAM BELZ Aviva, the British insurance and financial services company with its North American headquarters in West Des Moines, would consider selling its U.S. business, analysts and news reports said Thursday. The Financial Times reported late Wednesday that CEO Andrew Moss told investors the company would consider offers […]
Is Aviva USA for Sale?
{April 15th, 2012} by Michael K. Stanley and Maria Wood
By Michael K. Stanley and Maria Wood April 13, 2012 • A report in the Financial Times says that Aviva is considering the sale of its U.S. unit, a major player in the indexed annuity business. The FT article was based on comments from investment managers at a meeting with Aviva chief executive Andrew Moss […]
Aviva would consider sale of U.S. unit; 1,300 employed in West Des Moines
{April 13th, 2012} by Adam Belz
5:18 AM, Apr. 13, 2012 | Written by ADAM BELZ Aviva, the British insurance and financial services company with its North American headquarters in West Des Moines, would consider selling its U.S. business, analysts and news reports said Thursday. The Financial Times reported late Wednesday that CEO Andrew Moss told investors the company would consider offers […]
US Sales of Fixed Annuities Drop 1.1% in 2011 Amid Historic Low Interest Rates
{April 6th, 2012} by Fran Matso Lysiak
Best’s News Service – April 04, 2012 03:30 PM EVANSTON, Ill. – Amid historically low interest rates, total 2011 sales of fixed annuities in the United States, including indexed, dropped 1.1% from 2010 to $75.6 billion, according to Beacon Research and the Insured Retirement Institute. The low interest rate environment has made it tough to […]
Sell Only Variable Annuities? Plans Change, and so Should You.
{April 4th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl J. Moore March 29, 2012 • What are the possibilities that your clients will use their annuities for purposes other than what you discussed at point-of-sale? This question should be of particular interest to agents who sell their clients only variable annuities (VAs). If I had a dollar for every time a […]
AnnuitySpecs.com: Indexed Annuities Grow to Represent 45% of US Fixed Annuity Sales in 2011
{April 1st, 2012} by Fran Matso Lysiak
Best’s News Service – March 28, 2012 12:19 PM PLEASANT HILL, Iowa – Total sales of indexed annuities in the United States stood at $32.3 billion in 2011, essentially unchanged from 2010 but the percentage of fixed annuities sold that are indexed grew to 45% last year, according to AnnuitySpecs.com, a firm that tracks the data. Sheryl […]
Debunking Annuity Objections
{April 1st, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
March 29, 2012 By Sheryl Moore AnnuityNews When I started in the insurance business, I was an indexed life insurance expert. I worked in a home office for years before I even learned what an annuity was. Once I learned that an annuity was just a retirement savings vehicle that provides an income you can […]
Insurance Fees, Revealed
{April 1st, 2012} by Leslie Scism
By LESLIE SCISM It long has been one of the most tightly held secrets in the financial-services world: what your insurance agent is paid. That might be about to change, thanks to a new regulation in New York. Agents and brokers in the state now are required to alert clients, in writing, how they are […]
Debunking Annuity Objections
{March 30th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
Posted By: Editor On 3/29/2012 10:59:00 AM By Sheryl Moore AnnuityNews When I started in the insurance business, I was an indexed life insurance expert. I worked in a home office for years before I even learned what an annuity was. Once I learned that an annuity was just a retirement savings vehicle that provides […]
Annuities: Getting Started With Indexed Interest Crediting
{March 18th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl J. Moore March 15, 2012 • At the close of 2011, 14 percent of all annuities sold were indexed annuities. In fact, indexed annuities accounted for one out of every two fixed annuity sales in the last couple of quarters of the year. These retirement income products are one of the fastest-growing segments […]
Indexed Life and Annuity Products Hit Sales Highs in 2011
{March 18th, 2012} by Warren S. Hersch
By Warren S. Hersch March 15, 2012 • Total 2011 indexed annuity sales set a record, but revenue dipped in the fourth quarter from the year-ago period, a new report reveals. AnnuitySpecs.com, a unit of Moore Market Intelligence, Pleasant Hill, Iowa, published this finding in a summary of results from a new survey, Indexed Sales […]
Table talk about California annuity sentencing and no hardening market
{March 18th, 2012} by Bob Graham
About the author Bob Graham is executive editor at Insurance & Financial Advisor and IFAwebnews.com. A luncheon with a collection of insurance agents in the Washington, D.C., area recently put two important news stories in a new context. A couple of insurance agents who sell property-casualty coverage said reports of a hardening market are greatly […]
How Economic Forces Have Affected Indexed Annuities
{March 1st, 2012} by A.M. Best
In her quarterly research, Sheryl Moore, president and chief executive officer of AnnuitySpecs.com, LifeSpecs.com and Advantage Group Associates, traces changes in the main components of indexed annuities. These changes can help in understanding how the industry’s products are distributed, how they work and why they are able to withstand market changes. Her following comments explain […]
The Emotional and the Technical
{March 1st, 2012} by Ron Panko
Indexed annuity writers were on track in late December to achieve their third consecutive year of record sales, as buyers sought to protect their assets from frightening volatility in the stock market, and to earn more than prevailing low-interest rates. The appeal seems to reflect investors’ weariness with the relentlessly bad economic news. “They’re tired […]
Getting started with your Ph.D. in interest crediting on indexed annuities and indexed life
{February 22nd, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
How on earth is one supposed to get started in learning how to calculate the interest earned on indexed annuities and indexed life insurance? I speak to advisors every day who are interested in the products, yet lack the resources necessary to learn the basics of indexed life and annuities. Wouldn’t it be nice if […]
The Skinny on Fat Annuity Fees
{February 16th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl J. Moore February 15, 2012 One major complaint that naysayers have with annuities are the fees. They say annuities are “expensive.” Well, let’s talk about those fees. We’ll begin our discussion with the most fee-laden variety, the variable annuity (VA). The typical VA has average annual charges near 4.5 percent, all-in. Here’s the […]
How Attractive are Our Safe Money Choices Today?
{February 5th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl Moore AnnuityNews Since the United States stock market collapse of 2008, millions of Americans have seen their retirement savings dwindle. Many of these savers had their nest eggs exposed to the equities markets, and have subsequently suffered two periods of extreme losses in one decade. As a result, “safe money places” are getting […]
Looking to Expand Your Portfolio? Consider Indexed Universal Life
{February 5th, 2012} by Derek Welch
By Derek Welch February 1, 2012 Indexed Universal Life (IUL) is the fastest growing individual life product. [1] This popularity is largely attributed to the perceived potential for growth because unlike a traditional UL, where interest is credited based on a declared rate determined by the insurance company, IUL interest is credited based on the […]
Genworth Exec: US Indexed Annuities 'Play Well' With Traditional Insurer Expertise
{January 14th, 2012} by Fran Matso Lysiak
By Fran Lysiak A.M. Best Company, Inc. Genworth Financial Inc. has re-entered the U.S. indexed annuity market following an absence of many years. Annuities are a big opportunity for the industry, Pat Foley, president of U.S. life insurance distribution and marketing at Genworth Financial (NYSE: GNW) told Best’s News Service. About 10,000 people turn 65 […]
More Policyholders Keeping Their Indexed Annuities
{January 11th, 2012} by Linda Koco
January 11, 2012 By Linda Koco Contributing Editor, AnnuityNews Just about everyone in the indexed annuity business says that annuity owners have been keeping their annuities for longer and longer periods in the past few years, but is it true? It is, according to lapse data collected by Ruark Consulting, but with some surprising twists […]
Why the withdrawals to basis, then loans strategy is blasé
{January 5th, 2012} by Sheryl J. Moore
Today, indexed life insurance offers partial withdrawal options as well as three different types of policy loan options. Here, we will discuss each of these loan options, their pros and cons, and explain why withdrawals have fallen out-of-favor in the IUL market. Since the creation of cash value life insurance, insurance agents have been advising […]
Interest in Indexed Annuities On The Rise
{December 28th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
December 28, 2011 By Sheryl Moore AnnuityNews The negative stigma surrounding indexed annuities has certainly lessened over the past few years. However, indexed annuities aren’t exactly in “the good graces” of the entire insurance industry. Sure, the media has been illuminated on the relatively few problems in the market and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s […]
2012 Could Be Rebuilding Year for Annuities
{December 15th, 2011} by Linda Koco
By Linda Koco Contributing Editor, AnnuityNews At an insurance conference this year, an agent in the audience stood up and asked a panel of company executives about when they are going to come out with some new products. A review of new products shows that annuity carriers have definitely unveiled new products this year, but […]
Is it a Great Time for Indexed Annuities?
{December 14th, 2011} by Daniel Williams
Last week, LifeHealthPro and ProducersWEB co-hosted a Twitter chat with indexed annuities expert Sheryl Moore, (left) president of annuityspecs.com. Below, we’ve highlight some of the key topics, including booming indexed annuity (IA) sales, non-traditional competitors entering the annuity space and the 10/10 rule, just to name a few. As you look over these items, […]
How to Escape 'Annuicide'
{December 4th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl Moore AnnuityNews I recently had the occasion to read an article entitled, “Insights into the Annuity Puzzle.” This article dedicated a whopping 1,254 words to exploring the question, “Why don’t more Americans turn their annuities into a guaranteed lifetime income stream?” Nobel laureates chimed-in on how framing, loss aversion and various other psychological […]
The 10/10 Rule: Ineffective and spreading like wildfire
{November 28th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl J. Moore AnnuitySpecs.com Limiting surrender charges on annuities because of bad agent behavior is like outlawing automobiles because they are used in the process of drunken driving deaths. More than a quarter of the states in our nation have insurance commissioners that have chosen to implement a rule which is fueled by false […]
AnnuitySpecs.com CEO: 'Relatively Attractive Rates' Helping US Sales of Indexed Annuities
{November 21st, 2011} by Fran Lysiak
Fran Lysiak Total third-quarter 2011 sales of indexed annuities in the United States were $8.7 billion, down less than 1% from the same period a year ago but up 5% from the second quarter, according to AnnuitySpecs.com, a firm that tracks the data. The third-quarter sales volume was second only to the same quarter a […]
Indexed Annuity Sales Climb in Third Quarter
{November 19th, 2011} by Maria Wood
By Maria Wood November 18, 2011 As variable annuity sales (VA) rise, so, too, are those of indexed annuities (IA). According to a third-quarter report from AnnuitySpecs.com, total IA sales hit $8.7 billion, up more than 5 percent from the previous quarter. Compared to the same period in 2010, sales decreased by less than 1 […]
Why are indexed life caps so much higher than indexed annuities?
{November 17th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl J. Moore AnnuitySpecs.com On annuities, insurance companies only have one way to make a profit — through a spread. On life insurance products, insurance companies have several ways that they can make a profit. The number one question asked since historical-low interest rates have depressed indexed annuity caps is, “Why are the caps […]
Total 3Q Annuity Sales Up 5% From Quarter-Prior
{November 16th, 2011} by Advantage Group Associates
November 15, 2011 Forty-one indexed annuity carriers participated in the 57th edition of AnnuitySpecs.com’s Indexed Sales & Market Report, representing 99% of indexed annuity production. Total third quarter sales were $8.7 billion, up over 5% from the previous quarter. As compared to the same period last year, sales were down less than 1%. “This was […]
NAFA IMO Summit: Innovation, Competition Key to New Annuity Universe
{November 14th, 2011} by Daniel Williams
If you have a roomful of annuity experts together, you’d think there’d be more debate and disagreement, but that’s not the case. Oct. 19-21 in Boca Raton, Fla., the 2011 NAFA IMO Summit, “Building on Success,” took place and you would have thought it was the pastor preaching to the choir there were so many amens spoken. […]
Carriers Back Away from Registered Indexed Annuities
{November 9th, 2011} by Linda Koco
November 09, 2011 By Linda Koco Contributing Editor, AnnuityNews ING Groep NV stopped selling registered indexed annuities at the end of October, and now some annuity watchers are wondering if that spells the end of the registered indexed annuity marketplace. Probably not, but registered sales will likely swoon for a while. The question comes up […]
Is The Annuity Your Client Purchased Bad?
{November 5th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl Moore AnnuityNews Lately, consumer inquiries through AnnuitySpecs.com have increased exponentially. One topic in particular seems to be at the forefront of these pre-retirees minds over the last six months: “Is the annuity that I am considering bad or good?” This was likely fueled by a recent Barron’s article that I consulted on, “The […]
Guaranteed Income: A Silver Bullet for Annuities
{October 27th, 2011} by Daniel Williams
October 24, 2011 By Daniel Williams In many ways, annuities are under siege. If those who sell annuities or who market or produce them aren’t under fire by regulators, pushing for securitization of the product, then we see another battle brewing: the field getting even more competitive as banks and broker-dealers, among others, join the […]
Indexed life insurance gets sexy
{October 25th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
Added: October 24, 2011 The latest trend in the indexed life market is a new type of crediting strategy, commonly referred to as a “multiple index” crediting method, and it is turning heads. Now there are three words you don’t see in the same sentence every day: “life insurance” and “sexy.” Yet, there they are […]
Guggenheim scoops up insurer to build fixed indexed annuities
{October 10th, 2011} by Darla Mercado
Gives firm 10th-place market share, wider distribution By Darla Mercado October 7, 2011 Guggenheim Partners LLC has bought EquiTrust Life Insurance Co., ramping up its presence in the fixed-indexed-annuity realm. The deal was announced in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission today. Guggenheim bought the insurer from FBL Financial Group Inc. for a […]
VA Players Nosing into Indexed Annuity Market
{October 6th, 2011} by Linda Koco
Registered reps who have been selling variable annuities will soon be asked to start selling indexed annuities, too. Click HERE to view the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required According to Sheryl Moore, the president and CEO of Advantage Group, the existing VA/IA players include: AEGON Companies, American General, Allianz, American National, Ameritas Life, […]
Deciphering the Inequitable, Biased Coverage on Financial Services Products in the Media
{September 30th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl Moore Published September 29, 2011 The U.S. insurance industry is fighting to get equitable news coverage in a market where securities are king. Here’s what you need to know about the media, so that we can change it: Sensational, attention-grabbing headlines are the lifeblood of the newsmedia industry. If they don’t get their […]
Have you truly considered the effect of rider charges on a fixed or indexed annuity?
{September 22nd, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
You may be able to sell the sizzle of the roll up on that income or death benefit rider, but can you pass the test when it comes time to explain the ramifications for your client electing it? You need to. Get educated and ensure that you understand the products you are selling. “Zero is […]
Indexed Annuity Magic: How Do They Do It?
{September 7th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl J. Moore AnnuityNews.com One of the greatest mysteries in the indexed annuity market is how insurance companies are able to offer market-linked gains on an annuity with a principal protection feature. Many are familiar with the strong guarantees that fixed annuities offer, but it comes at the cost of low potential for gains. […]
Is the three-legged stool off-kilter?
{September 5th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
BY Sheryl J. Moore Published 9/1/2011 Be wary of annuity pricing that appears unequal. One of the parties to the deal may be benefiting at the expense of the other. Since entering the insurance business 13 years ago, I have attended many training sessions and scores of seminars. Often, speakers at these meetings will make […]
Annuity Round Table
{September 2nd, 2011} by John Douglass & Richard Hellerich & Tipton W. Huffman & Ronald J. Lane, Sr. & Sheryl J. Moore
Selling To Boomer Clients John Douglass & Richard Hellerich & Tipton W. Huffman & Ronald J. Lane, Sr. & Sheryl J. Moore September 2011 Issue Q: This year the first baby boomers turn 65 and many are either retired or planning to retire within the next few years. What annuity product advice do you have for […]
Puny Treasury yields could trigger more cuts to annuities – and agents' commissions
{August 22nd, 2011} by Darla Mercado
Key 10-year Treasury falls to an all-time low; brokers, customers and carriers could feel the pinch By Darla Mercado August 18, 2011 Given the gyrations in the stock market — including another big sell-off today — annuities are suddenly a hot property. But low Treasury yields, sparked by investors’ flight to safety, could be a deal […]
Puny Treasury yields could trigger more cuts to annuities – and agents’ commissions
{August 22nd, 2011} by Darla Mercado
Key 10-year Treasury falls to an all-time low; brokers, customers and carriers could feel the pinch By Darla Mercado August 18, 2011 Given the gyrations in the stock market — including another big sell-off today — annuities are suddenly a hot property. But low Treasury yields, sparked by investors’ flight to safety, could be a deal […]
AnnuitySpecs: Indexed Life Sales Soar
{August 17th, 2011} by Allison Bell
By NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE Published 8/16/2011 U.S. sales of indexed life insurance jumped to $224 million in the second quarter, up 35% from the total for the comparable quarter in 2010. AnnuitySpecs.com, Pleasant Hill, Iowa, has reported those figures in a summary of results from a survey of 37 issuers in the U.S. indexed […]
AnnuitySpecs.com Releases Second Quarter, 2011 Indexed Sales Results
{August 17th, 2011} by Advantage Group Associates
August 16, 2011 Thirty-nine indexed annuity carriers participated in the 56th edition of AnnuitySpecs.com’s Indexed Sales & Market Report, representing 98% of indexed annuity production. Total second quarter sales were $8.2 billion, up nearly 16% from the previous quarter. As compared to the same period last year, sales were down just over 1%. “Not surprising […]
Indexed Annuities Up 16% in 2Q
{August 17th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
August 16, 2011 Thirty-nine indexed annuity carriers participated in the 56th edition of AnnuitySpecs.com’s Indexed Sales & Market Report, representing 98% of indexed annuity production. Total second quarter sales were $8.2 billion, up nearly 16% from the previous quarter. As compared to the same period last year, sales were down just over 1%. “Not surprising […]
Unknowingly Sticking It To Your Annuity Clients?
{August 3rd, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
Posted By: Editor On 8/3/2011 11:00:00 AM By Sheryl Moore AnnuityNews Are you sticking it to your clients? You might be and not even know it. The key to illuminating whether you are unknowingly putting your life insurance and annuity clients in a bad position with the products that you sell them is to identify […]
Have You Truly Considered the Effect of Rider Charges on a Fixed or Indexed Annuity?
{August 1st, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
“Zero is your hero!” The words that captured my heart. As a young saver who had lost more than a year’s salary in my 401(k), the promise of earning no interest sounded pretty darn good. Sure the ability to outpace the interest on CDs and other fixed interest retirement products was appealing to me, but […]
The Ohlson Group Interview with Sheryl J. Moore
{July 23rd, 2011} by Raymond J. Ohlson
Click here for a video interview with The Ohlson Group and Sheryl J. Moore
Aviva USA Names Former General Counsel to Lead Sales and Distribution
{June 17th, 2011} by Fran Matso Lysiak
Copyright: (c) 2011 A.M. Best Company, Inc. Source: A.M. Best Company, Inc. Wordcount: 332 Michael H. Miller has been named executive vice president of sales and distribution for Aviva USA. He is succeeding Mark V. Heitz, president of sales and distribution, who is retiring from the Iowa-based life insurance and annuity company after 35 years […]
Indexed Annuities or Indexed Life: Top Producers Use Both
{June 15th, 2011} by Brian D. Mann
Take a look at this chart from [AnnuitySpecs.com’s Indexed Sales & Market Report] that shows industry sales volumes of indexed products, and it is clear why agents would want to be selling indexed annuities and indexed life insurance. During a decade where sales of traditional fixed or variable products have bounced up and down from year […]
Minnesota Life's Eclipse is Top Selling Indexed Life Insurance Policy
{June 14th, 2011} by N/A
June 13, 2011 11:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time ST. PAUL, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–According to data compiled by LifeSpecs.com, Minnesota Life Insurance Company’s Eclipse was the top-selling indexed life product in the US during the first quarter of 2011. Additionally, Minnesota Life, a Securian Financial Group, Inc. subsidiary,ranked third overall in indexed life sales1. “I am not […]
Minnesota Life’s Eclipse is Top Selling Indexed Life Insurance Policy
{June 13th, 2011} by N/A
June 13, 2011 11:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time ST. PAUL, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)-–According to data compiled by LifeSpecs.com, Minnesota Life Insurance Company’s Eclipse was the top-selling indexed life product in the US during the first quarter of 2011. Additionally, Minnesota Life, a Securian Financial Group, Inc. subsidiary, ranked third overall in indexed life sales1. “We are […]
Top 10 Indexed Annuity Misconceptions
{June 7th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
Posted By: Editor On 6/7/2011 11:56:00 AM By Sheryl Moore AnnuityNews June 7, 2011 — Negative and inaccurate publicity on indexed annuities seems to overshadow the product’s value at times. It is frustrating to see how hard it is for consumers to find accurate and reliable information on these products. I have spent the past […]
The Basics on Indexed Annuities
{June 4th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl Moore AnnuityNews.com June 1, 2011 — It has been more than 2,000 years since consumers were first offered the benefits of annuities. With these insurance products came guaranteed annual payments for life, regardless of how long one lived. Historically, sales of these income annuities accounted for a small portion of all insurance […]
Iowa to shed light on sources of insurance funding
{May 31st, 2011} by Darla Mercado
In a move that could affect the sales of securities and insurance in the state, Iowa’s insurance regulator this week is expected to issue guidance on how far insurance agents and brokers can go in advising clients on the suitable sources of funds for insurance products. Click HERE to view the full article via […]
US Indexed Annuity Sales Up 5% in First Quarter
{May 23rd, 2011} by Fran Matso Lysiak
PLEASANT HILL, Iowa May 20 (BestWire) — Sales of indexed annuities in the United States rose to $7.1 billion in the first quarter of 2011, up about 5% from the same period a year ago, according to AnnuitySpecs.com, a firm that tracks the data. However, sales were down 15% from the fourth quarter of last year. Separately, industry research […]
The Days of Selling Annuities on Rate are Gone
{May 6th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
Click here to read the article.
A Guide to Understanding Annuity Commissions
{May 6th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl A. Moore AnnuityNews.com May 5, 2011 — One of the most misunderstood features of fixed and indexed annuities is the commissions that they pay to producers and distributors. In fact, no other product feature has been more miscommunicated, misunderstood or just plain misquoted in the media than compensation paid on these fixed annuities. […]
Commodities Debut in Indexed Annuities
{May 6th, 2011} by Linda Koco
By Linda Koco Contributing Editor, InsuranceNewsNet May 5, 2011 — At the behest of their distribution channels, two annuity companies are offering commodity accounts as part of their indexed annuities. Symetra Financial, Bellevue, Wash., is offering the S&P GSCI commodity index in two interest crediting strategies or accounts — point-to-point and monthly average. The […]
Nice Niche
{May 3rd, 2011} by Donald Jay Korn
Fixed annuity sales sagged along with interest rates last year, but some specialty products enjoyed record inflows. Safe savings vehicles were a tough sell in 2010. Neither financial planners nor clients were eager to put money into bank CDs or money-market funds paying 2%, 1% or even less. Fixed annuities offered the same low yields, […]
Understanding IA GLWB Features
{April 13th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
It has only been a little over two years since Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefits (GLWBs) burst into the scene in the index annuity market. Since June of 2006 we have seen carrier after carrier hop into this raging market. In fact, new product development has never been so low, but rider product development is at […]
Unfair & Unbalanced Annuity Coverage
{April 3rd, 2011} by Linda Koco
Click on the link below and turn to page 18 to read the article. http://www.insurancenewsnetmagazine.com/april11/
Expect More IA Sales Records
{March 21st, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl Moore AnnuityNews March 21, 2011 — You’ve probably heard by now that indexed annuity sales set a third consecutive annual record last year. Of course it comes as no surprise to an indexed annuity nerd like me, but many outside our industry are asking — how did you guys do it? Here’s the […]
Indexed Annuities Hit Sales Records
{March 18th, 2011} by Zachary Dristol
By Zachary Dristol on March 17, 2011 at 1:39 pm AnnuitySpecs.com ran a study regarding the status of indexed annuities, referred to as the Indexed Sales and Market Report. A total of 39 different carriers provided information for the study. This was the 54th edition of the report. This means that the study obtained data […]
10/10 Limits IA Design
{March 15th, 2011} by Linda Koco
By Linda Koco Contributing Editor, InsuranceNewsNet March 15, 2010 — Indexed annuities with 10-year surrender charges are becoming so prevalent that newly developed products are starting to look very similar, according to an indexed product researcher. “It’s like cookie-cutter design,” says Sheryl J. Moore, president and CEO AnnuitySpecs.com, Pleasant Hill, Iowa. For instance, many indexed […]
AnnuitySpecs.com: Indexed Product Sales Rise
{March 7th, 2011} by Warren S. Hersch
Sales of indexed annuities and indexed life insurance policies were significantly higher in the fourth quarter of 2010 than in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to AnnuitySpecs.com. Sales of indexed annuities increased 19%, to $8.3 billion, and sales of indexed life increased 36%, to $221 million, according to AnnuitiesSpecs.com, Pleasant Hill, Iowa. The company […]
Indexed Life & Annuities Set Sales Records
{March 4th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
AnnuitySpecs.com Releases Fourth Quarter, 2010 Indexed Sales Results Thirty-nine indexed annuity carriers participated in the 54th edition of AnnuitySpecs.com’s Indexed Sales & Market Report, representing 99% of indexed annuity production. Total fourth quarter sales were $8.3 billion, up 19% from the same period last year. As compared to the previous quarter, sales were down nearly […]
Hey, Wall Street: You Can’t Handle the Truth
{February 22nd, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl Moore AnnuityNews.com Feb.21, 2011 — For too long, indexed annuities have been the “red-headed stepchild” of the insurance industry. Scandals over surrender penalties, commissions and lawsuits have plagued this business since it existed. Much of the “scandal” has been misinformation or isolated incidents of agents behaving badly, which have been fueled by the […]
What You Need To Know About The 10/10 Rule
{February 15th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
Sheryl J. Moore February 2011 Issue We are receiving hundreds of calls since Florida enacted a variation of the 10/10 Rule effective January 1, 2011. For that reason, I thought that a little clarification about the rule was warranted. Here are some things you need to know about the 10/10 Rule: 1. The 10/10 Rule is […]
The basics on indexed universal life
{February 14th, 2011} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl J. Moore February 7, 2011 It has been nearly thirty years since consumers were first offered the benefits of Universal Life (UL) and with UL came flexibility in premium payments, death benefit options, coverage amounts, and all sorts of other things that they never dreamed of. UL was the beginning of a whole […]
Scott Burns: ‘Equity’ versus the euphemism
{December 22nd, 2010} by Scott Burns
By SCOTT BURNS Universal Press Syndicate Dec. 21, 2010, 10:33PM Words are important. Recently, for instance, Sheryl Moore declared war on MoneyWatch personal finance columnist Allan Roth. Moore is the CEO of www.annuityspecs.com, a website she founded that offers support for those who sell equity indexed annuity products. She is also a self-appointed defender of […]
An equity-indexed annuity by any other name is still an equity-indexed annuity
{December 19th, 2010} by Scott Burns
Published: 7:48 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 Words are important. Recently, for instance, Sheryl Moore declared war on MoneyWatch personal finance columnist Allan Roth. Moore is the founder and CEO of AnnuitySpecs.com, a website that offers support for those who sell equity indexed annuity products. She is also a self-appointed defender of what she calls fixed index annuities. What had Roth […]
Watch out for new wordings
{December 19th, 2010} by Scott Burns
12:00 AM CST on Sunday, December 19, 2010 Scott Burns is a syndicated columnist and a principal of the Plano-based investment firm AssetBuilder Inc. E-mail questions to scott@scottburns.com. Words are important. Recently, an insurance industry expert declared war on MoneyWatch personal finance columnist Allan Roth. The expert is a self-appointed defender of fixed index annuities. […]
Why So Much Misinformation on Indexed Annuities?
{December 14th, 2010} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl Moore InsuranceNewsNet Dec. 13, 2010 — To everyone selling indexed annuities, the products seem like a Godsend: Be able to deliver your clients a product that will protect them from loss in the event of market downturn, while also providing the potential to outpace traditional fixed savings instruments. To those unfamiliar with indexed […]
Despite Low Interest Rates, Indexed Annuities Jump
{November 23rd, 2010} by Fran Matso Lysiak
Copyright: (c) 2010 A.M. Best Company, Inc. Source: A.M. Best Company, Inc. Wordcount: 615 Despite low interest rates, total third-quarter U.S. sales of equity-indexed annuities were $8.7 billion, an increase of 16% from the same period a year ago, according to AnnuitySpecs.com, a firm that tracks the data. Even with a very low interest-rate […]
Annuity Industry Gets Name Makeover
{November 22nd, 2010} by Allan Roth
Apparently, the insurance industry hates the name “equity indexed annuities.” So much so that they are going to give yours truly a 200,000 signature petition to stop using the term, containing the signature from the CEO of every insurance company that sells these products. This name change could cost consumers a bundle. Last week, Investment […]
An Indexed Annuity GLWB is Not…
{November 21st, 2010} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl Moore InsuranceNewsNet Nov. 18, 2010 — Recently, a field marketing organization (FMO) published an article on indexed annuity Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefits (GLWBs) that raised a few industry folks’ hackles. While it was an interesting recruiting attempt and a couple of the issues in this article were valid — the author still has […]
Indexed annuities set sales record
{November 21st, 2010} by Daniel Williams
BY Daniel Williams Published 11/16/2010 The decline of annuities has been exaggerated. For nearly two years, it seems, every time we read news about annuities that news has been negative. Or at least it’s contained a negative slant. Not this time. According to AnnuitySpecs.com’s Indexed Sales & Market Report, third-quarter sales for indexed annuities were $8.7 […]
Sales of fixed index annuities hits new high
{November 16th, 2010} by Darla Mercado
Sales of fixed indexed annuities hits new high By Darla Mercado November 16, 2010 A combination of equity market volatility and slumping interest rates pushed sales of fixed indexed annuities in the third quarter to a new high, according to data from LIMRA and AnnuitySpecs.com. Sales of fixed indexed annuities hit a record-breaking $8.7 billion, a […]
Annuity war of words
{November 9th, 2010} by Darla Mercado
By Darla Mercado November 7, 2010 Indexed-annuities expert Sheryl J. Moore is back, and she has a challenge for the media: Stop referring to indexed annuities as “equity-indexed annuities.” Ms. Moore, president and chief executive of AnnuitySpecs.com, is seeking 200,000 signatures for her Condemn the Word “Equity” petition, aiming to ban the use of the term […]
Fixed Annuity Sales Slump 37% Since 2009
{August 20th, 2010} by Steven A. Morelli
By Steven A. Morelli Senior Editor InsuranceNewsNet Aug. 16, 2010 — Fixed annuity sales in the first half of this year slumped 37 percent compared to the first half of 2009, erasing the meteoric rise in sales amid the flight to safety during the recession, according to LIMRA data released today. The drop brings FA […]
AnnuitySpecs: Indexed Annuity Sales Stay High
{August 20th, 2010} by NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE
By NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE Published 8/16/2010 The second quarter was another good quarter for U.S. sellers of indexed annuities. AnnuitySpecs.com, Pleasant Hill, Iowa, is reporting that indexed annuity sales totaled $8.3 billion during the second quarter, down just 0.1% from the total for the second quarter of 2009. AnnuitySpecs.com has based those figures on results from […]
Second-Quarter Sales of Equity-Indexed Annuities Dip Slightly; AIG Unit Re-Enters Market
{August 20th, 2010} by Fran Lysiak
August 17, 2010 | BestWire Services Total second-quarter U.S. sales of equity-indexed annuities stood at $8.38 billion, a dip of 0.1% from the same period a year ago but sales rose nearly 23% from the first quarter, according to AnnuitySpecs.com, a firm that tracks the data. It was the second-highest quarter ever for sales, as […]
Rule 151A is Over – Now What?
{August 7th, 2010} by Sheryl J. Moore
By Sheryl Moore Published 8/6/2010 Two years ago, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed Rule 151A, which would have regulated indexed annuities as securities rather than insurance products. After a long battle, however, indexed annuities have secured their fixed insurance status of thanks to two final actions: The District of Columbia U.S. Court of Appeals […]
SEC 151 faces a double-whammy in Washington
{August 3rd, 2010} by Andy Stonehouse
BY Andy Stonehouse Published 8/1/2010 After two years of debate, political action and some serious soul-searching on behalf of advisors across the country, the controversial SEC 151A ruling was given the one-two punch in separate moves in the nation’s capital. On July 12, a federal appeals court announced that it had opted to side with plaintiffs […]
Good News! On Monday, July 12, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia completely vacated 151A.
{August 3rd, 2010} by Sharon Chace
Broker Words Sharon A. Chace & Stephen P. Howard So, what does this mean? It means that the court effectively settled 151A. As far as the judicial branch is concerned, there is not sufficient evidence to suggest that indexed annuities should be regulated as securities. The court also reissued the entire ruling with the new […]
Broker Words
{August 2nd, 2010} by Sharon A. Chace and Stephen Howard
Good News! On Monday, July 12, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia completely vacated 151A. Click HERE to read the full story via Broker World. Is the securities status of indexed annuities settled for good? According to Sheryl Moore, Advantage Group Associates, Inc., “No. Remember, the Securities and Exchange […]
Indexed Annuities Regain AIG Unit After Banner Year
{July 31st, 2010} by Darla Mercado
July 30, 2010 | Investment News Copyright 2010 Crain CommunicationsAll Rights Reserved Investment News July 26, 2010 NEWS; Pg. 0019 326 words Indexed annuities regain AIG unit after banner year; Western National Life is relaunching Power Index Annuity Darla Mercado Western National Life Insurance Co. has jumped back into the indexed-annuity market after more than […]
Financial Planning Coalition Regrets SEC Taken Out of Indexed Annuities
{July 21st, 2010} by Sheryl J. Moore
July 21, 2010 | BestWire Copyright 2010 A.M. Best Company, Inc.All Rights Reserved BestWire July 20, 2010 Tuesday 04:40 PM EST 479 words Financial Planning Coalition Regrets SEC Taken Out of Indexed Annuities Jesse A Hamilton WASHINGTON The Financial Planning Coalition is disappointed that Congress chose to strip the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of […]
Indexed Annuities’ Battle with SEC Comes to An End
{July 21st, 2010} by Sheryl J. Moore
On July 21, 2010, a long and hard-fought battle with securities regulators was finally won by the insurance industry. After being under question for 13 years, the securities status of indexed annuities was finally and indefinitely settled when President Barack Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The month of July […]
AIG unit re-enters indexed-annuity market
{July 20th, 2010} by Darla Mercado
By Darla Mercado July 20, 2010 12:44 pm ET Western National Life Insurance Co., jumped back into the indexed-annuity market last week after more than 18 months on the sidelines. The subsidiary of American International Group Inc. stopped selling equity-indexed annuities in late 2008. At the time many insurers were curbing sales of the products […]
US Court of Appeals Vacates 151A
{July 14th, 2010} by P.E. Kelley
Industry response is positive, cautious by P.E. Kelley, L&HA Managing Editor In a decision lauded by professionals across the financial services industry, the US Court of Appeals, District of Columbia, vacated SEC Rule 151a, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) controversial regulation which sought to classify equity-indexed annuities (EIA) as securities. The brief decision from […]
151A update: The court vacates the SEC ruling
{July 13th, 2010} by Daniel Williams
BY Daniel Williams Published 7/13/2010 More From This Issue » I received a note from Sheryl J. Moore, president and CEO of AnnuitySpecs.com this morning with an announcement that “the court has vacated the SEC’s rule 151A.” Moore has long been an opponent of 151A and has been calling for it to be overturned. Others fighting […]
A House Divided
{July 9th, 2010} by Linda Koco
By LINDA KOCO Published 7/12/2010 Subscribe to Life & Health As last-minute Congressional negotiations on the financial reform bill seem to make Rule 151A a non-issue, the annuity industry has to pull back from this potentially explosive issue. Rule 151A was in the process of turning the industry against itself…but will independent producers be able to […]
Insurers launch registered indexed annuities
{June 25th, 2010} by Darla Mercado
By Darla Mercado June 25, 2010 Though it appears that regulatory oversight of equity-indexed annuities will remain with states — and not shift to the Securities and Exchange Commission — some insurers are nonetheless rolling out indexed-annuities that qualify as securities. ING Life Insurance and Annuity Co. last week released its ING Select Multi-Index 5 and […]
Why Index Annuity Sales Are Turning Heads
{May 17th, 2010} by Sheryl J. Moore
The close of 2009 was particularly challenging in terms of forecasting index annuity sales. During the year, some companies had tried to limit competitiveness by making their index annuities less attractive, thereby limiting sales. All indicators suggested that these companies had probably placed more premium than they had cared to. So, predicting which way sales […]
AnnuitySpecs: Q1 Indexed Annuity Sales Off 4%
{May 17th, 2010} by Linda Koco
Sales of indexed annuities fell slightly in the first quarter from the total for the first quarter of 2009, an annuity tracking service says.Sales amounted to $6.8 million in the first quarter, according to AnnuitySpecs.com, Des Moines, Iowa. That figure is down 4% from $7.1 million in the comparable period in 2009, the firm says. […]
Health care legislation contains tax on annuities
{April 13th, 2010} by Karen Mracek
By KAREN MRACEK • kmracek@dmreg.com • April 11, 2010 President Barack Obama has promoted annuities as an effective tool for retirement savings. But a little-noticed tax in the health care reconciliation bill imposes a 3.8 percent tax on annuities purchased by high-income earners. The tax, which goes into effect in 2013, will cost consumers $210 […]
Regulations Shape Future for Indexed Products
{April 5th, 2010} by Sheryl J. Moore
Click here for the article.
ING's new strategy: Simplify annuities, gain sales
{April 5th, 2010} by Karen Mracek
By KAREN MRACEK • kmracek@dmreg.com • April 4, 2010 Simplicity. That’s not the first word that comes to mind when thinking of annuities, but that’s what ING is focusing its attention on – and designing products around – to get more Americans to save for retirement. “The thing that has really hurt Americans is that […]
Hang On! Traditional Fixed, Indexed and Variable Products Take the Industry for a Ride
{April 2nd, 2010} by Steven A. Morelli
Click here for the article.
Annuities issuers strive for investors' 'sweet spot'
{March 29th, 2010} by Joe Gardyasz
BY JOE GARDYASZ While many frantic investors were watching the values of their 401(k) nest eggs plummet by 40 percent or more in the stock market last year, others were turning to the guaranteed safety of indexed annuity contracts, which drove sales of the complex investment-insurance hybrid products to record levels in 2009. Sales of […]
Regulatory Struggles and Capital Issues Should Not Impede Sales of Fixed Annuities in 2010
{March 15th, 2010} by Sheryl J. Moore
Click here for the article.
Allianz Life’s MasterDex X still top of the indexed-annuity heap
{March 2nd, 2010} by Darla Mercado
Sales of the popular product helped Allianz maintain its place as the top seller of indexed annuities By Darla Mercado March 1, 2010 Sales of indexed annuities set a record last year, surpassing $30 billion — despite a modest 2.7% decline in sales in the fourth quarter. According to data from AnnuitySpecs.com’s Indexed Sales and […]
Allianz Life's MasterDex X still top of the indexed-annuity heap
{March 2nd, 2010} by Darla Mercado
Sales of the popular product helped Allianz maintain its place as the top seller of indexed annuities By Darla Mercado March 1, 2010 Sales of indexed annuities set a record last year, surpassing $30 billion — despite a modest 2.7% decline in sales in the fourth quarter. According to data from AnnuitySpecs.com’s Indexed Sales and […]
Pressure Builds for SEC to Scrap Indexed Annuity Rule
{February 9th, 2010} by Peter Ortiz
Click here for the article.
Indexed and Variable Insurance Products: How to Use Today’s Tools in Tomorrow’s World
{February 6th, 2010} by Michael Murillo
How have the roles of these flexible yet diverse markets changed? By Michael Murillo Published 1/25/2010 You can give a mechanic and an accountant the same toolbox, but you’ll get very different results if you let them work on your car. It’s not enough to have the right tools for the job; you have to know […]
Indexed Annuities And Rule 151A: Where Are We Now?
{February 6th, 2010} by Sheryl J. Moore
Sheryl J. Moore February 2010 Oh what I wouldn’t give to not have to look at the numbers 151 and the letter A ever again! Wouldn’t it be nice if the securities status of indexed annuities was firmly established today? Without question, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) changed the world of life insurance forever […]
The Truth About Index Annuities
{February 1st, 2010} by Sheryl J. Moore
By SHERYL MOORE Published 2/2/2010 Indexed annuities have become the naughty step-child of the insurance industry, largely because of today’s “sensationalism sells” mentality in the consumer and business media. Many reports on IAs simply ignore the truth or include inaccuracies. Sadly, this has prevented many advisors from considering the product. Yet never has there been a […]
SEC Plans to Reissue Rule 151A but Offers 2-Year Delay
{January 26th, 2010} by N/A
Click here for the article.
Ambulance Chasers and a Lack of Responsibility
{January 20th, 2010} by Sheryl J. Moore
Ambulance Chasers and a Lack of Responsibility BY SHERYL MOORE Ask anyone who has been in the insurance business for more than a decade about class-action lawsuits and you’ll likely hear that they’ve had experience with at least one (be it “vanishing premiums,” underfunded UL, or annuities). These lawsuits have been around for a long […]
