Can Fixed and Variable Annuities Go Together?
Investing experts say smartly pairing the two types of annuities with other investments in a retirement portfolio can deliver significantly more income compared with a traditional withdrawal strategy.
Arkansas Is Latest State to Consider NAIC Annuity Sales Standards
The state’s Insurance Department Rule 82, which may soon be updated to match a suitability framework recently adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, seeks to address conflicts of interest among annuity providers and their proxies.
Consider Goals When Helping DC Plan Sponsors Select Annuity Options
Each type of annuity available to defined contribution plans has different features to match the goals of plan sponsors and participants.
How COVID-19 Volatility and Near-Zero Rates Benefit Annuities
In the current market environment, safe assets simply do not pay what they once did, but that doesn’t mean annuities have become less attractive. In fact, on a relative basis, annuities currently make a lot of economic sense.
UPS Defeats ‘Actuarial Equivalence’ ERISA Challenge
The defense has prevailed on technical grounds in a lawsuit that argues plan sponsors should be required to use fresh mortality and interest rate assumptions when converting between the standard and alternative forms of annuities to be paid out by a pension plan.
State Securities Charges Highlight Potential for REIT Sales Issues
A registered representative of NEXT Financial Group is accused of manipulating key figures and data used to monitor sales of real estate investment trusts to certain client groups, allegedly rendering the monitoring efforts “meaningless.”
Arizona Is Latest State to Approach New Annuity Regulations
The state is following in the footsteps of Iowa, which earlier this month adopted a regulation to require annuity agents to act in the best interest of their customers.
Iowa Finalizes and Adopts Best Interest Standard for Annuities
“Iowans expect their financial professional to act in the consumer’s best interest when recommending an annuity,” says Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen. “Iowa not only expects it, but we will require it.”
The Need for Planning—Not Just Advice—Is Clear
Investment Product and Service Launches
Wells Fargo launches Retirement Income Solution, and Morningstar to acquire Sustainalytics.
SEC Permits Summary Prospectus Variable Annuity Disclosures
The new rule permits variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts to use a summary prospectus to provide disclosures to investors.
Bear Markets Offer Annuity Education Opportunity
The U.S. stock market has entered bear market territory after its record bull run; one silver lining is the opportunity to educate people about annuities.
Legislative and Judicial Actions
NAIC Committee Advances Annuity Transaction Suitability Rules
Notably, the proposed revisions to the Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation would provide a safe harbor for firms and producers that comply with the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest.
What Might the SECURE Act Mean for Lifetime Income?
Crafting Annuity Confidence and Clarity Is Hard Work
Being Realistic About Longevity
Insurance Companies Are Experiencing Investment Challenges
State Insurance Regulators Seeking Harmony with Reg BI
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners is seeking to update its rules and restrictions on the sales of annuities so they better harmonize with the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest.
Big Providers Focused on Retirement Income—Just Not Annuities
To guarantee or not to guarantee? For some of the leading recordkeepers and investment managers, that’s not a question they necessarily want to answer.