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.
Tag: Annuities
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
Where does a comprehensive financial plan start?
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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.
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Legislative and Judicial Actions
Key legislation, regulations and litigation from Washington, D.C., and the courts.
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?
Giving retirement plan sponsors legal protections when they offer lifetime income products doesn’t change the fact that investors generally have low opinions of annuities.
Crafting Annuity Confidence and Clarity Is Hard Work
One passionate analyst says the highly nuanced annuity marketplace does not receive sufficiently careful attention from either the financial services media or potential consumers.
Being Realistic About Longevity
More retirement plan participants are recognizing the financial implications of longer lifespans.
Insurance Companies Are Experiencing Investment Challenges
Since some retirement plan investments are tied to insurance company portfolios, should fiduciaries monitor these accounts like other investments?
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.
In-Plan Guaranteed Income Will Always Be a Challenge
There is clearly a growing interest among retirement plan industry stakeholders in providing guaranteed income annuity options within defined contribution plans, yet consensus remains elusive.
Retirement Income Coming Soon to a 401(k) Near You
Experts believe that in the next few years, DC plan sponsors will embrace this option.
A Seamless Advisory Experience
The typical investor has five to six accounts, multiple products and custodians, and two or three advisers managing their assets.
Illustrative Stories Can Help With Understanding Retirement Income Choices
Whether by video or written text, researchers found a short story significantly improved test scores about annuities and Social Security claiming.
IRS Private Letter Ruling Solves Crucial Annuity Transaction Friction Point
A new IRS private letter ruling essentially conforms the tax treatment of properly structured advisory fees from non-qualified annuity contracts to those paid out of qualified accounts, which typically are not treated as taxable distributions.
New York Trial Court Endorses Fiduciary Standard for Insurance Sales
New York’s expanded “best interest” standard took effect on August 1st for annuity contracts and will take effect February 1, 2020, for life insurance policies. In a new decision, the New York Supreme Court calls the expansion “a rational and reasonable movement towards consumer protection.”