Insurance

February 6, 2012

Campaign has Betty White pitching ‘hot' life settlements

By Darla Mercado

Actress Betty White is the celebrity pitchwoman for life settlements provider The Lifeline Program and also stars in the firm's viral YouTube video, “I'm Still Hot.”

life settlements

February 3, 2012

Pru will pay $17M to settle with seven states over death benefits

By Darla Mercado

Prudential Financial Will pay $17 million to settle with seven states; regulators claim insurer used more comprehensive database for cutting off annuity payments than one used to locate those owed money.

February 1, 2012

Elderly couple: Rep told us to put our IRA into life settlements

By Darla Mercado

But ex-broker refutes claim, says clients performed their own due diligence

January 29, 2012

Decision to keep rates low could hurt interest in annuities

By Darla Mercado

Reduced commissions for agents, more tweaking to annuities and lower profitability could be in store for life insurers now that the Federal Reserve has committed to keeping interest rates low until late 2014. The Fed said last week that it will maintain the target range for the...

January 29, 2012

Insurance companies take a step back

By Bruce Kelly

IN THE 1990s, global insurance companies snatched up independent broker-dealers in a buying spree that reshaped the industry. American International Group Inc., ING Groep NV and American Express Financial Advisors (now Ameriprise Financial Inc.) were all big buyers, acquiring...

independent broker-dealers

January 26, 2012

Fed's low interest rates could lower interest in annuities

By Darla Mercado

Extension of cheap money policy seen boosting annuity costs, reducing benefits and commissions

annuities

January 24, 2012

Analysts wave off $1.57B death benefit suit against Met, Pru

By Darla Mercado

Illinois lawsuit alleges MetLife and Prudential owe some $524M in unclaimed death benefits

January 22, 2012

Former E*Trade CEO leads management buyout of Jefferson

By Darla Mercado

Jefferson National, creator of the flat-fee variable annuity, hopes to step up its distribution among fee-based advisers following a management buyout. Financial Partners Fund, a unit of Citi Capital Advisors, The Stephens Group LLC and Goldman Sachs Asset Management alumnus Eric...

January 20, 2012