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LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 21, 2010
Spotlight on VAs

The humble variable annuity is gaining in popularity

By mlanche
EMERGING MARKETS FEB 21, 2010
John Hancock Funds the latest to launch interest rate hedge

John Hancock Funds LLC today launched an international fixed-income fund to enable investors to hedge against rising interest rates.

By Jessica Toonkel Marquez
MUTUAL FUNDS FEB 21, 2010
ICI, kaChing in smack-down over fund fees

The Investment Company Institute has slammed assertions kaChing Group Inc. made regarding mutual fund fees, continuing an online sparring match between the two.

By Jessica Toonkel Marquez
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 21, 2010
Guggenheim adds to collection

Guggenheim Partners LLC, an investment firm founded by the famous family for which it is named, said last week that it is acquiring Security Benefit Corp. — and with it Rydex SGI.

By David Hoffman
ALTERNATIVES FEB 21, 2010
After VC storm, who will be left?

Venture capital today is survival of the pluckiest.

By Arleen Jacobius
RIA NEWS FEB 21, 2010
The last laugh

For most investors, not having access to their money is a drawback.

By Darla Mercado
MUTUAL FUNDS FEB 21, 2010
Fund companies are prepping bond investors for rising rates

Fearing a backlash from investors who are still piling into bond funds, mutual fund companies are rolling out sales and marketing campaigns to encourage investors to shift assets into other products.

By David Hoffman
FIXED INCOME FEB 21, 2010
High-quality junk bonds aren't junk at all

Their name is an oxymoron, but high-quality junk bonds themselves make a lot of sense in the fixed-income space right now.

By Jeff Benjamin
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 19, 2010
Will ramped-up annuities come back to bite insurers - again?

Nationwide Financial Services Inc. yesterday bumped up its variable annuity living benefits, signaling a return — for some carriers — to the generous benefits that backfired on insurers when the stock market imploded in 2008.

By Darla Mercado
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 19, 2010
Market rally cuts into sales of fixed annuities in 1Q

First-quarter fixed-annuity sales in the U.S. were down 52% from the year-ago period, falling to an estimated $16.7 billion.

By Bloomberg
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 19, 2010
Life insurers facing annuity squeeze

A period of fierce competition to build annuity premiums awaits life insurers as they contend with industry consolidation and the difficulties of standing out from rivals

By Darla Mercado
What advisers really think of income annuities
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 19, 2010
What advisers really think of income annuities

Hint: they think the retirement products attract customers who are frightened by the market

By Darla Mercado
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 19, 2010
Accounting changes plumped up insurers' capital ratios

Life insurers, whose capital buffers shrank during 2008's downturn, emerged from 2009 with a rebound in capital. The reasons? Regulatory changes and a climbing equities market, according to Moody's

By Darla Mercado
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 19, 2010
Officials: Annuitizing 401(k)s won't be easy

Polls show that employees want an annuity option in their pension plan menu. But they also prefer a lump sum to an income stream when they hit retirement age

By Darla Mercado
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 19, 2010
Annuities provide boost to investment portfolio: Study

Combining a variable annuity with a guaranteed-minimum-withdrawal benefit in conjunction with a traditional portfolio can help hike income

By Darla Mercado
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 19, 2010
Hartford's McGee says 'never again' to annuities concentration

Insurer's new boss said the Connecticut company will avoid focusing on any one product after VAs contributed mightily to two straight years of losses

By Bloomberg
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 19, 2010
Sales of fixed, variable annuities fell in 2009

Sales of both variable annuities and fixed annuities fell in 2009, according to the latest data from LIMRA.

By Darla Mercado
MUTUAL FUNDS FEB 19, 2010
Fund companies' profits up, but share prices down

Shares of asset management companies fell with the broader market in afternoon trading Thursday even after several reported big earnings gains to close out 2009.

By Associated Press
ETFS FEB 19, 2010
Invesco Powershares CEO Bruce Bond stepping back

Bruce Bond is stepping down as chief executive of Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC, the exchange-traded-fund provider he founded in 2003.

By David Hoffman
ETFS FEB 19, 2010
What's wrong with actively managed ETFs?

Although actively managed exchange-traded funds are just in their infancy, many financial advisers and even some ETF providers have already written them off.

By David Hoffman