MetLife Inc., the insurer reducing variable annuity sales by more than half, said rivals that are expanding are probably retaining less funds to back the retirement products.
Fixed-annuity sales in the third quarter reached their highest level since 2009, topping $22 billion. That number represents a 31% rise from the previous quarter and more than a 35% increase from the same period last year.
Just as advisers have to become experts in learning the best Social Security claiming strategies, they need to learn how Medicare and tax rules could affect their clients' bottom line in retirement.
Advisers registered in one state could join new organization and sell insurance in other states.
It's a tough discussion that's not going away. It's only going to get tougher.
I love when readers with whom I consult about tricky Social Security-claiming strategies report back to me with results.
Details are incomplete, but it is clear that the filing point to the growing bifurcation in the variable annuity pool of offerings: There will continue to be traditional variable annuities with living benefits, but more and more, carriers will be bringing out products that are largely investment-focused.
Advisers need to watch that clients do not inadvertently inflate their income and Medicare costs
Berkshire's second-quarter profit climbs 45 percent.
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Two of the largest variable annuity sellers sharply pulled back on additional premiums into existing contracts during a busy third quarter for the sellers.
LPL service will allow retirement plan sponsors to shed participants who can't be located or who are nonresponsive.
According to advisers and recent data from Limra, workers seem to be doing precisely what they would be expected to do with 20-page disclosure documents: Tossing them in the circular file.
Though a majority of retirees' wish lists include trekking the world, few plan ahead for such costs.
A recent lawsuit against MassMutual over excessive 401(k) fees raises the possibility that group annuities and stable-value products could become a focus of future complaints.
The file-and-suspend strategy offers an added benefit: It can serve as an insurance policy if you change your mind and decide not to delay your benefits after all.
