Displaying items by tag: annuities

According to Wink’s Sales & Market Report, third-quarter sales of deferred annuities soared almost 21% over the prior-year quarter. Deferred annuities include variable annuities, structured annuities, indexed annuities, traditional fixed annuities, and multi-year guaranteed annuities (MYGA). Indexed annuities saw the largest gains. Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, Inc. and Moore Market Intelligence said that "It was a record-setting quarter for indexed annuity sales. In fact, 2022 will be a record year for indexed annuities as well." Total non-variable deferred annuity sales, which include indexed annuities, traditional fixed annuities, and MYGAs, came in at $48.8 billion for the quarter, up 67.1% compared to the prior year's quarter. However, variable deferred annuities, which include structured annuities and variable annuity product lines, did not see the same gains. While sales came in at $23.5 billion, that figure was down 10.8% compared to the previous quarter and down more than 23% compared to the same quarter last year. The No. 1 selling deferred annuity for the quarter was Jackson National’s Perspective II Flexible Premium Variable & Fixed Deferred Annuity. 

Finsum:With indexed annuity sales leading the way, total deferred annuity sales soared year over year. 

A form reviewer at the Securities and Exchange Commission recently said he wants to make sure life insurers give investors a clear picture of how their registered index-linked annuity (RILA) contracts work. RILAs are annuity contracts that can expose the holder to the risk of investment-related loss of principal, but that tie crediting rates at least partly to the performance of investment indexes, rather than to the performance of funds that resemble mutual funds. At the Life Insurance Products Conference, held recently in Washington, D.C., Michael Kosoff, an attorney on the staff of the SEC’s Division of Investment Management, stated that he wants one strategy to be available throughout the life of the contract. He also wants to require issuers to disclose maximum losses. Essentially, the SEC wants life insurance company clients to say which crediting strategy the clients' guarantee will be available for the life of a RILA contract. A crediting strategy includes a reference to a particular index such as the S&P 500. Kosoff’s concern is that many issuers have a provision stating, “After the first year, we can terminate any and all options currently available. So, in essence, after year one, investors have no idea what they’re getting.”

Finsum:Due toconcerns over changing crediting changes in registered index-linked annuities, an SEC form reviewer stated that he wants one strategy to be available throughout the life of the contract.

Okay, sure, there’s the old adage: age is just a…..well, you know where it’s going.

That said, what’s the ideal age to pluck down cash on an annuity?

How about this for a little calculus: the age at which you invest in an annuity, coupled with your life expectancy, determines how much money you pocket from this monthly income over the course of your life, according to annuity.org. Your personal lifestyle, financial position and goals pinpoint the ideal age to invest in an annuity.

“It really kind of depends on the annuity investor, but I’d say that sweet spot is anywhere from 45 to 70 years old,” Joe Liekweg, a licensed agent at Insuractive told Annuity.org.

Most financial advisors are on the same page: 70-75 is the idyllic age to buy a fixed income annuity to get the biggest bang out of your payments while sidestepping tying an overabundance of your savings into the annuity, according to entrepreneur.com

According to annuity.org, among questions to bear in mind prior to purchasing an annuity:

1. When Will You Need the Money?
2. How Much Will It Cost?
3. What’s Your Life Expectancy?
4. What Are Your Risks?
5. Will the Annuity Work Well With Your Other Income?

Two bills currently in Congress could expand a deferred annuity known as the Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract (QLAC). Both the House and Senate are working on retirement savings legislation that would increase the allowable size of QLACs, making them more attractive to middle-income retirees. QLACs work like any fixed annuity. They pay a steady monthly income, but payments are deferred until the holder is at least 75 years of age. This means that you can buy a QLAC for a lower initial investment than immediate annuities. However, you can invest no more than $135,000 or 25% of your total retirement account balance over your lifetime. A Senate bill called the Enhancing American Retirement Now (EARN) Act, would raise the maximum investment to $200,000 and eliminate the 25 percent threshold, while a House bill, called the Securing a Strong Retirement Act, or SECURE 2.0, would repeal the 25 percent limit. The Senate bill has bipartisan support and the House bill passed last Spring. It appears Congress is looking to build a market for these products by raising the cap on maximum investments.

Finsum: Both houses of Congress are working on legislation that would increase the appeal of a deferred annuity called the Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract.

Guardian Life Insurance recently announced that Talcott Resolution Life Insurance Company will reinsure about $7.4 billion in variable annuity benefits. Most of the contracts have guaranteed living withdrawal benefits and death benefit riders. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year. While Guardian will still be responsible for meeting contract obligations, advisors may have to explain to their clients why a lesser-known company is backing the guarantees. Guardian stated that it pursued this deal to focus its capital on exploring additional opportunities. Talcott only started after the Great Recession, when Hartford Financial Services wanted to separate from its large annuity business. The firm was aquired by Sixth Street last year. This deal is especially noteworthy as pressure from low returns has been pushing companies to find ways to distance themselves from some types of annuity businesses.

Finsum: To focus its capital on additional opportunities, Guardian Life picked Talcott Resolution Life to reinsure $7.4 Billion in variable annuities.