NY Best-Interest Rule Causing Insurers to Stop Offering Annuities in the State
{September 11th, 2019} by Alex Padalka
Now that New York’s tougher rules on the sales of annuities and insurance have gone into effect, insurers are preparing to stop selling the products in the state, according to news reports. Issued by the New York State Department of Financial Services, Regulation 187, as it’s known, requires financial entities selling annuities to consider their clients’ […]
Annuity Illustrations: Liability Your Agents Don’t Need
{September 11th, 2019} by Sheryl J. Moore
When it comes to life insurance sales, you cannot close the deal without an illustration. Thanks to the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s (NAIC’s) Life Insurance Illustration Model Regulation, there are very few instances where one need not collect an illustration to get a life policy issued. However, when it comes to the annuity side […]
Educating consumers about financial services products: REPRINT #LIAM2019
{September 10th, 2019} by Sheryl J. Moore
Originally posted April 6th, 2011 by Sheryl J. Moore I wrote the following article so that your clients could have an important high-level overview of financial services. It was prompted by an exchange that I had with a fellow member of my credit union’s board of directors. I hope that this helps you, your business, […]
Jackson National suspends fee-based annuity sales in New York due to best-interest rule
{September 4th, 2019} by Greg Iacurci
Jackson National Life Insurance Co. has suspended sales of fee-based annuities in New York in response to a new rule that imposes tougher standards on brokers and life insurance agents selling insurance products in the state. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… “I’m looking at New York as a pilot […]
The Society of Annuity Facts and Education (SAFE) responds to “Why Indexed Annuities May Promise More Than They Deliver”
{September 3rd, 2019} by Sheryl J. Moore
Dear Ms. Wang, We appreciate you reaching-out to us last week, to ensure the accuracy of your reporting on annuities. The Society for Annuity Facts and Education (SAFE) is always interested in discussing the facts about annuities. That said, we found some errors in your article “Why Indexed Annuities May […]
Annuity sales topped $60B for another quarter. But is the party now over
{August 27th, 2019} by Tobias Salinger
Annuity sales may have finally reached their peak, after three straight quarters topping $60 billion. Click HERE to read the full story …while the research firm Wink releases preliminary data from its survey covering 97% of sales. FIA volumes surged by 14% year-over-year and outpaced their previous record by 3%, Wink says. “It is a great […]
SEC draws ire with indexed annuity misstep
{August 21st, 2019} by Greg Iacurci
The Securities and Exchange Commission caused concern among the financial advice and insurance communities this week when it published an inaccurate investor bulletin about indexed annuities. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews. ……………………………………………………………………………………… “There’s no excuse to be disseminating misleading and inaccurate information like this,” said Sheryl Moore, president and […]
5 Notes About the SEC’s New Indexed Annuity Bulletin
{August 21st, 2019} by Allison Bell
An arm of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last week told investors what it thinks about you. The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy expressed its views in a short document with the title “Investor Bulletin: Indexed Annuities.” The SEC as a whole seems to have decided that the federal government should avoid smashing ordinary, […]
When I’m 65
{August 14th, 2019} by wi65.org
Annuities may seem complicated but with the right help, it can be an important part of your retirement plan. Learning how annuities work will make sure you are on top of your retirement plan. Download video >
5 Questions with Sheryl Moore
{August 13th, 2019} by Ramsey Smith
In the world of guaranteed income solutions, Sheryl Moore is the ultimate insider. Sheryl is president and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence and Wink, Inc. She and her team offer highly-respected competitive intelligence and market research data pertaining to the life insurance and annuity industries. I’ve known her for years and am pleased to share […]
Annuity sales surge as new pathways open for advisors
{August 5th, 2019} by Tobias Salinger
Annuity sales keep rising higher — and everyone from issuers to, potentially, the U.S. Congress is making it easier for financial advisors and their clients to buy them. Click HERE to read the full story via Financial Planning. …………………………………………………………………………………. FIA sales of $17.7 billion — a 25% jump — constitute the “strongest first […]
The Secrets of the Best-Selling U.S. Indexed Annuities Revealed
{August 5th, 2019} by Cyril Tuohy
What does it take to get there? We spoke to Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink and indexed annuity maven, to find out the secrets of the best sellers. Click HERE to view the full story via Life Annuity Specialist.
California Threatens NAIC With N.Y. Annuity Standard
{August 4th, 2019} by John Hilton
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara wants “as close to a fiduciary standard as possible” to govern annuity sales, his office says. The California Department of Insurance weighed in this week with comments on a controversial annuity sales model law being debated by a National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ working group. If the NAIC doesn’t come […]
Indexed Life: Illustrating at Nearly 14%
{August 4th, 2019} by Sheryl J. Moore
Do I have your attention? I know it feels like I am beating a dead horse with this topic, but continued interaction with salespeople using indexed life in their sales tells me that further education on indexed life illustrations is not only needed, but additional disclosure should be required. You know, one of the most viral […]
Regulator Calls For ‘A Total Rework’ Of Key NAIC Illustration Guide
{July 29th, 2019} by John Hilton
Insurance regulators hosted a vigorous debate Monday on whether juiced-up indexed universal life products are projecting realistic returns or not. New IUL products featuring “multipliers” or “bonuses” prompted the IUL Illustration Subgroup to consider changes to Actuarial Guideline 49. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ subgroup has held several conference calls on the topic. Click […]
FIAs for Retirement Income (Why Not?)
{July 9th, 2019} by Kerry Pechter
To equip a 55-year-old with a fixed index annuity (FIA) so he can flip on an income stream in 10 years isn’t so different from advising him to buy 10-year bonds today and swap them for a life annuity in 10 years. Click HERE to read the full story via Retirement Income Journal. […]
Why I Bought an Annuity at Age 29
{July 1st, 2019} by Sheryl Moore
You read the headline, and you are already screaming at me. “Why would you buy an annuity when retirement is half-a-lifetime away!” Note that those of you who are anti-annuity are probably experiencing seizures already. Someone call some help for them. No mistake. You read that right. Yes, I purchased my first deferred annuity when […]
Allianz Life’s Index Annuity Winning Streak
{June 17th, 2019} by Kerry Pechter
There was a shaky moment in 2007 when it looked as if Allianz SE’s bet on the U.S. insurance market might backfire on the German financial services giant. American regulators had placed the company’s Minneapolis-based subsidiary, Allianz Life of North America, in their crosshairs. Click HERE to read the full story via Retirement Income Journal.
Indexed annuity illustrations are hurting consumers: group
{June 11th, 2019} by Greg Iacurci
An investor advocacy group took a shot at indexed-annuity illustrations — the primary sales tool used to sell insurance products — and said that current rules around illustrations are too flimsy, allowing insurers to use them in a way that benefits them but disadvantages consumers. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews. […]
The Index Annuity Story, Part I
{June 11th, 2019} by Kerry Pechter
‘Zero is the hero’ in fixed index annuities, which offer upside without risk of loss. In this first article of a four-part series on FIAs, presented by Retirement Income Journal and Wink, Inc., RIJ analyzes Wink’s first-quarter 2019 sales data to establish an overview of the fast-growing index annuity industry. Click HERE to read […]
To 1035 or not to 1035? Reprint #AnnuityAwarenessMonth
{June 11th, 2019} by Sheryl J. Moore
To 1035 or not to 1035? June 6, 2013 by Sheryl J. Moore Lately, I’ve been receiving a lot of questions about whether, or not, I have concerns about 1035 exchanges in the current interest rate environment. Why? Maybe you missed the memo, but you are currently selling annuities in the worst interest rate […]
Structured Annuities Take Hold
{June 4th, 2019} by Sheryl Moore
It was almost a decade ago when I heard the news that a company that cannot stand indexed annuities had launched an “indexed annuity.” No better way to confirm the information than to go straight to the horse’s mouth: I gave the product management division of the company a call. “Did you guys launch an […]
HOW ANNUITIES HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE DOL PROPOSED THE FIDUCIARY RULE. Reprint #AnnuityAwarenessMonth
{June 4th, 2019} by Sheryl J. Moore
HOW ANNUITIES HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE DOL PROPOSED THE FIDUCIARY RULE. May 8, 2018 by Sheryl J. Moore Before I count the ways, let me comment that the average premium for a deferred annuity is $102,964 as of 4Q2017. I would surmise that the typical fee-based advisor asks that their clients have no less than […]
Getting started with your Ph.D. in interest crediting on indexed annuities and indexed life: Reprint #AnnuityAwarenessMonth
{June 4th, 2019} by Sheryl J. Moore
How on earth is one supposed to get started in learning how to calculate the interest earned on indexed annuities and indexed life insurance? I speak to advisors every day who are interested in the products, yet lack the resources necessary to learn the basics of indexed life and annuities. Wouldn’t it be nice if […]
AIG’s Growth Strategy May Make It Hard to Dislodge as No. 1 Annuity Seller
{May 31st, 2019} by Cyril Tuohy
When the dust cleared after the first quarter, AIG stood firmly atop the rankings for annuity sales. Click HERE to view the full article via Life Annuity Specialist.
Sales of Universal Life Products Slumped 29% in First Quarter
{May 30th, 2019} by Daphne Zhang
Individual life insurance had a rocky first quarter, as insurers are preoccupied with updating mortality tables. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist.
Annuity Rates: No Reason to Get Psyched Out
{May 29th, 2019} by Sheryl J. Moore
Let me guess: you nor your agents haven’t sold fixed annuities for at least a decade. Am I right? Well, give me a minute. I am going to challenge you about why we all should probably keep that arrow in our quivers. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why fixed annuities aren’t […]
Allianz Bolsters Its Top-Selling 222 Fixed Indexed Annuity Line
{May 21st, 2019} by Annuity News
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America added new benefit features to several of its fixed index annuities (FIAs), with “the goal of helping provide clients with more flexibility, choice, and control.” The new benefits bolster the Allianz 222 line of FIAs, which have long been top sellers. According to fourth-quarter data from Moore Market […]
Annuity Index War May Reveal a Data Gap
{May 21st, 2019} by Allison Bell
One challenge for consumers thinking about buying indexed annuities may be the lack of well-known, accessible tools for comparing the performance of various investment indexes, or even knowing which of the indexes have been around for 10, 15 or 20 years. The Center for Economic Justice — an Austin, Texas-based group that’s skeptical of use of newer investment […]
Understanding Indexed Life Illustrations
{May 15th, 2019} by Sheryl J. Moore
At what rate do we illustrate the cash value growth of indexed life insurance products? This is a question that has plagued the life insurance industry since indexed universal life (IUL) was developed in January 1997. The National Association for Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) adopted the life insurance illustration model regulation two years before the […]
Edward Jones doesn’t sell indexed annuities, bucking broker-dealer trend
{May 8th, 2019} by Greg Iacurci
Edward Jones has taken a contrarian stance on indexed annuities, declining to allow its brokers to sell the annuity products even though its peers are doing so and the products are increasingly popular industrywide. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews. ………………………………………………………………………………………. Sheryl Moore, president and CEO of consulting firm Moore […]
Securian Is Latest to Jump Into Bank Sales Channel for Annuities
{April 30th, 2019} by Cyril Tuohy
In separate data published by Wink’s Sales & Market Report, banks were responsible for 26.5% of the $1.1 billion in fixed annuity volume sold at the end of the fourth quarter. That was a big jump from the 15.9% share that banks held of the $755 million in fixed annuities sold in the last quarter […]
Are glossy annuity ads glossing over the issues?
{April 8th, 2019} by Tobias Salinger
A well-funded industry group is using the Rolling Stones’ upcoming tour to present annuities as the mother’s little helper needed to offset the financial drag of getting old. Backed by 24 of the largest issuers and asset managers, the new Alliance for Lifetime Income will be the sole sponsor of the Stones’ 2019 “No Filter” […]
Why Indexed Annuity Sales Are So Strong
{April 4th, 2019} by Kerry Pechter
For Jim Fahey, an Ameriprise advisor in Center Valley, PA, 2018 was a hockey-stick year for fixed indexed annuity (FIA) sales. “FIAs were roughly 25% of my business in 2017. But in 2018 they represented 50% to 60%,” he said this week. “I still have variable annuities on the books but I don’t think I […]
New annuities starting to address RMDs
{April 2nd, 2019} by Greg Iacurci
Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America is launching an indexed annuity geared toward clients 70½ and older who don’t need the money that the government requires they withdraw each year from retirement accounts in the form of required minimum distributions. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews. ……………………………………………………………………………….. “I’ve never heard of […]
Record sales yield new leading annuity issuers
{April 2nd, 2019} by Tobias Salinger and Graison Dangor
The end of the annuity sales slump related to the fiduciary rule also resulted in new top issuers, as fixed and fixed-index products broke records in 2018. Click HERE to read the full story via Financial Planning. ………………………………………………………………………………… In an unprecedented development, the top 15 writers of multi-year guaranteed annuities each took in […]
Jackson National loses top annuity sales spot to AIG
{March 26th, 2019} by Greg Iacurci
Jackson National Life Insurance Co. ceded its six-year reign atop the annuity sales leader board to American International Group Inc. last year, as AIG rode a wave of strong fixed and indexed annuity sales to overtake the former No. 1. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews. …………………………………………………………………………………………. Sheryl Moore, owner of […]
Fixed Annuities, Unchained!
{March 26th, 2019} by Editorial Staff
Fixed deferred annuities, which were once eclipsed by variable deferred annuities, confined to the insurance agent channel, and threatened by federal regulation, have emerged as the chief bread-winners for many life insurers. Click HERE to read the full story via RIJ; subscription required. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. “While sales were down for 2017 because of the Department […]
Indexed universal life insurance sales continue hot streak
{March 16th, 2019} by Greg Iacurci
Insurers sold indexed universal life insurance policies at record levels last year as consumers sought a measure of protection from stock market volatility and more insurers offered product. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required. …………………………………………………………………………………… Article Excerpt: Advisers and consumers turned more to indexed universal life last year amid […]
Insurers create pain points for advisers and clients
{February 26th, 2019} by Greg Iacurci
The insurance industry hasn’t done itself any favors when it comes to earning the trust of financial advisers and their clients. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Nobody buys that policy thinking the company may raise my cost of insurance rates,” said Sheryl Moore, president and CEO […]
P/C Broker Gallagher Widens Retirement Practice Into IMO Space
{February 19th, 2019} by John Hilton
While Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is regularly acquiring new companies and expanding its gigantic Fortune 500 footprint, one January takeover generated particular notice. On Jan. 28, Gallagher announced the acquisition of Partners Advantage Insurance Services and AMZ Financial Insurance Services. The move marked the first substantial entry by Gallagher into the independent marketing organization channel of […]
5 Indexed Annuity Secrets
{February 13th, 2019} by Allison Bell
Legacy Marketing Group, an insurance marketing organization, recently brought Sheryl Moore to Phoenix to brief affiliated financial professionals on the state of the indexed market. Moore — the president of Wink Inc., an [insurance and annuity market research firm], and the head of Moore Market Intelligence, [an insurance and annuity consulting firm] — has access to broad, deep indexed annuity […]
THE SOCIETY FOR ANNUITY FACTS AND EDUCATION (SAFE) ANNOUNCES SHERYL J. MOORE AS NEW CHIEF RESEARCH OFFICER
{January 31st, 2019} by The Society for Annuity Facts and Education
Des Moines, Iowa. January 31, 2019- The Society for Annuity Facts and Education (SAFE) is pleased to welcome Sheryl J. Moore as its new Chief Research Officer (CRO). As head of research for the organization, Moore will provide fact-checking services to media outlets, ensure the nonprofit has access to timely annuity statistics, and structure all […]
The Annuity Model is Broken
{January 30th, 2019} by Sheryl J. Moore
Do you remember the last time that you watched CNN, CNBC, “Shark Tank,” “The Profit,” or even the market update segment of the news? While viewing this programming, have you ever seen commercials for financial services products? I know that I have. I recall commercials for mutual funds and securities. Once in a great while, I have […]
An Open Letter to Preston and Lynda Pitts
{January 29th, 2019} by Sheryl J. Moore
Preston and Lynda, As you know, I have been an expert in the indexed annuity market for 20 years now. One of the first habits I took up when I entered the field of product development was reading and analyzing specimen contracts on these products. In fact, I have read every specimen contract for every […]
2019 Board of Directors – SAFE (Society for Annuity Facts & Education)
{January 8th, 2019} by The Society for Annuity Facts and Education
DES MOINES, IOWA (PRWEB) JANUARY 07, 2019 The Society for Annuity Facts and Education (SAFE) announced today that it has appointed Harry N. Stout, Managing Director of NelsonWells, LLC, and Kevin Hart, EVP of Distribution & Marketing at Oceanview Holdings to its Board of Directors for 2019. “We are pleased to welcome Harry and Kevin as […]
It’s about to get easier to do a 1035 exchange with annuities
{January 8th, 2019} by Greg Iacurci
Insurance companies aren’t exactly known as pioneering when it comes to digital technology — most are entrenched in paper-dominated transactions with consumers and their financial advisers. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… “Maybe more bad actors would get missed,” Ms. Moore said. Sheryl Moore, president and […]
IUL Sales Next Year May Go From Hot to Cold as New Rules Loom
{December 11th, 2018} by Cyril Tuohy
“I believe there is going to be a ‘fire sale’ mentality because of likely regulation that will limit illustrated values on the products,” said Sheryl Moore, publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report. The illustrations show buyers the potential returns they can reap. Click HERE to read the full story via LifeAnnuitySpecialist.
2018: A come-back year for indexed annuities
{November 30th, 2018} by Kerry Pechter
Indexed annuities were once the problem child of the annuity world. Now, having survived the Obama Department of Labor’s attempt to corral them, they’re more like the darling of the annuity world. Third-quarter YTD sales figures tell the tale. Click HERE to read the full story via RIJ; subscription required. ……………………………………………………………………………………………. I am not surprised […]
Ohio National: No Strategy Change With Executive Shuffle
{November 22nd, 2018} by John Hilton
Ohio National’s abrupt leadership change will have no impact on the company’s decision to abandon the annuity market, a spokeswoman said. Part of that strategy included the controversial decision to cut trail commissions on select variable annuities. Click HERE to read the full story via INN; subscription required. ************************************************************** Ohio National has gone “too far down […]
Broker Lawsuit Against Ohio National Could Be ‘Just The Beginning’
{November 8th, 2018} by John Hilton
An LPL Financial broker filed a lawsuit Tuesday, asking an Ohio court for an injunction to prevent Ohio National from eliminating trail commissions on select variable annuity contracts. A lawsuit was expected, and one industry analyst said there will be more. “This is just the beginning,” said Sheryl Moore, president and CEO of Moore Market […]
Election Day Preview: Insurance Is On The Ballot, Too
{November 6th, 2018} by John Hilton
Tuesday’s midterm Election Day is filled with fascinating races coast to coast – from the Florida gubernatorial contest to the Texas Senate race, with control of Congress hanging in the balance. Not as many people are paying attention to the expected turnover among state insurance commissioners. Click HERE to read the full story via INN; […]
Choosing the right annuity
{October 30th, 2018} by Sheryl J. Moore
So, if someone has decided that an annuity is indeed right for them, they typically next need assistance identifying which type of annuity they are going to purchase. But which type of annuity is right for this prospect? There are so many choices… To that end, it is important to consider a fundamental principal of risk: […]
What is happening to Variable Annuities?
{October 30th, 2018} by Sheryl J. Moore
Funny thing happened yesterday… I “met” a guy on the phone, who asked me if I had recently learned about indexed life insurance. Uh, no. I’m actually THE indexed life guru…have been for 19.33 years. I cut my teeth on participating whole life, then moved over to the tough stuff. He remarked, “Oh! I thought you were […]
‘Reckless’ Ohio National VA Purge Not A Likely Trend: Analyst
{October 9th, 2018} by John Hilton
Broker-dealers are dealing with angry producers while unsure themselves how to respond to Ohio National terminating trail commissions on some of its variable annuities. With Ohio National’s Sept. 28 decision to abandon those VA contracts, the company went where other insurers had not dared to go in an effort to shed costly guarantees. The termination […]
How Ohio National’s move may lead to ‘unscrupulous’ broker behavior with annuities
{October 9th, 2018} by Greg Iacurci
Ohio National Financial Services Inc. recently told broker-dealers it would be terminating trailing commissions on some of its variable annuities, which has led experts to fear that the insurer’s action will cause unscrupulous behavior among brokers. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. “That is what Ohio National […]
Industry Stunned By Ohio National Decision To End Broker Contracts On VAs
{October 4th, 2018} by John Hilton
“Crazy,” “stunning” and “very odd” were just some of the reactions today to news from Ohio National that it will end advisor compensation on existing variable annuity contracts. Many are calling the move a dangerous precedent for an industry that relies on a web of relationships to move products through various distribution channels. “I have […]
Why Merrill Lynch Still Excludes Commission-Based Annuities from IRA Accounts
{September 12th, 2018} by Alex Padalka
Following a recent reversal on its prohibition of commission-based products in individual retirement accounts, Merrill Lynch nonetheless kept commission-based annuities out of IRA options, InvestmentNews writes. While some experts say the complex product necessitates more diligent care, not everyone agrees, according to the publication. Last month the wirehouse reversed its ban on commission-based products in IRAs. The ban had […]
Merrill Lynch takes two avenues with annuity commissions
{September 12th, 2018} by Greg Iacurci
When Merrill Lynch recently decided to reverse its ban on commissions in individual retirement accounts, it did so for all products with one exception: annuities. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required. However, not everyone is convinced by Merrill’s logic. “It doesn’t hold water with me,” said Sheryl Moore, […]
Index Annuities Poised To Steal The Spotlight From Variable Annuities
{September 12th, 2018} by Cyril Tuohy
Sales of fast-growing index annuities could eat into the VA market’s recovery, a Morningstar analyst said recently. Regulatory relief and the Trump administration have provided a welcome tailwind for VA sales, which finally ended their long sales slide with a slight sales uptick in the second quarter. Click HERE to read the full story via […]
Competitors In Line To Profit From Ohio National Dropping Annuities
{September 8th, 2018} by Cyril Tuohy
Several competitors stand to gain from Ohio National’s sudden decision to leave the annuity and retirement plans markets, one analyst said Thursday. The Cincinnati-based company will stop accepting all annuity applications and applications for 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans beginning Sept. 15. “While we are no longer selling new annuities or retirement plans, we will continue to […]
2Q Indexed Life Sales Rocket To Near Record Highs
{September 4th, 2018} by INN Exclusives
“This was the second-highest quarter ever for indexed life insurance sales,” said Sheryl J. Moore, president and CEO of both Moore Market Intelligence and Wink, Inc. “If you thought the close of last year’s sales were impressive, you need to see the products that are being sold today— they are definitely going to drive us […]
Ken Fisher, famous annuity hater, invested in annuity companies
{September 4th, 2018} by Greg Iacurci
Mr. Fisher’s company formerly held tens of millions of dollars in the stock of major companies selling indexed and variable annuities Ken Fisher, founder and executive chairman of Fisher Investments, has been an ardent critic of annuities for years. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required. “Does he really […]
Lincoln Steers Annuity Distribution Into IMO Channel With New Deal
{August 28th, 2018} by Cyril Tuohy
A distribution deal between Lincoln Financial and a Georgia-based independent marketing organization (IMO) to exclusively market a new index annuity is the latest sign of the insurer’s push into the channel. Click HERE to read the full story via INN; subscription required. …………………………………………………………………………………………………. As of the fourth quarter last year, 31.7 percent of all index […]
Fixed-index annuity sales hit a record amid industry turnaround
{August 25th, 2018} by Tobias Salinger
Fixed-index annuities are driving a turnaround in industrywide sales of the insurance products, thanks to the demise of the fiduciary rule and rising interest rates. Click HERE to read the full story via FinancialPlanning. ………………………………………………………………………………….. Wink, a market research firm which also reports quarterly sales metrics, tracked a 20% upsurge year-over-year in sales of all […]
Prudential, AIG, Lincoln Results Hint at Big Quarter for Annuities
{August 14th, 2018} by Cyril Tuohy
Major annuity companies last week reported second-quarter sales rising from 17% to 50%,… “It looks like it is going to be a fantastic quarter for annuity sales all around,” said Sheryl J. Moore, CEO of Moore Market Intelligence and Wink Inc., publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist; subscription required.
Making Insurance and Annuities Fun. My Industry Chat with Sheryl Moore
{August 7th, 2018} by Mark Williams
I was delighted to have the opportunity to sit down with Sheryl Moore, president and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence and Wink, Inc. Annuities and Life Insurance Consulting. Sheryl and her team have a superior reputation providing competitive intelligence, market research and product development, and their competitive intelligence tools have become an essential service for […]
Iowa Safe Schools Launches AJ Betts LGBTQ Youth Memorial Fund
{July 27th, 2018} by Iowa Safe Schools
Iowa Safe Schools Launches AJ Betts LGBTQ Youth Memorial Fund. Des Moines (July 27th, 2018)- In memory of AJ Betts’ passing on July 27th, 2013, Iowa Safe Schools, in coordination with AJ’s mother, Sheryl J. Moore, have proudly launched the “AJ Betts LGBTQ Youth Memorial Fund.” Sheryl J. Moore and Iowa Safe Schools’ […]
Voya Reportedly Taps Morgan Stanley to Sell Life Portfolio
{July 23rd, 2018} by Cyril Tuohy
The real question isn’t who buys Voya’s life block, but whether the buyer places the block into runoff or continues to sell the Voya portfolio, said life and annuity expert Sheryl J. Moore, president and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence and Wink Inc., publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report. To read the InsuranceInsider article cited in this story, click […]
How Have Fixed Index Annuities Evolved And How Are Consumers Protected?
{July 5th, 2018} by Casey Kuhn
They say the earlier you decide to invest your money, the better. But, before you sign anything, you need to know exactly how your money may — or may not, perform — especially in a fixed index annuity. The market for these insurance products has boomed, but the complexity of these investments may feel misleading to the […]
New Athene Annuity Comes With Income Feature Built-In
{June 27th, 2018} by Cyril Tuohy
Athene’s new Agility index annuity’s lifetime income and enhanced death benefit features come without a separate product fee. And that makes it an unusual product in today’s annuity marketplace. Lifetime income features and more generous death benefits are typically offered as optional riders that usually come at an extra cost. Click HERE to read the […]
INDEXED ANNUITIES: BACK TO THE BASICS Reprint
{June 19th, 2018} by Sheryl J. Moore
INDEXED ANNUITIES: BACK TO THE BASICS July 31, 2012 by Sheryl J. Moore For years, indexed annuities have provided a strong value proposition to those saving for retirement: guaranteed safety of principal while having the ability to earn limited interest based off of the performance of a stock market index. This must appeal to at […]
Non-Variable Life Sales Rise 2%: Wink
{June 12th, 2018} by Allison Bell
U.S. indexed life insurance sales climbed to $486 million in the first quarter, up 11% from the total for the first quarter of 2017, according to analysts at Wink Inc. The combined sales total for indexed universal life and traditional universal life increased 1.6%, to $936 million. Sales of whole life increased 11%, to $1.1 billion. […]
HAVE INDEXED ANNUITIES BECOME TOO COMPLICATED?!? Reprint
{June 12th, 2018} by Sheryl J. Moore
An Investment News article from 2016 had highlighted commentary from myself on how indexed annuities have become “unnecessarily complex.” I stand by that comment. Now, don’t get me wrong- I love indexed annuities, and I want to see the product line continue to thrive. Further, I am always for product innovation and competition when it […]
Analysts: Private Equity Eyes American Equity
{May 31st, 2018} by Cyril Tuohy
On the surface American Equity isn’t a prime candidate for a sale, so why has the company emerged as a rumored takeover target? It’s a question that analysts are puzzling through. American Equity, based in West Des Moines, “doesn’t strike us as a company looking to sell,” but the fixed annuity space has attracted interest […]
Annuity 1Q Climbers: Athene, Nationwide, Great American, Pac Life
{May 30th, 2018} by Cyril Tuohy
Athene USA and Nationwide appear to be fierce competitors in the fixed indexed annuity market. But behind the scenes they share a common thread to their recent success: the Arizona-based annuity marketer Annexus, which works through other independent marketing organizations. Athene and Nationwide take their indexed annuity market share battles seriously, said annuity market analyst […]
6 Questions for Sheryl Moore, a Life & Annuity Tracking Rockstar
{May 29th, 2018} by Maria Wood
As president and chief executive officer of Moore Market Intelligence, Sheryl Moore has become a leading expert and market researcher in the indexed life and indexed annuity industries. In fact, her 20-year career in field and passion for indexed retirement products has earned the nickname, “Indexed Annuity Rockstar.” She started working as a market research […]
With FIA Caps, Higher is Better
{April 26th, 2018} by Kerry Pechter
After the financial crisis, the fixed indexed annuity (FIA) emerged from its original habitat in the independent insurance agent channel to compete against certificates of deposit in the bank channel and (when combined with an income rider) with variable annuities-with-living-benefits in the broker-dealer channel. Click HERE to read the full story via RIJ; registration required. […]
Indexed annuities likely to rebound after dip in sales last year
{April 26th, 2018} by Greg Iacurci
Sales of indexed annuities look like they are going to bounce back this year after dipping in 2017, a first for the product line in almost a decade. Click HERE to read the full article via InvestmentNews; registration required. Article excerpts: “I’m definitely hearing from [distributor] groups that their sales are up,” said Sheryl […]
Nationwide To Sell Annuities Through Independents
{April 24th, 2018} by Cyril Tuohy
Nationwide’s plan to cut loose 2,000 captive agents means the mutual will be selling its annuities through independents along with other institutional channels. Click HERE to read the full story via INN; subscription required. Article excerpt: Is Independence the Answer? Nationwide has recently made big gains in fixed indexed annuity sales. Nationwide was […]
Moore on the Life/Annuity Market: How can so many be so wrong on annuities?
{April 13th, 2018} by Sheryl J. Moore
Did you know that the biggest fear of Americans age 50 and older is running out of money in retirement?1 Did you know that an annuity is the one financial instrument that can guarantee an income you will never outlive? Let that sink in. We’ll get back to that in a minute. View Insurance Selling, […]
Des Moines market research CEO accepted into Forbes Finance Council
{March 30th, 2018} by Business Record
Sheryl Moore, president and CEO of annuity market research firm Wink Inc. in Des Moines, has been accepted into the Forbes Finance Council. The invitation-only council provides select executives in accounting, financial planning, wealth and asset management, and investment firms with resources to grow their businesses, including the opportunity to submit thought leadership articles and short tips on […]
IMO Numbers Could Shrink by Up to 50 Percent
{March 28th, 2018} by Cyril Tuohy
Despite an appeals court ruling tossing out the Department of Labor fiduciary rule, the number of independent marketing organizations (IMO) can expect to eventually shrink by an estimated 30 to 50 percent, an expert said. IMOs help agents sell life insurance and annuities and there are an estimated 350 IMOs in the U.S. serving agents […]
Agent FIA Distribution Falls Below 60 Percent Mark
{March 27th, 2018} by Cyril Tuohy
Independent agents’ market share of fixed indexed annuity (FIA) sales fell below 60 percent in each of the four quarters in 2017. This marks the first time independent agents’ share of the FIA market fell below the 60 percent level for a calendar year since FIAs were created more than 20 years ago, new data […]
Jackson Releases First Fee-Based FIA With No Surrender Charge
{March 20th, 2018} by Cyril Tuohy
Jackson National released the first fee-based fixed indexed annuity (FIA) that does not carry a surrender charge, the company announced Monday. Surrender charges penalize contract holders for turning their contracts in early, a feature some analysts say is a stumbling block to penetrating the fee-based registered investment advisor market and boosting sales through broker-dealers. Click […]
Pacific Life swims against the tide in the indexed annuity market
{March 12th, 2018} by Greg Iacurci
Pacific Life Insurance Co. is an outlier among the scores of companies selling indexed annuities. Of the roughly 60 companies that manufacture these annuities, Pacific Life is unique in that it guarantees the maximum interest rate on its products during the contract term. Other insurers reserve the right to — and often do — lower […]
Indexed annuities’ performance may not be what you expect
{February 20th, 2018} by Greg Iacurci
At first glance, indexed annuities may sound quite similar to index mutual funds. Their names suggest as much. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required. Sheryl Moore, president and CEO of market research firm Moore Market Intelligence, has a rule of thumb for judging how much juice advisers […]
Prudential pivots toward indexed annuities
{January 30th, 2018} by Greg Iacurci
Prudential Financial Inc. Monday announced the launch of its first indexed annuity, the latest variable-annuity carrier to pivot toward the increasingly popular annuity. The variable annuity market has had a rough go in recent years, having seen consecutive years of sales declines from 2011-16. Official tallies for 2017 aren’t yet available, but sales will likely be […]
State fiduciary rules may be reckoning for life insurance industry
{January 23rd, 2018} by Greg Iacurci
The life insurance industry escaped the jaws of the Department of Labor fiduciary rule only to come face to face with another beast: the states. New York’s recent proposal to impose a best-interest standard on life-insurance sales — a higher standard than currently exists — would have a significant impact on insurance agents and brokers, by upending the way […]
Fee-Based Annuities Bright Spot In Disappointing 2017
{December 27th, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
If 2017 is shaping up to be a letdown for annuity sales, it wasn’t for lack of trying as insurers launched new products and tinkered with product features to burnish annuities for distributors battling a tough regulatory environment. Several trends dominated the annuity industry this year as the products struggled mightily against the Department of […]
FIA Marketing Tide Shifts to Accumulation
{December 27th, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
In the fixed indexed annuity market, the marketing decibels around the accumulation story are ringing, even if it’s the week before Christmas. “Independent agents continued to shift their emphasis from guaranteed income to accumulation products focused on upside potential,” said John Matovina, CEO of American Equity Investment Life, one of the nation’s largest sellers of […]
IUL the Life Insurance Star of 2017 Sales
{December 27th, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
The indexed universal life (IUL) insurance line was the star of the life insurance show in 2017, thrust into the spotlight by a supporting cast of new products and features. Click HERE to read the full story via INN; subscription required. The introduction of performance multipliers and bonuses helped rev up IUL sales, said […]
Athene Seen As Big Winner In Voya Transaction
{December 27th, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
Athene, a top writer of indexed annuities, will emerge a big winner following Voya Financial’s decision to separate itself from its closed block of variable annuities and its portfolio of individual fixed and fixed indexed annuities, market analysts said. Under the deal, which is expected to close in the first half of 2018, Voya will […]
Critics say regulation hasn’t curbed overly rosy projections for indexed universal life insurance
{December 15th, 2017} by Greg Iacurci
A regulation governing indexed universal life insurance policies has had a fairly limited effect, leading some observers to question whether the regulation went far enough and if more stringent rules are necessary. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required. “Illustrations are what sell cash-value life insurance,” said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Moore […]
Non-variable annuity sales decline in third quarter
{November 28th, 2017} by Staff
Sales of non-variable deferred annuities totaled more than $20.2 billion in the third quarter, down 14 percent from the previous quarter and 11 percent from the year-ago quarter, according to Wink’s Sales and Market Report. Those non-variable products included the indexed annuity, traditional fixed annuity, and multi-year guaranteed annuity products. Higher rates on certificates of deposit […]
John Hancock Tweaks IUL Products to Improve Performance
{September 27th, 2017} by Jay Cooper
After a strategic review of its IUL lineup, John Hancock is making tweaks to improve the performance of its Accumulation IUL, Protection IUL and Protection Survivorship IUL (SIUL) products. The insurer is also adding index options and the option for a higher cap within its protection suite. Click HERE to read the full story at […]
First Guaranteed Income Rider Comes to FIAs
{September 19th, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
Lincoln Financial’s i4LIFE Indexed Advantage is the first guaranteed income benefit rider to appear on a fixed indexed annuity (FIA), an annuities market expert said. Guaranteed income benefits riders have been a staple of variable annuities for years. “It is the first guaranteed income benefit to be introduced in the indexed annuity market,” said annuity […]
Annuities Will Retain Strong Product Sales, Analysts Predict
{September 13th, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
Although some annuity sales numbers are fluctuating wildly, analysts say the long-term prognosis for annuity products remains very strong. Like power changing hands from one political party to another, the money in the annuity world sloshes about between the variable and fixed buckets and back again, analysts say. Some numbers look bad, but can be […]
DOL Rule Delay a Boon for Indexed, Variable Annuities
{August 24th, 2017} by Alex Padalka
The proposed 18-month delay to the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule is a big relief to distributors of indexed and variable annuities, InvestmentNews writes. The rule, which was originally scheduled to go into full effect January 1, would have cut sales in indexed annuities by up to 10% this year and up to 20% in 2018, according to […]
DOL fiduciary rule: Indexed, variable annuities big winners of a proposed delay
{August 15th, 2017} by Greg Iacurci
Indexed and variable annuities are the biggest winners of the Department of Labor’s recently telegraphed fiduciary rule delay. Sales of the products, especially indexed annuities, would arguably have been the most adversely impacted under the original timetable, which had the full regulation going into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. Click HERE to view the full […]
Testing the Market for Fee-Based FIAs
{July 18th, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
With new fiduciary standards taking effect, carriers have lined up new fee-based fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) for independent marketing organizations and their advisors to sell. Insurance companies said they want to be prepared for the June 9 implementation date of the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule, which is designed to steer distributors away from commission-based […]
MassMutual Leads in Whole Life in 1Q 2017
{June 27th, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
MassMutual Life finished as the top seller of whole life insurance in the first quarter 2017, industry tracker Wink’s Sales & Market Report said this week. MassMutual was the top whole life seller in 2016. In the first quarter, the company generated new sales of $142 million and a market share of 15 percent, said […]
Rise in Shorter-Term Surrender FIAs Means Commission Declines
{June 21st, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
The emerging popularity of fixed indexed annuities (FIA) with a seven-year surrender period is reducing commission income to agents, data shows. First-quarter indexed annuity commission received by agents dropped to 4.96 percent from 5.37 percent in the year-ago period, data from Wink’s Sales & Market Report indicate. “Shorter-term products pay lower commissions,” said Sheryl J. […]
WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ANNUITIES? Reprint
{June 14th, 2017} by Sheryl J. Moore
WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ANNUITIES? August 18, 2015, by Sheryl J. Moore June marked the second annual commencement of National Annuity Awareness Month- a month dedicated to educating consumers about annuities, their benefits, and features. Since I was out on maternity leave last June, this was my first opportunity to be involved in the […]
ARE ANNUITIES DOOMED IN 2017? Reprint
{June 14th, 2017} by Sheryl J. Moore
One of my most memorable years in the annuity business was 2008. So much was happening: the ‘Dateline Debacle,’ SEC’s proposed rule 151A, the market’s collapse. It was a challenging year! Many are predicting that 2017 will be just as challenging. The Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) proposed fiduciary rule alone threatens to weaken the annuity […]
VALUATION OF MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS Reprint
{June 14th, 2017} by Sheryl J. Moore
VALUATION OF MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS March 1, 2013 by Sheryl J. Moore The past four or five years have been a major struggle for distributors in the life insurance business. The collapse of our nation’s economy, while catastrophic, was only the first domino in a vast Rube Goldberg Machine of economic destruction. Capital became scarce as […]
Annuities Heading into a Blended Future
{June 6th, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
Independent agents, the traditional lifeblood of FIA sales, can expect to see a reshaping of annuity product lines as insurers revamp features and revenue models to meet the needs of distribution channels evolving under tighter regulation and market conditions. The Department of Labor’s Fiduciary rule has been delayed until June 9, and many observers are […]
MYGA Market In 1Q: A Look At The Top 10
{June 1st, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
First quarter sales of multiyear guaranteed annuities (MYGAs), which offer a fixed rate over a period of several years, tumbled 17 percent to $9 billion, industry tracker Wink’s Sales & Market Report announced this month. MYGA sales rose 36 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2016, Wink’s reported. First quarter top-10 finishers are listed […]
The Top-10 Shuffle In The Fixed Annuity Market
{May 31st, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
Fixed annuity sales dipped 6 percent to $1.1 billion in the first quarter over the year-ago period, market researcher Wink’s Sales & Market Report announced this week. Fixed annuity sales rose 6 percent over the fourth quarter, Wink’s said. Here is a rundown of the the top 10 fixed annuity sellers and where they finished […]
FIA Market In 1Q: The Top 10 Shuffle
{May 31st, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
Despite first quarter 2017 sales of fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) dropping 14 percent to $12.9 billion compared with the year-ago period, there was still plenty of jockeying for position among product sellers for top 10 recognition. Here is how companies, products and distributors finished the quarter compared with the first quarter in 2016, according to […]
Indexed Annuity Sales Could See First Decline In A Decade, LIMRA Predicts
{May 23rd, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
Sales of fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) are expected to be hit the hardest as new regulations and uncertainty among distributors will dampen new sales of individual annuities in 2017. LIMRA’s forecast is for sales of all U.S. individual annuities to drop between 5 percent and 10 percent in 2017. In particular, indexed annuity sales are […]
Some broker-dealers changing indexed-annuity compensation due to DOL fiduciary rule
{April 25th, 2017} by Greg Iacurci
Brokerage firms are evaluating how they and their advisers get paid for indexed annuity sales to clients, as the start date of a new Labor Department rule governing investment advice in retirement accounts inches closer. Click HERE to view the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required “There are still a lot of broker-dealers out […]
Making the nest egg last: best products for senior clients
{April 18th, 2017} by Warren S. Hersch
Entering retirement can be a particularly jarring experience for seniors, and not only because they’re leaving behind the familiar world of work. For the change also requires a shift in one’s financial orientation — from savings accumulation to decumulation. Above all, the transition brings into focus one overriding goal: how best to “pensionize” a nest […]
Annuities – You can hate them or love them, but please understand the facts about them first.
{February 28th, 2017} by Sheryl J. Moore, Bill Borton- Contributor
The greatest reason annuities are misunderstood by the public is the media’s perpetual distribution of inaccurate information. Misinformation about fees, commissions and surrender charges is rampant, even in respected publications. So, before you decide to buy, or walk away, read on for the facts. Annuities are a type of life insurance product. – Life insurance […]
Here Come the Fee-Based Indexed Annuities
{February 21st, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
With less than two months to go before new fiduciary standards take effect, insurers have lined up new fee-based fixed indexed annuities for independent marketing organizations and their advisors to sell. Insurance companies say they want to be prepared for the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule, which is designed to steer distributors away from commission-based […]
Dodd-Frank repeal could lead to big changes for indexed annuities
{February 6th, 2017} by Greg Iacurci
President Donald Trump’s executive order to review the Dodd-Frank financial reform law could wind up complicating the indexed annuity market for insurers and distributors. Click HERE to read the full article via InvestmentNews; registration required ARTICLE excerpts: “I definitely think it would pave the way for the SEC to make an attempt at […]
Are annuities doomed in 2017?
{January 24th, 2017} by Sheryl J. Moore
One of my most memorable years in the annuity business was 2008. So much was happening: the ‘Dateline Debacle,’ SEC’s proposed rule 151A, the market’s collapse. It was a challenging year! Many are predicting that 2017 will be just as challenging. The Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) proposed fiduciary rule alone threatens to weaken the annuity […]
IMOs Call DOL Fiduciary Exclusion Unworkable
{January 23rd, 2017} by Cyril Tuohy
Regulatory thresholds proposed for independent marketing organizations (IMOs) to participate in the sale of fixed indexed annuities are so high as to be virtually worthless and unworkable for the bulk of the IMO industry, industry experts said. Department of Labor regulators on Wednesday proposed that IMOs must have generated an average of $1.5 billion in […]
Under proposed exemption, IMOs will need $15M in cash reserves
{January 23rd, 2017} by Nick Thornton
The roughly 350 independent marketing organizations that distribute fixed indexed annuities will need considerable cash on hand to operate as financial institutions under the Labor Department’s fiduciary rule. Labor released a proposed class exemption that would qualify IMOs as financial institutions under the rule’s Best Interest Contract Exemption. The financial institution designation is required to […]
HAVE Indexed Annuities Become Too Complicated?!?
{December 27th, 2016} by Sheryl J. Moore
A recent Investment News article highlighted commentary from myself on how indexed annuities have become “unnecessarily complex.” I stand by that comment. Now, don’t get me wrong- I love indexed annuities, and I want to see the product line continue to thrive. Further, I am always for product innovation and competition when it comes to […]
Have indexed annuities become too complicated?
{December 19th, 2016} by Greg Iacurci
Fixed indexed annuities are becoming more complex. Click HERE to view the full article via InvestmentNews; registration required “They are complex, unnecessarily so, if you ask me,” said Sheryl Moore, president and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence, who tracks indexed annuity products.
Bottom Falls Out of Fixed Annuity Market in 3Q
{December 6th, 2016} by Cyril Tuohy
Third-quarter sales of traditional fixed annuities took a beating, dropping by as much as 59 percent to $1.2 billion from the year-ago period, according to data released last week. Retirement investors fled the fixed-annuity market in search of higher yields, said Sheryl J. Moore, president and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence and Wink Inc., publisher of […]
A Look Behind 3Q Annuity Sales Numbers
{December 6th, 2016} by Cyril Tuohy
Investors prefer indexed annuity products over fixed annuities weighed down by low-interest rates. This was a major factor in third-quarter fixed indexed annuity (FIA) sales rising 3 percent to $14.3 billion compared to the year-ago period, according to new market data released Thursday. “Indexed annuities are on record pace for 2016,” said Sheryl J. Moore. […]
Fixed indexed annuities: Insurers playing ‘game of chicken’ as courts decide DOL rule’s fate
{December 2nd, 2016} by Nick Thornton
Insurance carriers that offer fixed indexed annuities (FIAs)remain tight-lipped as to how they intend to market the products after the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule is implemented, according to one annuity industry analyst. “This is the biggest game of chicken we are ever going to see in the insurance market,” said Sheryl Moore, president and […]
Opponents Take On the DOL in a Topeka Court
{September 21st, 2016} by John Hilton
Opponents of the controversial Department of Labor fiduciary rule will have another go in court today in Topeka, Kan. Judge Daniel Crabtree of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas will hear Market Synergy’s request for a preliminary injunction at 9 a.m. As in two other lawsuits, Market Synergy claims the DOL has […]
AIG Riding High Eight Years After Bailout
{September 15th, 2016} by Cyril Tuohy
Earlier this year, American International Group surged into the top spot as the No. 1 seller of fixed and variable annuities in the United States for two consecutive quarters. Come again, now? Wasn’t it just a few months ago that big investors such as Carl Icahn were calling for the company’s break up? Click HERE […]
Indexed annuity sales have best-ever quarter in Q2: Limra
{August 23rd, 2016} by Greg Iacurci
Fixed indexed annuity sales in the second quarter were the highest on record, according to Limra, as low interest rates continue to push investors away from more traditional fixed-income investment options. Click HERE to view the full story InvestmentNews articles require free registration to read. According to data from Wink Inc., another tracker […]
Indexed annuity sales projected to plummet 30% because of DOL fiduciary rule
{August 10th, 2016} by Greg Iacurci
Fixed indexed annuity sales are projected to decline 30% to 35% next year due to a new Labor Department rule raising investment advice in retirement accounts, according to Limra, signaling the disruptive power the regulation will have on insurance companies and product distributors. Click HERE for the full story. InvestmentNews articles may require […]
The Photo Issue: Sheryl Moore
{July 15th, 2016} by Anne Carothers- Kay
BY ANNE CAROTHERS-KAY, Managing Editor Friday, July 15, 2016 6:00 AM Sheryl Moore President, CEO, Moore Market Intelligence and Wink, Inc. Body Art Sheryl Moore admits she’s a little OCD. That’s why when she says she likes the Beastie Boys, an ’80s rock-rap group that she started following as a child, that means that she […]
Insurers developing fee-based fixed-indexed annuities post-DOL fiduciary rule
{July 14th, 2016} by Greg Iacurci
Insurance companies are going full steam ahead developing fee-based fixed-indexed annuities due to greater anticipated demand from distributors for advisory products as a result of the Labor Department’s fiduciary rule. Please view full article at:http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20160714/FREE/160719964/insurers-developing-fee-based-fixed-indexed-annuities-post-dol This sort of fee-based product development is new among fixed-indexed annuity product manufacturers. Midland National Life […]
FMOs Retain Fixed Indexed Annuity Dominance by Launching Own Broker-Dealer
{July 13th, 2016} by Rachel Summit
By Rachel Summit , with Annuity FYI Field Marketing Organizations (FMOs,) also known as Independent Marketing Organizations (IMOs), are worried about the fixed indexed annuity requirements that come with the DOL’s new fiduciary rule. These types of organizations represent independent agents, a group that accounted for 60% of indexed annuity product sales in the first […]
First on the Docket: Market Synergy v. DOL Fiduciary Rule
{July 11th, 2016} by John Hilton
A Topeka, Kan. court will hear arguments Aug. 24 on insurance agency Market Synergy Group’s lawsuit to stop the Department of Labor fiduciary rule. The Market Synergy lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas is one of three lawsuits seeking a preliminary injunction. As it stands, it will be the first appeal […]
Indexed annuity distributors weigh launching B-Ds due to DOL fiduciary rule
{June 23rd, 2016} by Greg Iacurci
Distribution networks representing independent insurance agents are weighing, and in some cases forging ahead with, plans to launch broker-dealers to continue selling fixed-indexed annuities in retirement accounts under the Labor Department’s fiduciary rule regime. Click HERE to view the original article at InvestmentNews.com “There’s been a lot of chatter with […]
Market Synergy Gets Support in DOL Lawsuit
{June 21st, 2016} by John Hilton
The Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule will damage fixed indexed annuities’ primary channel of distribution, one that is rarely cited in consumer complaints, according to one of eight affidavits filed to support a lawsuit against the rule. The affidavits were filed today to support Market Synergy, which is among five groups who have sued to stop […]
Iowa Insurance Companies to Host Des Moines Insurance Conference June 28
{June 21st, 2016} by Business Wire
June 20, 2016 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time DES MOINES, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Agenda and webcast details for the 2016 Des Moines Insurance Conference are now available. Participating companies include Aegon (NYSE: AEG), American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (NYSE: AEL), EMC Insurance Group Inc. (NASDAQ: EMCI), FBL Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: FFG) and Principal Financial Group […]
Will Floating Rates Become the New Indexed Annuities?
{June 7th, 2016} by Cyril Tuohy
A new annuity gives some of the appeal of indexed annuities to traditional annuities by linking to the LIBOR. How can an annuity offer the promise of gain from indexed products with the simplicity of a traditional annuity? Security Benefit Life is hoping it has that answer with an annuity designed to fit in between […]
Nationwide Releases FIAs With Joint Option
{May 23rd, 2016} by Cyril Tuohy
Nationwide, which rocketed into a Top Three spot in the sales of fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) in the fourth quarter of last year, has launched a pair of FIAs with a “joint option” feature. The joint option feature allows the annuity’s death benefit to be paid to either surviving spouse, no matter who dies first. […]
Annuities.direct Podcast: Annuities 101 with Sheryl Moore
{May 19th, 2016} by Jimmy Dot Direct & Stan the Annuity Man
Podcast Hosts: Jimmy Dot Direct & Stan The Annuity Man Podcast Guest: Sheryl J. Moore, founder, creator, and President & CEO of Wink, Inc. They call her the “Indexed Rockstar.” Click HERE for the podcast
How to sell fixed indexed annuities in a DOL fiduciary environment
{May 6th, 2016} by Greg Iacurci
Many providers of fixed indexed annuities and advisers who sell them were caught off guard when the Labor Department failed to exempt them from a fiduciary standard under the department’s new rule. Click HERE to view the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required “I’m disappointed the DOL doesn’t seem to know […]
AG 49 Targets Fantasy Returns in IUL Illustrations, Policy Loans
{April 28th, 2016} by Cyril Tuohy
You can’t spell “illustration” without “illusion”. The National Associate of Insurance Commissions (NAIC) ushered in a new era in illustration of indexed universal life (IUL) products last month when Actuarial Guidelines (AG) 49 went into effects. AG 49’s latest provisions focus on policy loans and illustration disclosures used to map out the future growth of […]
New retirement savings rule ripples through Des Moines
{April 19th, 2016} by Matthew Pattane
A new federal rule aimed at saving retirement investors money is rippling through Des Moines, as investment advisers and companies work to figure out the full effect of the regulation. The Department of Labor recently approved a new rule for those who give retirement investment advice. Instead of just having to provide “suitable” advice to customers, […]
Dear Advisors: Keep Selling FIAs Despite DOL Rule
{April 19th, 2016} by Cyril Tuohy
Hot-selling fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) were dealt a blow when federal Labor Department regulators made it more difficult to distribute the products into retirement accounts. So where do FIAs go from here? In the near term, a “fire sale” effect could mean a rise in FIAs as insurance agents and brokers push to […]
Attorney: No Reasoning Behind DOL Treatment Of FIAs In Fiduciary Rule
{April 12th, 2016} by John Hilton
The future of fixed indexed annuity sales is up in the air after the Department of Labor added an unexpected wrinkle to its fiduciary rule. And a Washington attorney said he believes the rule should be re-issued as a result. FIAs have always been afforded the 84-24 Prohibited Transaction Exemption, which classified them as an […]
DOL rule puts new restrictions on indexed annuities
{April 8th, 2016} by Business Record Staff
Sales of indexed annuities could be adversely affected under new rules released this week by the U.S. Department of Labor, according to a local annuity expert. Several insurers specializing in indexed annuities are based in or have operations in Greater Des Moines. Under the new rules, indexed annuities would no longer be exempt under the […]
Industry insiders react cautiously to DOL fiduciary rule
{April 7th, 2016} by Arthur D. Postal
Insurers, and their trade groups in general, appear to be adopting a wait-and-see approach to the Department of Labor’s publication of its new fiduciary standard rule. However, unlike previous comments about the potential impact of the rule, none used the word “sue” to describe their reaction. At the same time, officials of the indexed annuity […]
Surprise: DOL Rule Targets Indexed Annuities
{April 7th, 2016} by Kerry Pechter
Advisors and agents who sell fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) to retirement account owners on a commission basis will have to pledge to act in the “best interest” of the purchaser under the final version of the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule and its prohibited transaction exemptions, which the DOL released yesterday. Specifically, FIA sellers will […]
Variable and fixed-indexed annuities feel sting of DOL fiduciary rule
{April 6th, 2016} by Greg Iacurci
Those who thought fixed indexed annuities would be a benefactor of the Labor Department’s fiduciary rule may want to think again. Click HERE to view the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required “Indexed annuities were variable-annuity carriers’ Plan B. Now, they’re having to come up with Plan C,” said […]
Annuity Industry Caught Off-Guard By DOL Rule
{April 6th, 2016} by Cyril Tuohy
They didn’t make it, and the annuity industry was caught off-guard. Fixed indexed annuities (FIAs), which had originally been left out of a draft proposal of the Department of Labor’s new fiduciary rule, were added to variable annuities as the two classes of annuity products requiring an exemption. For advisors to proceed with a sale […]
Will Floating Rate Annuities Shake Up the Market?
{April 4th, 2016} by Cyril Tuohy
Here’s a dilemma that many annuity investors haven’t had to face in many years: as rates rise, the price of their fixed annuity investments fall. Who wants to buy their old annuities if new annuities coming into the market are paying more interest? Good question, and one that Security Benefit Life in Topeka, Kan., have […]
MetLife Deal Signals Hard Times Coming for Variable Annuity Sales
{April 1st, 2016} by Cyril Tuohy
MetLife’s decision to sell its career agency insurance channel and broker-dealer to mass-Mutual Financial Group may signal that contraction of the annuity market that some analysts predicted would come from the Department of Labor’s new fiduciary rule. The controversial rule changes “the landscape when it comes to commission-based sales for variable annuities, mutual funds and […]
