Pacific Life Strengthens New Channel With FIA Launch
{June 26th, 2015} by Cyril Tuohy
Pacific Index Dimensions, a new fixed index annuity launched earlier this month by Pacific Life, is the company’s new FIA designed specifically for distribution by Pacific Life’s Producer Alliance Program, a distribution channel launched three years ago. Adding the Producer Alliance Program channel has made Pacific Life’s products available to a broader range of retail […]
A New Warning on ‘Indexed’ Annuities
{June 9th, 2015} by Leslie Scism
If an insurance agent pitches you an “indexed annuity,” here is something to ask: What fabulous prize are you helping him, or her, to win? The question springs from a probe under way by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) targeting sales incentives for annuities, which are tax-deferred savings, investment and lifetime-income products issued by insurance […]
FIAs Shine A Light In A Foggy Financial Picture
{June 2nd, 2015} by Charlie Gipple
As the Federal Reserve has indicated, we expect an increase in the federal funds rate at some point during 2015. If this happens, it is possible your clients’ fixed income investments could decline in value, hurting their broader retirement portfolio. Older retirement income plans included an increasing shift to traditional fixed income solutions such as […]
The 9 biggest announcements from life and health insurers this week
{June 1st, 2015} by Lynette Gil
Paradigm shift news roundup: Petersen International, NAIFA, MetLife, USAA, Wink, Guardian Life, LIMRA, Lincoln Financial, New York Life Click HERE to read..
Indexed annuity sales off to strong start in 2015
{May 26th, 2015} by Daniel Williams
First quarter indexed annuity sales were down nearly 5.0 percent when compared to the previous quarter, but up nearly 5.0 percent when compared with the same period last year. Total first quarter sales topped $11.3 billion. “Indexed annuity sales began the year with sales greater than any other first quarter has in the history of the […]
New Annuities Hit A Market Moving In Two Directions
{May 12th, 2015} by Cyril Tuohy, cyril.tuohy@innfeedback.com
Two big players in the U.S. annuity market, Allianz Life and Voya Financial, have announced annuity product launches into a marketplace that is moving in two opposite directions at once. Allianz has introduced new investment options for the company’s Vision Variable Annuity and Connections Variable Annuity product lines. These choices are available to new business […]
As indexed universal life sales climb, be sure to mind the risks
{April 21st, 2015} by Darla Mercado
Indexed universal life insurance has been pretty hot as of late, but how much do you know about how it works and when to use it? Annual indexed universal life insurance premiums hit $1.56 billion at the end of 2014, reflecting a 14% increase from $1.356 billion in 2013 according to Wink’s Sales and Market […]
Indexed annuity sales break previous record by 21%
{March 17th, 2015} by Wink, Inc.
Forty-nine indexed annuity carriers participated in the 70th edition of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, representing 99.8 percent of indexed annuity production. Total fourth quarter sales were $11.9 billion. Fourth quarter indexed annuity sales were up 4.0 percent when compared to the previous quarter, and up 3.5 percent when compared with the same period last […]
Des Moines annuity firms see 2014 sales growth
{March 17th, 2015} by Matthew Patane, mpatane@dmreg.com
Insurance companies with operations in the Des Moines metro saw their annuity sales grow in 2014, a new report shows. The indexed annuities industry had $46.9 billion in sales for all of last year, according to the Wink’s Sales & Market Report. That’s up from $38.7 billion in 2013, said Wink, a Pleasant Hill insurance […]
Index Product Sales Surge In 2014
{March 11th, 2015} by Linda Koco, linda.koco@innfeedback.com
Sales of fixed index insurance products surged in 2014 with annual production reaching into the double-digits, according to figures just out from Wink Inc. Both product lines hit new records too, according to the index product research firm. For FIAs, the 2014 sales totaled nearly $46.9 billion, surpassing the 2013 record of more than $38.6 […]
IUL Moves Into Era Of Volatility Control
{March 3rd, 2015} by Cyril Tuohy, cyril.tuohy@innfeedback.com
Mark Peterson, senior vice president with American International Group (AIG) Life Brokerage, has noticed a change in how advisors use indexed universal life (IUL) policies. Advisors used IULs primarily as a way to supplement retirement income. More recently, advisors have used the policies as a way to control volatility in retirement portfolios, he said. “If […]
National Annuity Awareness Month
{February 20th, 2015} by SAFE
JUNE IS THE SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL ANNUITY AWARENESS MONTH During the month of June, fellow trade associations will provide educational material, webcasts and social media communications to help educate financial professionals and the public on the important role annuity products play in helping Americans save for retirement as part of a secure retirement savings plan. An array of […]
FIAs At Age 20: Industry Leaders Weigh In
{February 10th, 2015} by Linda Koco, linda.koco@innfeedback.com
Ease-of-purchase, simplicity, income planning — those are some of the themes that drive fixed index annuity (FIA) business at a carrier that has been in the FIA market for 19 years. That carrier is Life Insurance Company of the Southwest (LSW), Addison, Texas. The company issued its first index annuity on April 7, 1996. It […]
New Indexed Annuities Grab Market Share as Banks Jump In
{February 2nd, 2015} by Bloombery News
(Bloomberg) — Buyers of U.S. annuities are clamoring for new products linked to indexes that may use elaborate strategies to control risk, attracting regulatory scrutiny as they widen a market that favors more traditional structures. A total of 27.7 percent of indexed annuities sold in the third quarter of last year are tied to measures […]
What’s the real annuity story? Accumulation or Income?
{January 20th, 2015} by Victoria Peterson and Jamie Johnson
A brand new year brings us a good time to reflect on past data from Wink’s Sales & Market Report to see if the hard facts give us any insight as to what the indexed annuity sales focus will be for 2015. Do the trends of indexed annuity sales point to an accumulation or income […]
YEAR-TO-DATE Indexed Annuity Sales Greater Than Any Full Year But 2013
{January 1st, 2015} by Wink, Inc.
Wink, Inc. Releases Third-Quarter 2014 Indexed Sales Results Forty-seven indexed annuity carriers participated in the 69th edition of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, representing 99.8% of indexed annuity production. Total third-quarter sales were $11.4 billion. Third-quarter indexed annuity sales were down 8.58% when compared to the previous quarter, and up 14.28% when compared to the […]
‘Longevity’ in annuities could be the big 2015 focus
{December 29th, 2014} by Darla Mercado
Where the retirement market will go next year is anybody’s guess, but insurance industry experts foresee a ramp-up in product development for certain types of annuities. Click HERE to view the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required The growing appeal of indexed annuities compared with variable ones is reflected in data from Morningstar […]
The new variable and indexed annuity leaders
{December 24th, 2014} by Darla Mercado
Variable annuities are a staple of broker-dealers’ business, offering clients the opportunity to garner market exposure on a tax-deferred basis. In recent years, however, sales of indexed annuities — which credit interest to a client’s account — have climbed, particularly as advisers seek a fixed-income alternative with an optional guaranteed living benefit feature. Click […]
The New Buzz with Indexed Annuities: Hybrid Indices
{November 19th, 2014} by Victoria Peterson and Jamie Johnson
We have been shouting this from the roof-tops, and see you posting and tweeting about it too: Indexed annuity sales were off the charts for the first half of 2014! In fact, second-quarter sales alone were $12.6 billion according to Wink’s Sales & Market Report. To gain perspective on how fantastic this is, second quarter […]
Make an annuity date with real estate right now
{November 18th, 2014} by Kevin Startt
They say that the definition of a good real estate agent is someone who has had a mortgage loophole named after them. Judging by a couple of recent articles though, real estate agents may have the last laugh as the housing industry shows increasing promise of continued growth. The entire financial services industry seems to […]
Some Turf Wars Could Surface In The FIA Biz: Opinion
{October 6th, 2014} by Linda Koco
If researchers at Cogent Reports have it right, the current market leaders in the fixed index annuity (FIA) market could run into some challengers this year. FIA providers such as American Equity and Jackson National are showing stronger “momentum” than established market leaders among insurance agents and financial advisors, according to a new study from […]
Wells Fargo pushes insurers to lower commissions on indexed annuities
{September 17th, 2014} by Darla Mercado
Annuity gatekeepers at broker-dealers are closely watching Wells Fargo Advisors as it presses insurers to lower commissions for the indexed annuities sold by its representatives. Click HERE to view via InvestmentNews; registration required During the second quarter of 2014, sales climbed to $12.6 billion in total, up nearly 37% […]
Why Some Don’t Sell Fixed Annuities: Opinion
{September 17th, 2014} by Linda Koco
Industry researchers are reporting sales growth for fixed annuities, especially the fixed index annuity (FIA), during the first half of 2014. But are most producers selling them? No, according to a study from Cogent Reports. The researchers decided to find out why. The results — especially the reasons cited by insurance agents — are a […]
Younger Adults Buy Fixed Annuities, Too
{September 10th, 2014} by Linda Koco
An annuity agency executive was reviewing the average age of his firm’s fixed annuity buyers when he noticed a shift. There was a bump-up in buyers who were under age 50 when they bought their policies, Ken Nuss said. For instance, fixed index annuity (FIA) buyers in the “under-age-50” category represented 26 percent of his […]
GLWBs Still Rock In The Retirement Set
{September 3rd, 2014} by Linda Koco
Some industry watchers believe that guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits (GLWBs) will soon fall into disfavor in fixed index annuities (FIAs). One reason they cite is that the stock market is at new highs, so that will divert consumer attention to investing. Another reason they cite is that the much-discussed curtailment of GLWB features will dampen […]
The insanity in indexed annuity sales growth
{August 28th, 2014} by Kevin Startt
If the definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over and expecting different results, then Einstein would have to challenge the hypothesis today of many indexed annuity (FIA) and indexed life sales (IUL) agents. After $39 billion of FIA sales this past year and much of the $100 billion in […]
Annuity sales, a major Des Moines industry, see Q2 bump
{August 27th, 2014} by Matthew Patane
A major contributor to the Des Moines area’s insurance hub saw sales rise 36.5 percent in April, May and June compared with a year ago. Sales of indexed annuities from 39 companies grew to $12.6 billion in the second quarter, according to a new Wink’s Sales & Market Report. Indexed annuities are popular among retirees […]
Annuities Got It Goin’ On: Blog
{August 20th, 2014} by Steve Morelli
Will you need me? Will you still feed me? When I’m 64?” Short answer: no. When The Beatles sang this, today’s 64-year-olds were 17. Like most teenagers, they probably never imagined 64 would happen to them. Heck, they wouldn’t have trusted someone over 30. The age of 64 may as well have been 104. Just […]
Annuities’ Month-Long Celebration
{July 15th, 2014} by Victoria Peterson and Jamie Johnson
The inaugural National Annuity Awareness Month came at an opportune time in the indexed annuity industry! Spreading the word about annuities is crucial, particularly when the economy is still rocky. Why do we believe June 2014 was a perfect time to launch this special event? Americans need annuities. They’re hearing about them. And they’re purchasing […]
Global Atlantic Targets Life & Annuity Business
{July 15th, 2014} by Linda Koco
Global Atlantic Financial Group has agreed to sell Ariel Re, its Bermuda-based property-casualty reinsurance company, to BTG Pactual, a Brazilian multinational investment banking firm. Assuming the deal receives regulatory approval, Global Atlantic will be free to focus more on growing its life and annuity business. That will likely be welcome news for life and annuity […]
NAFA Works with Treasury Department on Fixed Annuity Inclusion for QLACs
{July 2nd, 2014} by NAFA
NAFA responded when asked that all fixed rate annuities and fixed indexed annuities must pay at least 1% interest on the minimum guaranteed surrender value in order to comply with Standard Non-forfeiture Laws (SNFL). I personally own a fixed indexed annuity and thought it might be helpful to show you my recent – once again […]
Allianz Life Is On A Tear With FIA Sales
{June 24th, 2014} by Linda Koco
Top-selling fixed index annuity (FIA) writer Allianz Life turned in some jaw-dropping sales numbers for first quarter. Its total FIA sales hit nearly $2.8 billion, up 142 percent from the $1.1 billion it reported for first quarter last year, according to Wink Inc. The company’s FIA market share is now 26 percent, up from nearly […]
New annuities offer exposure to equities and downside protection
{June 12th, 2014} by Darla Mercado
For life insurers, the next big area for product development is the uncapped indexed annuity: a strategy that purports to allow nervous clients to benefit from surging equity indexes while having downside protection. The last six to 12 months have been hot on the development front for life insurers that sell indexed annuities. Their enthusiasm […]
Guaranteed features propel indexed-annuity sales
{June 6th, 2014} by Darla Mercado
Just as living benefits helped drive broker-dealers’ variable annuity feeding frenzy years ago, these guaranteed features appear to be propelling firms’ sales of indexed annuities. Click HERE to view the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required Total first-quarter sales of indexed annuities hit $10.9 billion, according to data from Wink Inc.’s […]
W.D.M. annuity firms in top five for first quarter sales
{June 3rd, 2014} by Matthew Patane
Sales in the indexed annuities sector, an industry that makes up a large part of the Des Moines area’s economy, grew 30.9 percent in the first three months of the year, according to a new report. Rising on the backs of more people preparing to retire and a better-performing stock market, the sector had $10.9 […]
June is national annuity awareness month
{June 3rd, 2014} by Daniel Williams
Get ready. June is National Annuity Awareness Month. What exactly does that mean? Click here to find out!
It’s Not All About the GLWBs
{May 20th, 2014} by Victoria Peterson and Jamie Johnson
…It’s the guarantees in indexed annuities that really steal the show! By Victoria Peterson and Jamie Johnson We recently read a survey of annuity professionals that was conducted during the NAFA IMO Summit in October 2013, revealing the “must have” feature of annuities. Results show nearly 70% of those surveyed agreed that guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits […]
Investment News Editorial: Finra right to watch indexed annuities
{May 11th, 2014} by InvestmentNews Editorial
To its credit, the Financial Regulatory Authority Inc. is paying close attention to how and when investors are exchanging variable annuities for other products, such as indexed annuities. Click HERE to view the full story; registration required The indexed annuity business has been booming, with sales last year climbing to $38.6 […]
Fixed annuity sales receiving added scrutiny from Finra
{May 5th, 2014} by Bruce Kelly and Darla Mercado
With broker-dealers selling a bigger share of indexed annuities, securities regulators are taking a closer look at policies and procedures around clients exchanging or giving up variable annuities in order to put those assets into products such as equity [fixed] indexed annuities. Broker-dealers are becoming more of a force in the world of indexed annuities, […]
More Allianz FIAs Sold By Registered Reps
{April 18th, 2014} by Linda Koco
Today, close to 70 percent of fixed index annuity production at Allianz Life is coming from registered representatives, according to Tom P. Burns. That’s up from less than 30 percent eight years ago, said the company’s chief distribution officer for annuities. Allianz has been the top seller of fixed index annuities (FIAs) for 14 of […]
Wink, Inc. Releases Fourth Quarter, 2013 Indexed Sales Results
{March 14th, 2014} by Press Release
Indexed Life and Annuity Sales Continue Their Record Breaking Sales Streak Wink, Inc. Releases Fourth Quarter, 2013 Indexed Sales Results Pleasant Hill, Iowa. March 13, 2014- Forty-four indexed annuity carriers participated in the 66th edition of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, representing 99.8% of indexed annuity production. Total fourth quarter sales were $11.5 billion. In […]
Indexed annuity sales hit $11.5 billion in Q4 2013
{March 14th, 2014} by Daniel Williams
Total fourth quarter sales hit $11.5 billion for indexed annuities, according to the latest Wink’s Sales & Market Report. The numbers trended up as indexed annuity sales rose 15 percent from the previous quarter and grew 35 percent compared to the same period a year ago. According to Wink’s, data from forty-four indexed annuity carriers […]
Indexed annuity sales hit $11.5 billion in Q4 2013
{March 13th, 2014} by Daniel Williams
Total fourth quarter sales hit $11.5 billion for indexed annuities, according to the latest Wink’s Sales & Market Report. The numbers trended up as indexed annuity sales rose 15 percent from the previous quarter and grew 35 percent compared to the same period a year ago. According to Wink’s, data from forty-four indexed annuity carriers […]
Magic Johnson moves Iowa insurer to Illinois
{January 21st, 2014} by Victor Epstein
View video: http://bcove.me/pkwppl04 It’s not every day that Iowa loses an insurance company to another state, especially one with a higher premium tax rate, but EquiTrust announced Tuesday that it’s leaving the Des Moines area for Illinois and creating more than 200 jobs there. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced the relocation along with Basketball Hall […]
Average IA Commissions Dip To Lowest Level Ever
{January 14th, 2014} by Linda Koco
Indexed annuities hit more than one quarterly record in third quarter. The record that’s been getting all the industry attention lately is the sales high of slightly over $10 billion. But commissions paid to indexed annuity agents also hit a record — a record low, that is. The indexed annuity commission received by the agent […]
Q3 indexed annuity sales hit $10 billion
{November 22nd, 2013} by Maria Wood
As the end of the year approaches, indexed annuity sales are rushing toward the finish life, hitting a record $10 billion in the third quarter, according to the most recent compilation from Wink’s Sales & Market Report, which tracks indexed annuity and life sales. That $10 billion figure represents a 9 percent jump from the […]
IA Sales Break Second Consecutive Sales Record
{November 19th, 2013} by Press Release
Pleasant Hill, Iowa. November 15, 2013. Forty-two indexed annuity carriers participated in the 65th edition of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, representing 98.4% of indexed annuity production. Total third quarter sales were $10.0 billion. In reviewing third quarter indexed annuity sales, production was up more than 9.0% when compared to the previous quarter, and up […]
Record IA Sales Top Previous Record By 5%
{September 20th, 2013} by Wink, Inc.
Pleasant Hill, Iowa. September 16, 2013– Forty-two indexed annuity carriers participated in the 64th edition of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, representing 99.8% of indexed annuity production. Total second quarter sales were $9.2 billion. In reviewing second quarter indexed annuity sales, production was up more than 17.0% when compared to the previous quarter, and up […]
Indexed annuity, life sales rise in Q2
{September 20th, 2013} by Maria Wood
Overcoming a first-quarter slump, indexed annuity and indexed life sales bolted upward in the second quarter. According to the most recent Wink’s Sales & Market Report from Wink, Inc., total sales of indexed annuities hit $9.2 billion in Q2. That tally represents a 17 percent jump in production when compared to the previous quarter and […]
AnnuitySpecs, LifeSpecs Rebranded As Wink
{August 21st, 2013} by Wink, Inc.
A widely-recognized resource in the life insurance and annuity industries has recently rebranded in order to encompass the many products and services offered by the company. Wink, Inc. is now the competitive intelligence firm behind the #1 source for annuity and life insurance product information- the AnnuitySpecs and LifeSpecs tools. Wink is also distributing Wink’s […]
Q1 indexed annuity sales down
{June 11th, 2013} by Michael K. Stanley
Total first quarter indexed annuity sales hit $7.8 billion, down 8.2 percent from the previous quarter and 2.7 percent from the same quarter last year. The results, found in Wink’s Sales & Market Report (formerly AnnuitySpecs.com’s Indexed Sales & Market Report) were released on June 7 and should not be cause for too much despair […]
Wink Inc.: First-Quarter US Sales of Indexed Annuities at Two-Year Low; Large Drops in Sales by Allianz Life, Aviva
{June 11th, 2013} by Fran Matso Lysiak
PLEASANT HILL, Iowa – Total first-quarter sales of indexed annuities in the United States dropped to $7.8 billion, down 2.8% from the same period in 2012, according to Wink Inc., formerly known as AnnuitySpecs.com. Sales haven’t been this low in two years — since the first quarter of 2011, Sheryl J. Moore, president and chief […]
Will insurers ape Aviva and peel back benefits on fixed annuities?
{November 21st, 2010} by Darla Mercado
On Monday, Aviva USA will roll out a series of new changes to its fixed-annuity lineup, including reductions on agents’ commissions and the discontinuation of one of its income riders. And the move could have a ripple effect on other carriers, industry watchers noted. Click HERE to view the full story via InvestmentNews; registration […]
Allianz chief wants bigger piece of indexed-life market
{June 15th, 2010} by Darla Mercado
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, already a major player in the indexed-annuity arena, is looking to grab a bigger share of the indexed-life-insurance market. Click HERE to view the full story via InvestmentNews; registration required The carrier manufactures the top-selling indexed annuity, the MasterDex 10, according to researcher AnnuitySpecs.
