Nassau Financial Group Launches Innovative, Growth-Focused FIA: Nassau Athos Annuity
{July 16th, 2025} by Nassau Financial Group
HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nassau Financial Group (“Nassau”) today introduced Nassau Athos AnnuitySM, an innovative fixed indexed annuity (“FIA”). This newest addition to Nassau’s product suite is a single premium FIA that offers new patent-pending extendable indexed crediting strategies.1 These crediting strategies combine key features of one-year and multi-year crediting strategies to provide consumers with innovative growth potential […]
The Standard and Legacy Marketing Group Unveil EclipseMark FIA
{July 16th, 2025} by The Standard
PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Standard Insurance Company (The Standard) and Legacy Marketing Group® today announced a strategic alliance and new joint venture with the debut of EclipseMarkSM Single Premium Deferred Index Annuities, a simple way for clients to grow and protect their retirement assets. Built to reduce renewal rate guesswork, EclipseMark fixed index annuities feature multiple extended-rate guarantees on diverse interest […]
Mutual of Omaha taps Penn River to launch new annuity
{July 16th, 2025} by Penn River
Mutual of Omaha has gone live with a new fixed index annuity product built on Penn River’s cloud-native policy administration platform. The rollout is part of a broader collaboration aimed at streamlining operations and accelerating time-to-market. Following the launch, Mutual of Omaha plans to migrate additional annuity and life products to the Penn River platform. “We […]
AM Best Assigns Credit Ratings to Ceres Life Insurance Company
{July 16th, 2025} by AM Best
ORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Westaim Corporation (“Westaim”) (TSXV: WED) is pleased to announce that “AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb+” (Good) to Ceres Life Insurance Company (“Ceres Life”) (Austin, TX). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect Ceres […]
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Athene Holding Ltd. and Its Subsidiaries
{July 16th, 2025} by AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa-” (Superior) of the members of Athene Group (Athene). Athene is the consolidation of the organization’s U.S. operating companies, along with its affiliated reinsurance companies domiciled in Bermuda. In addition, AM Best has […]
AM Best Revises Issuer Credit Rating Outlook to Stable for Investors Heritage Life Insurance Company
{July 16th, 2025} by AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AM Best has revised the outlook to stable from negative for the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term ICR of “bbb+” (Good) of Investors Heritage Life Insurance Company (IHLIC) (Frankfort, KY). The outlook of the FSR is stable. The Credit Ratings […]
Joseph M. Belth Obituary
{July 16th, 2025} by Obituary
Joseph M. Belth, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Insurance in the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University (Bloomington), 95, beloved husband, cherished father, inspiring teacher, renowned insurance scholar, and pioneering insurance journalist, passed away July 12. The son of Irving Belth and Helen Bright Belth, he was born in Syracuse, New York in 1929. […]
57% Of Gen Xers Won’t Use Parents’ Advisors After They Inherit
{July 16th, 2025} by Jennifer Lea Reed
More than half of U.S. investors, 56%, say they are unlikely or unsure they would continue to work with their parents’ advisor after receiving an inheritance, according to a recent survey. And for Gen X survey respondents, the primary recipients of current and near-term wealth transfers, the percentage edges up a tick to 57%, said […]
Your Customers Have Insurance Gaps — Are You Letting Someone Else Fill Them?
{July 16th, 2025} by Dawn Goldbacher
Did you know that roughly 50% of Americans are underinsured or completely lack essential coverage? That means half of your customer base could face financial devastation due to an unexpected event — whether it’s a medical emergency, a car accident or identity theft. Here’s the paradox: Banks are in the business of financial security, yet many don’t […]
No Final Decision on DOL Fiduciary Rule — Yet
{July 16th, 2025} by Allison Bell
The recent decision by a federal judge that one rollover transaction cannot start an “ongoing advice relationship” is not the end of the fiduciary rule battle, ERISA attorneys say. In his mid-July decision, U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade ruled against sections in Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2020-02 stating that an advisor could start an “ongoing advice relationship” […]
Bonds Steadied Annuity Issuers in Q2: Morgan Stanley
{July 16th, 2025} by Allison Bell
U.S. life and annuity issuers had to push against the economic winds in the second quarter, but most of them probably ended up doing pretty well. Bob Jian Huang and other securities analysts at Morgan Stanley gave that assessment Monday in a new look at how the issuers that sell stock to the public might have performed […]
Which Carriers Have the Most Traditional Variable Annuities on Their Books?
{July 16th, 2025} by Gretchen Lenth
Peter Lamond, VA ambassador at Wink Intel, said he expects the RILA market to continue to grow as more carriers enter the market and new products are unveiled. Corebridge first entered the RILA market with its MarketLock contract last October. Even companies that aren’t in the traditional VA market are entering the space, such as F&G, which launched its first RILA […]
Google’s New GenAI Model Gets Better at Life Insurance
{July 16th, 2025} by Cyril Tuohy
But things are different with Bard’s successor, Gemini. It reports — accurately — that agent commissions on a SPIA range from 1% to 3% of the premium paid. For a fixed-indexed annuity, the commission typically ranges from 6% to 8% of premium, according to Gemini. Right again. (Wink‘s Sales & Market Report lists the average […]
New technology uses AI to help insurers detect fraudulent activity
{July 16th, 2025} by Rayne Morgan
A new AI-powered solution has emerged to help insurers detect fraud by flagging unusual user activity directly on an insurance company’s website. Glassbox is a digital experience intelligence platform that allows companies to monitor user experience on their respective websites. Its standout capability, the Glassbox Insights Assistant, is an agentic AI that helps financial companies […]
SEC: Cutter Financial press release on verdict ‘inaccurate and misleading’
{July 16th, 2025} by John Hilton
The years-long dispute between the Securities and Exchange Commission and Cutter Financial Group appeared to end when the jury returned a split verdict April 23. Not so fast. The SEC now seeks court approval to conduct discovery on two issues, including the press release CFG issued in response to the verdict. In it, advisor Jeffrey Cutter and […]
NAIC committee unanimously passes reinsurance asset-testing guideline
{July 16th, 2025} by John Hilton
A new asset-testing guideline for reinsurance deals will result in no direct action, even if regulators uncover negative numbers. The Life Insurance and Annuities Committee adopted the asset adequacy testing guideline on Monday. But not before hearing from critics who say the guideline goes too far, and also, not far enough. Read via INN
Finding the ideal customer for fixed and indexed annuities
{July 16th, 2025} by Kelly Kliensasser
There’s a lot of noise out there about annuities, and the issues making the most noise revolve around market uncertainty and an evolving interest rate environment. Advising clients on annuities requires insurance and financial professionals to take a detail-oriented approach. To find the right annuity solution, you must carefully consider each client’s financial goals, risk […]
Retirement delays, Social Security fears prompt advisors to rethink income strategies
{July 16th, 2025} by Leo Almazora
As a record number of Americans approach retirement age in what the Alliance for Lifetime Income calls the “Peak 65” milestone, a growing share are putting off retirement and reconsidering how they’ll generate income Read via InvestmentNews
Two in five Pre-Retirees Say Dreams for Retirement Have Been Delayed, Altered or Cancelled
{July 16th, 2025} by Nationwide
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pre-retiree investors (aged 55-65) are at the doorstep of retirement, yet the state of the economy is making them question whether retirement is even in their future. According to a new Advisor Authority study, powered by the Nationwide Retirement Institute, more than two-fifths (42%) of pre-retirees say their dreams for retirement have […]
Lincoln Financial releases its Q3 Market Intel Exchange, spotlighting key market and investment trends
{July 16th, 2025} by Lincoln Financial
RADNOR, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Lincoln Financial (NYSE: LNC) today announced the release of its third quarter edition of Market Intel Exchange, a comprehensive chartbook and report offering in-depth analysis of current market and economic trends. Developed through the company’s in-house research and in collaboration with leading asset managers on its multimanager platform, the report delivers actionable intelligence for […]
Brighthouse Financial Announces Conference Call to Discuss Second Quarter 2025 Results
{July 16th, 2025} by Brighthouse Financial, Inc
CHARLOTTE, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (Brighthouse Financial) (Nasdaq: BHF) announced today that it plans to hold a conference call and audio webcast to discuss its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 8, 2025. The call will follow the issuance of the Brighthouse Financial […]
New Research Reveals Disconnect Between Consumer and Advisor Perceptions in Social Security Planning
{July 16th, 2025} by Protective Life Corporation
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Protective Life Corporation a U.S. subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. (TSE:8750), today announced the release of a new whitepaper based on proprietary research conducted by its principal subsidiary Protective Life Insurance Company (“Protective”) in partnership with Greenwald Research. The findings reveal a surprising emotional divide between consumers and financial professionals when it comes to planning […]
National Survey: Middle‑Income Americans Continue to Navigate Elevated Cost of Living and Economic Uncertainty
{July 16th, 2025} by Primerica
DULUTH, Ga.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Middle‑income Americans are still adjusting to a higher cost of living and ongoing financial pressures, according to the latest Primerica® U.S. Middle‑Income Financial Security Monitor™ (FSM™). The survey finds that 65% of middle-income Americans believe their income has not kept pace with rising expenses — a sentiment that has remained remarkably consistent for more than […]
Principal® Recognized as “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion”
{July 16th, 2025} by Principal Financial Group
DES MOINES, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Principal Financial Group® was named to the list of the “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” after earning a top score of 100 on a scale of zero to 100 on the 2025 Disability Equality Index®, the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool for companies to measure workplace disability inclusion. “At Principal, we […]
Empower: American Workers Want Access to Private Assets in Retirement Plans
{July 16th, 2025} by Empower
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, Empower released its Accelerating Access study, unveiling how American workers feel about having access to the same investment products as institutional investors. This study comes on the heels of the financial services provider’s May announcement of a new program that paves the way for private market investments within defined contribution retirement plans. To participate […]
New Research Reveals Disconnect Between Consumer and Advisor Perceptions in Social Security Planning
{July 16th, 2025} by Protective Life Corporation
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Protective Life Corporation a U.S. subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. (TSE:8750), today announced the release of a new whitepaper based on proprietary research conducted by its principal subsidiary Protective Life Insurance Company (“Protective”) in partnership with Greenwald Research. The findings reveal a surprising emotional divide between consumers and financial professionals when it comes to planning […]
Majority of Americans feel unprepared for shifting financial concerns, Equitable survey finds
{July 16th, 2025} by Equitable
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Equitable, a leading financial services organization and principal franchise of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH), today announced new findings from its quarterly survey of 1,000 consumers to help better understand the latest financial trends that are top of mind for Americans. The survey revealed that only 42% of Americans feel prepared to navigate shifting financial challenges, […]
Legacy Marketing Group and The Standard Unveil EclipseMark FIA
{July 16th, 2025} by Legacy Marketing Group
PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Legacy Marketing Group® and Standard Insurance Company (The Standard) today announced a strategic alliance and new joint venture with the debut of EclipseMarkSM Single Premium Deferred Index Annuities, a simple way for clients to grow and protect their retirement assets. Built to reduce renewal rate guesswork, EclipseMark fixed index annuities feature multiple extended-rate guarantees on diverse interest crediting […]
Does it make sense to buy an annuity in your 40s?
{July 15th, 2025} by Rachel Christian - Bankrate.com
Annuities are often associated with retirees looking for a steady income stream later in life. But does it make sense to lock in guaranteed income in your 40s, potentially decades before retirement? Read via Lancaster Online Wink’s Moore on the Market: Oh, Bankrate! How could you get it so wrong, when it comes to annuities? […]
Special Report: Individual Annuity Surrenders Dent Operating Profitability
{July 15th, 2025} by AM Best
//BestWire// – Increasing surrenders on individual annuities drove a 27% decline in pre-tax net operating profitability despite record sales in recent years, according to a new AM Best report. The Best’s Special Report, “Individual Annuity Surrenders Dent Operating Profitability,” states that surrenders increased by 21% to $280 billion in 2024, up from $232 billion in 2023, as higher […]
3 ways seniors can supplement their Social Security now
{July 15th, 2025} by Matt Richardson
Recent news that Social Security’s insolvency could hit a year earlier than initially expected wasn’t exactly welcome by seniors reliant upon the funds the service provides. Combined with ongoing issues surrounding Social Security overpayments and the potential for those disbursed funds to be clawed back, seniors may find themselves in a precarious financial position this July. Retirement savings and […]
RIAs Overtake Indie Insurance Agents In Annuities Sales Growth
{July 15th, 2025} by Ben Mattlin
For the first time, insurers ranked RIAs as the top distribution growth area for annuity sales, overtaking the channel of independent insurance agents. This is among the key findings in the fifth annual Goldman Sachs Asset Management survey of insurance and annuity providers, released in mid-June. Read via Financial Advisor Wink’s Moore on the Market: […]
CD Rates Are Dropping — Could a MYGA Be a Better Option?
{July 15th, 2025} by Staff
Certificates of deposit (CDs) have long been a go-to for investors’ conservative buckets of money for short-term use. CDs offer stable, predictable returns. But with interest rates remaining high, relative to the past two decades, other vehicles, such as Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities (MYGAs), may be better choices for some savers. Read via Annuity.org Wink’s Moore on […]
Allow business to be signed outside of the U.S. by US passport holder?
{July 15th, 2025} by Sheryl J. Moore
I have a friend who asked me a quick question, but I was clueless about a solution. Could you help? The ask- Are you aware of any indexed annuity carriers that will allow business to be signed outside of the U.S., assuming the client no longer resides full-time, but is a U.S. passport holder? […]
Check out the Athos
{July 15th, 2025} by Sheryl J. Moore
Remember when all indexed annuities were long-term point-to-points (what we call term end point today)? These indexing methods have shown to have a greater potential for gains than indexing methods with more liquidity (annual point-to-points, for example). Well, what if there was a product that could overcome that shortfall, with an annual point-to-point indexing method, […]
Hug the ones that you love.
{July 15th, 2025} by Sheryl J. Moore
I cannot ignore it any more. This is the month where the very bad, no good thing happened. I hate this month. It gives me so much anxiety. Every little sign from him hurts. AJ Betts- you have been gone for 13 years now. I don’t know how I have lived without you, son. I […]
AmeriLife’s Saybrus Partners Strengthens Life Insurance and Annuity Market Position With SterlingBridge Insurance Agency Partnership
{July 15th, 2025} by AmeriLife
HARTFORD, CONN. AND CLEARWATER, FLA. / ACCESS Newswire / July 14, 2025 / Saybrus Partners, a life insurance and annuity distribution company and affiliate of AmeriLife, today announced a strategic partnership with SterlingBridge Insurance Agency, further expanding its national reach and capabilities in the insurance distribution landscape. Per the agreement, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Through this new […]
Record-breaking RIA growth, in 5 charts
{July 15th, 2025} by Tobias Salinger
Registered investment advisory firms topped previous records in many key business metrics in 2024, with assets under management crossing $144.6 trillion. The number of firms registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and their AUM, clients and employees reached new heights from prior records, as shown in the below charts based on the latest yearly […]
Court Rejects Part of Frozen DOL Rollover Rule
{July 15th, 2025} by Allison Bell
A federal judge has rejected a key part of the U.S. Labor Department’s fiduciary rule regulations on retirement transactions. U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade ruled Thursday against sections in Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2020-02 stating that an advisor could start an “ongoing advice relationship” with a retirement saver under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act if […]
Which Carriers Have the Most Traditional Variable Annuities on Their Books?
{July 15th, 2025} by Anthony Luffredo
A few weeks ago, I attended LIMRA’s Annual Distribution conference. Candidly, I hadn’t been back to this conference in nearly a decade. Sitting in on a couple of breakout sessions, I learned, incredibly, that not much has changed. Read via Think Advisor
A Conference’s Message: To Reach the Next Level, Ask the Right Questions
{July 15th, 2025} by Timothy Welsh
More than 100 independent financial professionals gathered recently for Affiliated Advisors’ annual Advance conference, a two-day retreat in Eagan, Minnesota, designed to inspire curiosity, spark connections and equip advisors to build their ideal practices. With Affiliated Advisors having crossed $7 billion in assets just days before the event, the energy was high, the conversation candid […]
The Future of Life Insurance is Here: Oneday’s Agent-First Platform and Products Hit the Canadian Market
{July 14th, 2025} by OneDay TPA INC
TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oneday, a leading third-party administrator in the Canadian life insurance industry, today announced the full-scale launch of its proprietary technology platform, Oneday Pro, designed to transform how insurance agents and agencies conduct business in the digital age. Located just outside Toronto, Oneday has partnered with Humania Assurance to underwrite its suite of simplified-issue life […]
CT insurance commissioner to court: loosen moratorium on PHL Variable
{July 14th, 2025} by John Hilton
Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew Mais is asking a judge to loosen the moratorium on PHL Variable policies to allow for more flexible distributions for universal life and fixed index annuity owners. Mais, serving as the official rehabilitator for the financially troubled PHL, hinted at the possibility of adjusting the moratorium in a May 20 status report. But […]
TPG and Aquarian Holdings Vie to Acquire Brighthouse
{July 9th, 2025} by Kerry Pechter
Brighthouse is a top-10 annuity issuer, with over $100 billion in assets. But neither Brighthouse (or its predecessor, MetLife) ever sold many of the fixed indexed deferred annuities whose issuers asset managers have been acquiring as sources of capital for their private credit businesses. Read via RIJ Wink’s Moore on the Market: Kerry Pechter […]
Aspida Launches Integration with the Apple Wallet® App for Annuity Clients, Bringing Retirement Solutions Closer to Everyday Financial Tools
{July 9th, 2025} by Aspida Life Insurance Company
Aspida Life Insurance Company (“Aspida Life”), a leading provider of innovative retirement solutions, today announced the launch of an Apple Wallet® app integration for its annuity products, bringing fast, secure, and mobile access to retirement information directly to clients’ fingertips. With this new feature, Aspida clients can now access key contract information as well as […]
Prudential Financial Launches ActiveIncome Insurance Overlay, Delivering a New Category of Lifetime Income to Dimensional Managed Accounts
{July 9th, 2025} by Prudential Financial, Inc.
NEWARK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) today announced the launch of ActiveIncome, a first-of-its-kind insurance overlay option now accessible through Dimensional Fund Advisors’ unified managed accounts (UMA) platform. ActiveIncome expands access to retirement security by pioneering an innovative new category of lifetime income to managed accounts, using a contingent deferred annuity option to address […]
Foresters Financial launches Foresters Live Well Plus: A breakthrough in selling participating whole life insurance
{July 9th, 2025} by The Independent Order of Foresters
TORONTO, July 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Foresters FinancialTM (Foresters) is proud to introduce Foresters Live Well Plus, a new participating whole life insurance product available through a new innovative single-session digital journey. This product simplifies and streamlines the sales experience, empowers producers and enhances client relationships, making it easier and faster for producers and their clients. Collaborating with […]
Senior Market Sales® (SMS) Acquires MIC Insurance Services
{July 9th, 2025} by Senior Market Sales
OMAHA, Neb.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–MIC Insurance Services, a highly successful New Jersey health insurance agency, has entered into a strategic partnership with Senior Market Sales® (SMS), one of the industry’s premier insurance marketing organizations (IMOs). Based in Kinnelon, New Jersey, MIC is a second-generation, family-owned independent insurance agency that since 2012 has relied on SMS’ proprietary technology, industry-leading back-office support, […]
Best’s Special Report: Individual Annuity Surrenders Dent Operating Profitability
{July 9th, 2025} by AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Increasing surrenders on individual annuities drove a 27% decline in pre-tax net operating profitability despite record sales in recent years, according to a new AM Best report. The Best’s Special Report, “Individual Annuity Surrenders Dent Operating Profitability,” states that surrenders increased by 21% to $280 billion in 2024, up from $232 billion in 2023, as higher […]
Jackson to Report Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results on August 6
{July 9th, 2025} by Jackson National Life Insurance Company
LANSING, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jackson Financial Inc.1 (NYSE: JXN) (Jackson®) today announced that it will release second quarter 2025 financial results, after market close Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Jackson’s press release and supplemental financial materials will be available at investors.jackson.com. Jackson will host a conference call and webcast to discuss results at 9 a.m. ET Thursday, August 7, 2025. […]
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of New York Life Insurance Company and Its Subsidiaries
{July 9th, 2025} by AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICRs) of “aaa” (Exceptional) of New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (NYLIAC), Life Insurance Company of North America (LINA), New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (NYLGICNY) and NYLIFE […]
Simplicity Welcomes Three New Partners with the Acquisition of DuVall Financial Group
{July 9th, 2025} by Simplicity Financial Marketing Group Holdings, Inc.
SUMMIT, N.J., July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Simplicity Group Holdings (“Simplicity”), a leading financial products distribution firm, today announced the acquisition of DuVall Financial Group (“DFG”), a brokerage general agency focused on supporting independent agents and their clients with insurance and marketing solutions. A longtime business partner of Simplicity, DuVall Financial Group will immediately re-brand to “Simplicity DFG” […]
Intentions Rise, Expectations Fall: The Number of Americans Planning to Leave an Inheritance Goes Up as the Number Expecting to Receive One Goes Down Finds Northwestern Mutual’s 2025 Planning & Progress Study
{July 9th, 2025} by Northwestern Mutual
MILWAUKEE, July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – As a $90 trillion Great Wealth Transfer looms, more Americans say they are preparing to leave a financial legacy, yet fewer expect to receive one themselves. The latest findings from Northwestern Mutual’s 2025 Planning & Progress Study finds nearly one-third (31%) of U.S. adults anticipate leaving an inheritance or a financial gift / donation to a […]
Demand for annuities: What’s driving it and what’s nex
{July 9th, 2025} by Jack Elder
Annuities have long had a reputation as niche tools — relegated to a corner of the planning conversation, often misunderstood and occasionally oversold. But that perception has shifted. Annuities are seeing record demand, and not just from the usual suspects. Read via INN
Industry groups praise tax reform provisions in ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
{July 9th, 2025} by Wire Reports
Three industry organizations have praised the signing of H.R. 1 – also known as the Big Beautiful Bill – calling out provisions related to tax reform. “With the signing of H.R. 1—the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’—into law, millions of Americans now have a clearer path to financial security,” said Marc Cadin, CEO of Finseca. Read via […]
Reframing life insurance to connect with Gen Z
{July 9th, 2025} by Amanda Cassar
Nearly half of Generation Z is now at a pivotal stage in life: They’re part of the workforce, managing new expenses and balancing the desire to enjoy life with the need to plan for their future. As they begin building a financial foundation, life insurance might feel like a distant or unnecessary priority. Read via […]
SCOTUS ruling on nationwide injunctions could have lasting implications
{July 9th, 2025} by John Hilton
A recent Supreme Court ruling pertaining to birthright citizenship could also shut down a key strategy for financial services to block unwelcome federal rules. The 6-3 ruling in the Trump vs. CASA case saw the SCOTUS side with the Trump administration in a case involving an executive order that seeks to eliminate birthright citizenship. Read via […]
How new AI benchmarking tool helps insurers track ROI
{July 9th, 2025} by Rayne Morgan
Digital customer service platform Glia recently launched an AI benchmarking tool it hopes will help insurers “cut through the fog” in analyzing their artificial intelligence strategy. “There is an enormous fog of war at the moment. We are squarely in the middle of the hype cycle. Read via INN
Should These Clients Buy an Annuity? Two Case Studies
{July 9th, 2025} by Roger Wohlner
Helping clients plan out their retirement income strategy can be a complicated process. One vehicle that is often part of a planning approach is an annuity. There are valid reasons for clients to buy or not to buy an annuity. And while each client has distinct retirement income planning needs — and counts on an advisor to create an […]
The Rise of Human-AI Teams in Life Insurance
{July 9th, 2025} by Sam Henry
Let’s talk about Reg BI — the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which establishes a “best interest” standard of conduct for broker-dealers and investment advisers when they make a recommendation to a customer for an investment strategy involving securities. The name sounds promising, right? Like the financial version of […]
Many Female Entrepreneurs Face a Financial Fitness Gap
{July 9th, 2025} by Harry Monti
As many self-employed women can attest, running their own business can be a balancing act. Between trying to grow the company, managing finances, and even keeping up with family responsibilities, juggling it all can be both difficult and rewarding. Read via Think Advisor
4 Life and Annuity Provisions Missing From the Big Beautiful Bill
{July 9th, 2025} by Allison Bell
For life and annuity professionals, the impact of implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act tax and spending package could be more about what’s missing than what’s in the specific provisions. At press time, members of the House were debating the package, and the ultimate outcome was uncertain. Read via Think Advisor
Reasons to consider annuities
{July 9th, 2025} by Megan Reuther
There’s a lot of uncertainty with the markets, so now is as good of time as any to make sure you know your options. Eric Peterson of Peterson Financial Group shares reasons to consider annuities. View via WHO 13 Wink’s Moore on the Market: I don’t know about this video. It never suggests that gains […]
F-H-L-B Spells Cheap Cash for Big Annuity Issuers
{July 9th, 2025} by Kerry Pechter
The largest borrower from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) system in 2024 was Athene Annuity and Life, at more than $15 billion. For at least 16 other top annuity issuers, FHLB loans are a key source of “fungible,” low-cost borrowed capital. Read via RIJ Wink’s Moore on the Market: Kerry Pechter at Retirement […]
Ex-LPL Advisor Suspended After Family Named as Client’s Beneficiaries
{July 9th, 2025} by Dinah Wisenberg Brin
A former LPL Financial advisor has agreed to an eight-month suspension and $5,000 fine after regulators found that he allowed a client to name his immediate family members as account beneficiaries without the firm’s approval. Read via Think Advisor Wink’s Moore on the Market: People doing crap like this doesn’t help anyone. -sjm
Half of Americans don’t have any life insurance. Here’s why that’s a mistake
{July 9th, 2025} by Brian Sloan
Nearly half of Americans don’t have a life insurance policy, according to a new study, with wide disparities based on age, gender, income and race. A report from Western & Southern Financial Group found that just 51% of U.S. adults had any kind of life insurance. Read via CNBC Wink’s Moore on the Market: A […]
Looking for an income stream for decades? Here’s how to emulate the Bobby Bonilla plan to get paid over time
{July 9th, 2025} by Myriam Robinso-Puche
If you feel the same as an estimated half of Americans — that you’re behind on your retirement savings — try not to be jealous today. It’s Bobby Bonilla Day, also known as July 1. Today, retired New York Mets baseball player Bobby Bonilla gets paid his annual deferred compensation: $1,193,248.20. Read via BankRate Wink’s Moore on […]
Declare Your Financial Independence: New Calculator Helps Americans Break Free from Annuity Traps
{July 9th, 2025} by American Alternative Assets
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., July 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As Americans celebrate Independence Day, American Alternative Assets announced the launch of its “Annuity Trap Calculator,” a revolutionary tool designed to help retirement savers declare independence from wealth-draining annuity contracts. Read via PR Newswire Wink’s Moore on the Market: So, let me get this right… These folks sell products/advice […]
Special master: Up to $300M on the way for Greg Lindberg victims
{July 9th, 2025} by John Hilton
The special master assigned to unwind disgraced financier Greg Lindberg’s maze of companies says the impending sale of one of them will yield up to $300 million for fraud victims. The law firm Grier Wright Martinez filed a status report Wednesday with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. It outlines […]
Are you qualified to be the Senior Vice President of Technology?
{July 9th, 2025} by Sheryl J. Moore
My new friend Eli G. at Mountain Life Insurance Company is looking for a Senior Vice President of Technology. Are you qualified, experienced and interested? Please feel free to reach-out to Eli, or shoot me your resume to sjm@intelrockstar.com. -sjm
‘Shame on me … and shame on him.’ I bought 3 annuities from a financial planner, but what he said I was buying — and what I signed off on — weren’t the same. Now what?
{July 9th, 2025} by Alisa Wolfson
Question: “I purchased three annuities from a financial planner and found out, after the fact, that what he presented to me and I agreed to were and purchased not the same. He completed the applications and sent to me for my signature. Shame on me for not thoroughly understanding how annuities work. And shame on him […]
Annuities Are Not Your Enemy.
{July 9th, 2025} by Richard Rosso
Utter the word ANNUITY and watch facial expressions. They range from fear to disgust to confusion. But hear me out: Annuities are not your enemy. Billionaire money manager and financial pitchman Ken Fisher appears as a haunting senior version of Eddie Munster in television ads. He stares with deep eyes ablaze with intensity. The tight camera […]
Empower Responds to Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Inquiry, Advocates for Responsible Access to Private Markets in Retirement Plans
{July 9th, 2025} by Empower
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Empower has formally responded to an inquiry from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren regarding the inclusion of private market investments in defined contribution retirement plans. In its response, Empower emphasized the importance of evolving the retirement system to offer carefully regulated access to private equity, credit, and real estate investments for everyday savers. “The […]
Labor Department Targets Dozens of Rules for Deregulatory Push
{July 9th, 2025} by Rebecca Rainey
The Trump administration’s deregulatory push has landed at the US Labor Department, with the agency advancing a slew of proposals to tweak or scrap policies across several of its subagencies. Rules on the chopping block include minimum wage and overtime protections for certain health aides, anti-discrimination requirements for apprenticeship programs, union organizing protections for foreign […]
Bermuda continues to lead offshore life/annuity reinsurance: AM Best
{July 9th, 2025} by Kassandra Jimenez-Sanchez
With over 40% of total ceded reserves for US life-annuity writers in 2024, Bermuda continues to be a “driving force” in offshore reinsurance, according to a recent report by AM Best. The report, titled “Bermuda Remains the Largest Offshore Life/Annuity Reinsurance Domicile,” further notes that Bermuda was involved in over 60% of ceded reserves for […]
Insurers Lean Into Income, Innovation And Intelligence As Annuity Industry Enters New Era
{July 9th, 2025} by Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s 2025 Annuity Survey
US insurance carriers are accelerating their shift toward retirement income solutions and platform innovation as economic uncertainty grows. From rethinking product menus and platform allocations to embedding AI into distribution and education, the annuity business is actively transforming to meet today’s market risks and tomorrow’s investor expectations. Read via Advisor Magazine
Dearborn Group and Symetra Reach Agreement on Acquisition of Dearborn Group’s Life & Disability Business
{July 9th, 2025} by Dearborn Group
CHICAGO and BELLEVUE, Wash. — Dearborn Groupexternal link, one of the nation’s largest ancillary benefits providers, and Symetra Life Insurance Company, a national provider of life, retirement and employee benefit insurance products, today announced a definitive agreement under which Symetra will acquire Dearborn’s group life and disability (L&D) business through a reinsurance transaction and enter into a product […]
Happy 4th of July!
{July 1st, 2025} by Wink's Intel Pros
Wink will be closed July 3rd and 4th for an extended holiday.
TruStage™ launches ZoneChoice Advantage Annuity, offering more flexibility for retirement planning
{July 1st, 2025} by TruStage
MADISON, Wis. — TruStage, a leading insurance and financial services provider, today announced the launch of a new retirement solution, the TruStage ZoneChoice Advantage Annuity, underwritten by MEMBERS Life Insurance Company, a registered index-linked annuity (RILA) with new, innovative crediting strategies for end-investors. ZoneChoice Advantage is designed for both possibility and performance, with two new […]
Northwestern Mutual Expands Suite of Insurance Products to Help Families and Businesses Protect Their Legacies
{July 1st, 2025} by Northwestern Mutual
MILWAUKEE, July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Northwestern Mutual, a leading financial services company focused on comprehensive financial planning, is expanding its world-class suite of insurance products to support Americans’ estate and legacy planning needs. Through the company’s new Survivorship Variable Universal Life Plus (SVUL Plus) policy, couples, families, and business owners have even more flexibility to plan […]
Pacific Life Introduces New Variable Universal Life Insurance Product Now Available Through State Farm
{July 1st, 2025} by Pacific Life Insurance Company
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pacific Life is pleased to introduce a new, straightforward variable universal life (VUL) insurance product, designed for customers ages 30-55 who are comfortable pursuing cash value over the long term and have a tolerance for market-based risk. Pacific Protector Plus VUL1 offers tax-free2 death benefit protection and cash value accumulation potential through a streamlined […]
Insurers Lean Into Income, Innovation And Intelligence As Annuity Industry Enters New Era
{July 1st, 2025} by Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s 2025 Annuity Survey
US insurance carriers are accelerating their shift toward retirement income solutions and platform innovation as economic uncertainty grows. From rethinking product menus and platform allocations to embedding AI into distribution and education, the annuity business is actively transforming to meet today’s market risks and tomorrow’s investor expectations. These are among the findings from the newly […]
Participants Hit All-Time Savings High in Vanguard’s ‘How America Saves’ Report
{July 1st, 2025} by Amanda Umpierrez
Plan participants are demonstrating stronger saving and investing behaviors, as a record number of participants reported increasing their savings rates in 2024. According to Vanguard’s “How America Saves” report, out today, 45% of defined contribution (DC) participants raised their savings rates last year. When including nonparticipants, employees in automatic enrollment plans saved an average of […]
Referrals still drive advisor growth, but not with next-gen clients
{July 1st, 2025} by Leo Almazora
New survey research shows continued importance of earning trust, with changing markets and calming client nerves emerging as top practice challenges. Read via InvestmentNews
Why RIAs are the next growth frontier for annuities
{July 1st, 2025} by Leo Almazora
David Lau, founder and CEO of DPL Financial Partners, explains how the RIA boom and product innovation has fueled a slow-burn growth story in annuities. Read via InvestmentNews
F&G Annuities’ Dividend Appeal Grows as CEO Boosts Shareholding
{July 1st, 2025} by Venkatesh
F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. (NYSE:FG) is one of the 10 dividend bargains trading below insiders’ prices. Amid mixed Q1 earnings call and lowered price target, the company’s top executive makes a bold purchase of the stock. F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. (NYSE:FG), based in Iowa, provides fixed indexed annuities, multi-year guaranteed annuities, registered index‑linked annuities, […]
Penn Mutual Earns 2025 Great Place To Work Certification
{July 1st, 2025} by The Penn Mutual LIfe Insurance Company
PHILADELPHIA, June 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Penn Mutual is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place To Work® for the fourth year in a row. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at Penn Mutual. This year, 90% of employees said it’s a great place to work – 33 points […]
Integrity Listed as a Top 100 Best Companies for Perks and Benefits in the U.S. for Second Straight Year
{July 1st, 2025} by Integrity Marketing Group, LLC
DALLAS, June 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Integrity, LLC (“Integrity”), a leading distributor of life and health insurance, and provider of wealth management and retirement planning solutions, today announced that it has been named one of the top 100 companies in the U.S. for Best Perks and Benefits for the second consecutive year. Integrity ranked alongside such luminaries […]
Mountain Life Announces Maryland Expansion
{July 1st, 2025} by Mountain Life Insurance Compnany
LEXINGTON, Ky., July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Mountain Life Insurance Company is pleased to announce that it is now operational in the state of Maryland. With the awarding of its latest license by the state of Maryland, the company now offers its range of products to customers in 15 states. Mountain Life looks forward to welcoming its first agents and […]
Venerable Holdings, Inc. Strikes Landmark Agreement with Corebridge Financial, Inc.
{July 1st, 2025} by Venerable Holdings
WEST CHESTER, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Venerable Holdings, Inc. (“Venerable”), the leader in providing innovative risk transfer solutions to variable annuity issuers, today announced a landmark transaction with Corebridge Financial, Inc. (Corebridge) that will increase Venerable’s total assets under risk management, on a pro forma basis as of March 31, 2025, by approximately 77% from $67 billion to […]
Osaic Announces Direct Billing for Fee-Based Annuity Products
{July 1st, 2025} by Osaic, Inc
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Osaic, Inc. (“Osaic”), one of the nation’s largest providers of wealth management solutions, today announced the availability of direct billing using select fee-based variable annuities within the Osaic platform. This new capability significantly simplifies annuity management, streamlining operations and enhancing flexibility for financial advisors and their clients. “We know financial professionals depend on us […]
Best’s Special Report: Bermuda Remains the Largest Offshore Life/Annuity Reinsurance Domicile
{July 1st, 2025} by AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bermuda continues to maintain its role as a driving force in offshore reinsurance, accounting for more than 40% of total ceded reserves for U.S. life-annuity writers in 2024, according to a new AM Best report. The newly issued Best’s Special Report, titled “Bermuda Remains the Largest Offshore Life/Annuity Reinsurance Domicile,” also notes that the island nation […]
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of NLV Financial Corporation and Its Insurance Subsidiaries
{July 1st, 2025} by AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa-” (Superior) of National Life Insurance Company (NLIC) (Montpelier, VT) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest (LSW) (Addison, TX). Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings […]
Chariot Re Launches with Co-Sponsorship by MetLife and General Atlantic
{July 1st, 2025} by Metlife, Inc, General Atlantic, Chariot Re
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–MetLife, Inc., General Atlantic, and Chariot Reinsurance, Ltd. (Chariot Re), an independent Bermuda-based Class E life and annuity reinsurance company, today announced the completion of Chariot Re’s initial reinsurance transaction with a subsidiary of MetLife. Chariot Re will reinsure approximately $10 billion of liabilities, including structured settlement annuity contracts and group annuity contracts […]
The Rise of Human-AI Teams in Life Insurance
{July 1st, 2025} by Sam H
Let’s talk about Reg BI — the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which establishes a “best interest” standard of conduct for broker-dealers and investment advisers when they make a recommendation to a customer for an investment strategy involving securities. The name sounds promising, right? Like the financial version of […]
Treating financial wellness
{July 1st, 2025} by John Hilton
Ian Freeman wasn’t sure he would see his 50th birthday. The life struggles and inner torment caused others to tell him it wasn’t likely. “What is interesting about that is, I didn’t do drugs,” Freeman recalled. “I didn’t mind having a drink, but I really didn’t drink. I didn’t do drugs. I didn’t smoke. I […]
Actuaries seek better data on troubling age 80+ mortality trend
{July 1st, 2025} by John Hilton
Regulators and actuaries are considering a data change to better account for a puzzling mortality degradation in individuals ages 80 and older. The Life Mortality Improvement Subgroup of the Mortality and Longevity Oversight Advisory Council wants to switch from general population data to insured population data. The two datasets are fairly similar up until age […]
Corebridge inks $2.8B variable annuity transaction with Venerable
{July 1st, 2025} by Staff Reports
Corebridge Financial has a deal with CS Life Re, a subsidiary of Venerable Holdings, to reinsure all the variable annuities of its Individual Retirement business, with account value totaling $51 billion. The transaction is valued at $2.8 billion, consisting of both ceding commission and capital release, and will generate approximately $2.1 billion of net distributable […]
Annuities in 401(k)s? Savers show interest, but advisors are hesitan
{July 1st, 2025} by Elijah Nicholson-Messmer
A vast majority of workers say that employers have a responsibility to help them achieve guaranteed income in retirement, and many think annuities are the way to do it, according to a new survey from Nuveen and the TIAA Institute. Read via Financial Planning Wink’s Moore on the Market: I don’t know about you, […]
Corebridge to sell $51 billion variable annuity business to Venerable
{July 1st, 2025} by Staff
HOUSTON – Corebridge Financial, Inc. (NYSE:CRBG), currently valued at $18.28 billion with shares trading at $33.07, announced Thursday it has entered into an agreement with CS Life Re, a subsidiary of Venerable Holdings, to reinsure all variable annuities in its Individual Retirement business, representing $51 billion in account value as of March 31, 2025. According […]
Innovation with Intention: A New Era of Indexed Universal Life Insurance
{July 1st, 2025} by Staff Writer
As financial products grow more complex and customer expectations rapidly evolve, innovation must be more than a slogan—it’s a necessity. For Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz), innovation means building sustainable value, designing for real-world needs, and staying focused on the long-term benefit of policyholders. Read via INN Wink’s Moore on the […]
Why Smart Retirees Are Ditching Traditional Financial Plans
{July 1st, 2025} by Matthew Eilers
Today’s economic landscape is making it difficult for many to retire. Inflation, market volatility, rising health care costs and uncertainty surrounding interest rates are taking their toll on Americans; 70% say their financial stress is at an all-time high, according to a recent survey by Talker Research on behalf of Doctor On Demand by Included […]
Can Default Annuities Lead to Better Retirement Outcomes?
{July 1st, 2025} by Paul Mulholland
As more defined contribution plan sponsors consider whether to add a lifetime income option, questions arise on whether plans should include annuity payout options as part of their default. A recent study explores some of the benefits and tradeoffs. According to the research from the Pension Research Council, “defaulting 20% of a retiree’s assets over […]
Actuaries seek better data on troubling age 80+ mortality trend
{July 1st, 2025} by John Hilton
Regulators and actuaries are considering a data change to better account for a puzzling mortality degradation in individuals ages 80 and older. The Life Mortality Improvement Subgroup of the Mortality and Longevity Oversight Advisory Council wants to switch from general population data to insured population data. The two datasets are fairly similar up until age […]
Terry Savage: Index-linked annuities aren’t the bargain they seem
{July 1st, 2025} by Terry Savage
The promises are enticing: stock market upside with no risk on the downside. Or market “participation” with downside “protection.” File this under too good to be true. As with all sales pitches, the devil is in the details. Read via MSN Wink’s Moore on the Market: Terry Savage is not even close to right, […]
John Hancock’s Vitality builds a decade of success on living well
{July 1st, 2025} by Doug Bailey
Ten years ago, John Hancock took a chance. In an industry rooted in actuarial tables, underwriting decisions, and death benefits, the Boston-based life insurer asked an unusual and bold question: What if we could build customers – and profits – by providing benefits not just for dying, but for living well? Read via INN Wink’s […]
How to Soothe ‘Really Worried’ Retirement Savers: Jamie Hopkins
{July 1st, 2025} by John Manganaro
Anecdotal and survey evidence shows that working Americans are deeply worried about their financial security in retirement, with a recent Fidelity poll finding only about half of Gen Xers were confident about retiring “on their own terms.” Although 67% of savers expressed some degree of confidence in their retirement prospects, this figure was down by 7 percentage […]
These folks don’t know about the annual penalty-free withdrawal provision on annuities.
{July 1st, 2025} by Sheryl J. Moore
MSN doesn’t seem to know enough about annuities, to be writing about them. View Over 40? Fix These Annuity Misunderstandings Before Retirement via MSN. “Insurance agents may earn 1% to 10% in commissions—potentially up to $20,000 on a $200,000 annuity.” – Nope. There are no annuities that pay the agent 10% commission. “One of the […]
Corebridge sheds the risks of its $51 billion VA business
{July 1st, 2025} by Editorial Staff
Corebridge Financial, Inc. (NYSE: CRBG), last week announced that CS Life Re, a subsidiary of Venerable Holdings, Inc., will reinsure all the variable annuities of Corebridge’s individual retirement business, with account value totaling $51 billion as of March 31, 2025. Read via RIJ
F-H-L-B Spells Cheap Cash for Big Annuity Issuers
{July 1st, 2025} by Ker
It’s a bit counterintuitive that U.S. life/annuity companies, which effectively borrow hundreds of billions of dollars by selling annuities to American’s older investors every year, would need to, or choose to, borrow tens of billions more from government-sponsored banks. Read via RIJ
TPG and Aquarian Holdings Vie to Acquire Brighthouse
{July 1st, 2025} by Editorial Staff
Brighthouse is a top-10 annuity issuer, with over $100 billion in assets. But neither Brighthouse (or its predecessor, MetLife) ever sold many of the fixed indexed deferred annuities whose issuers asset managers have been acquiring as sources of capital for their private credit businesses. Read via RIJ Wink’s Moore on the Market: Kerry Pechter at […]
This report identifies sales at an index level!
{June 25th, 2025} by Wink's Intel Pros
Wink’s Index Intelligence Report identifies indexed annuity and indexed life insurance sales at an index level. This annual report is a complete overview of sales per index, includes all applicable historical sales, and identifies the specifications on each of the indices available in indexed annuities and indexed universal life products. The report provides data and […]
12 Insurers That Sold the Most RILAs in Q1
{June 25th, 2025} by Allison Bell
For a look at the RILA [aka structured annuity] sales totals that the 12 highest-volume issuers reported to Wink, see the gallery accompanying this article. Read via Think Advisor
NATIONAL ANNUITY AWARENESS MONTH EDITION
{June 25th, 2025} by Wink's Intel Pros
June is National Annuity Awareness Month! We will be reprinting our Chief Storyteller, Sheryl Moore’s most requested annuity-focused articles all month long; they will be indicated with “reprint” in the title. You’ll find these timeless articles are still relevant today. National Annuity Awareness Month aligns perfectly with Wink’s top priority of ensuring that the public […]
Reprint: How to Change the Narrative Around Annuities, Annuity Awareness Month
{June 25th, 2025} by Sheryl J. Moore
June is Annuity Awareness Month, which is basically like a big, nerdy party for an annuity evangelist like me. This is primarily because I get to be on stage more often, do more webinars and Zooms than is typical. Heck, a few years ago, I even had the opportunity to work with my former Governor […]
Reprint: Americans Are Demanding Annuities #AnnuityAwarenessMonth
{June 25th, 2025} by Sheryl Moore
I have seen the demand for annuities grow stronger and stronger over the past couple of decades. When I talk about this with colleagues in the annuity industry, they think I am being facetious. What? You haven’t seen the same? Well, let me show you about the demand for annuities from my own perspective. Click […]
REPRINT: 100 facts your clients need to know about annuities: #AnnuityAwarenessMonth
{June 25th, 2025} by Sheryl J. Moore
Did you know that that the top fear of Americans is outliving their retirement income? Death comes in as the second top fear. It’s easy to see that annuities are still the black box of the insurance industry … what a shame. Did you know that the top fear of Americans is outliving their retirement income? (Death […]
Delaware Life Announces Target Income Choice™ Fixed Index Annuity
{June 25th, 2025} by Delaware Life Insurance Company
ZIONSVILLE, Ind.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Delaware Life Insurance Company (“Delaware Life”), a Group 1001 company, announced today the launch of Target Income Choice™, a new fixed index annuity (FIA) available through the bank and broker-dealer channels. It provides a combination of guaranteed lifetime income, growth potential, and downside protection to further protect customers from rising inflation and market […]
A-Cap provides update on life insurers after tangling with regulators
{June 25th, 2025} by Staff Reports
After battling with regulators in Utah and South Carolina for much of the past 18 months, Advantage Capital and its life insurance subsidiaries are seemingly back to business as usual. In late April, the Utah Insurance Department agreed to pause its litigation effort to take control of A-Cap insurers Sentinel Security, Haymarket Insurance Co., and […]
Appeals Court Sides With Beneficiary in Guardian Life Suit
{June 25th, 2025} by Allison Bell
A three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit has ruled against Guardian Life, and in favor of a life insurance beneficiary, in a case involving a life policy cancellation notice. Pamela Edwards, the owner of the Allure Salon in Starkville, Mississippi, bought a group life insurance policy that covered her […]
Global Atlantic, MassMutual Put 25% of Bond Allocations in Privately Rated Assets: Moody’s
{June 25th, 2025} by Allison Bell
U.S. life and annuity issuers ended 2024 with $422 billion invested in bonds and other fixed income assets with private letter ratings, according to Manoj Jethani and other analysts at Moody’s Ratings. The issuers’ allocations to arrangements with private letter ratings amounted to about 11% of their $3.8 trillion in bonds, and about 7.5% of their […]
Ohio man arrested after social media post threatening to blow up West Des Moines insurance agency
{June 25th, 2025} by Staff
An Ohio man is accused of threatening to blow up an insurance building in West Des Moines. Court documents say 57-year-old Christopher Webb posted an Instagram video Saturday outside of the American Equity Life Insurance building on Westown Parkway. In the video, he expressed frustration with his insurance company. Read via KCCI Wink’s Moore […]
Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson’s passing provides financial planners opportunity to advise on conservatorship
{June 25th, 2025} by Gregg Greenberg
Wealth managers weigh in with financial tips following the tragic death of the Beach Boys’ founder. Read via InvestmentNews Wink’s Moore on the Market: Just catching-up on some reading, and this one stuck-out to me. I WISH someone had had a conversation with my Dad (and myself?) about ensuring that he had a durable […]
Apollo (APO) Withdraws from Brighthouse Financial Acquisition Race | APO Stock News
{June 25th, 2025} by GuruFocus News
Apollo (APO, Financial) decided not to proceed with its bid in the acquisition process for Brighthouse Financial, as reported from recent developments. During the final bidding round earlier this month, TPG and Aquarian Holdings, supported by Mubadala Capital from Abu Dhabi, each made offers slightly above Brighthouse Financial’s current market valuation. While Apollo (APO, Financial), along with […]
State claims added to amended lawsuit over National Life IUL illustrations
{June 25th, 2025} by John Hilton
An Indiana woman suing NLV Financial Corp. and two life insurance subsidiaries over a 2023 indexed universal life policy that returned 0% is tacking on state claims in an amended lawsuit. Sanya Virani claims the IUL relies on back-tested historical performance that does not match reality and is “a fraudulent sham.” She initially filed suit Oct. […]
Allianz Life Study Finds Record High Investment Anxiety
{June 25th, 2025} by Allianz
MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–More Americans say that they are too nervous to invest right now and are worried about their retirement savings more than they have in the last six years as extreme market volatility ripples through the economy, according to the 2025 Q2 Quarterly Market Perceptions Study* from Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz […]
Security Benefit’s RIA Economic Outlook Index Rises to 60 as Advisors Grow More Optimistic About the Economic Environment
{June 25th, 2025} by Security Benefit
TOPEKA, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Registered investment advisors (RIAs) are feeling better about inflation according to the latest RIA Economic Outlook Index released by Security Benefit in partnership with Greenwald Research. For Q2, 6 in 10 now expect inflation to be under 3% in the next twelve months. This tracks with the latest reading of the personal consumption […]
Pacific Life Introduces New Variable Universal Life Insurance Product Now Available Through State Farm
{June 25th, 2025} by Pacific Life Insurance Company
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pacific Life is pleased to introduce a new, straightforward variable universal life (VUL) insurance product, designed for customers ages 30-55 who are comfortable pursuing cash value over the long term and have a tolerance for market-based risk. Pacific Protector Plus VUL1 offers tax-free2 death benefit protection and cash value accumulation potential through a streamlined […]
Could a bitcoin-based indexed annuity be in the future?
{June 25th, 2025} by Susan Rupe
An insurtech holding company is seeking a fronting carrier and regulatory approval for a bitcoin-based indexed annuity. BITLYF has spent the past three years developing the product, which gained traction earlier this year with the Chicago Board Options Exchange offering the first bitcoin index for an annuity. Read via INN
Annuities ‘can add a little juice to the retirement portfolio’
{June 25th, 2025} by Susan Rupe
Retirement is not a one-time event; it is a dynamic phase of life that requires a vision of what the post-employment years will look like for each individual and how that vision will be funded. Tamiko Toland, founder of IncomePath, discussed the process of individualized retirement planning and how annuities can help fund each individual’s […]
Washington National Launches Individual Term Life Insurance Product
{June 25th, 2025} by Washington National Insurance Company
CARMEL, Ind., June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Washington National Insurance Company, a national provider of supplemental health and life insurance products for middle-income Americans, has introduced today its new Individual Term Life Insurance (ITL). This product is an easy-to-understand solution designed to help underserved workers and families achieve financial security, offering key benefits such as the option […]
KANSAS CITY LIFE ANNOUNCES A POTENTIAL NATIONWIDE SETTLEMENT IN COST OF INSURANCE CLASS ACTION LITIGATION
{June 25th, 2025} by Kansas City Life Insurance Company
KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Kansas City Life Insurance Company (“KCL”) announced today that it has entered an agreement intended to settle all claims asserted against it in previously-disclosed class action litigation related to the cost of insurance rates used in certain universal life and variable universal life policies. Under the terms of the […]
Sapiens to Accelerate Insurers’ Digital Transformation with AI-Driven Upgrades for Life, Pensions, & Annuities
{June 25th, 2025} by Sapiens International Corporation
ROCHELLE PARK, N.J., June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sapiens International Corporation (NASDAQ: SPNS) (TASE: SPNS), a leading global provider of software solutions for the insurance industry, announced the latest release of CoreSuite a comprehensive policy administration system for life, pensions, and annuities. Life insurers can now streamline operations, and enhance user experiences and customer outcomes, while enabling faster time to market. Agents, […]
Moms say they are fulfilled in the advisory industry
{June 25th, 2025} by Susan Rupe
Moms who work in the advisory profession say they are fulfilled in their careers, with 9 out of 10 saying they are highly satisfied in their chosen careers. That was the main finding from a survey on understanding the experience of mothers in advisory firms, conducted by The Ensemble Practice. The survey found most mothers […]
Study: How does flexibility impact life insurance purchase decisions?
{June 25th, 2025} by Doug Bailey
In the world of life insurance, guarantees have long reigned as the gold standard—products with lifetime guarantees, no-lapse provisions, and steady premiums have been the go-to for risk-averse consumers. But new research suggests that the tide may be shifting to give more weight to flexibility —if, that is, financial professionals are willing to take the […]
Annuities are looking good right now. So why aren’t people buying them?
{June 25th, 2025} by Brett Arends
Don’t bemoan the loss of traditional pensions. Create one yourself. It’s funny that so many people bemoan the loss of old-fashioned final-salary pension plans. They still exist and are arguably better than ever, yet almost nobody wants them. Read via Morningstar
US Consumer Confidence Drops on Broad Concerns About Economy
{June 25th, 2025} by Nazmul
US consumer confidence fell this month, with a gauge maintained by The Conference Board falling 5.4 points to a reading of 93. The figure was below all estimates from a survey of economists conducted by Bloomberg. “This is an ‘abundance of caution economy,’” said Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union. Read via […]
SBLI partners with Techficient for digital innovation in life insurance
{June 25th, 2025} by Staff
he Savings Bank Mutual Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts (SBLI) has partnered with Techficient to digitise the life insurance process. The partnership will see the creation of fully digital products that leverage “advanced technology” to streamline the purchasing journey for users. As a result of this partnership, SBLI has rolled out its inaugural term product, EasyTrak Digital Term […]
TruStage™ Launches ZoneChoice Advantage Annuity, Offering More Flexibility for Retirement Planning
{June 25th, 2025} by TruStage
MADISON, Wis., June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — TruStage, a leading insurance and financial services provider, today announced the launch of a new retirement solution, the TruStage ZoneChoice Advantage Annuity, underwritten by MEMBERS Life Insurance Company, a registered index-linked annuity (RILA) with new, innovative crediting strategies for end-investors. ZoneChoice Advantage is designed for both possibility and performance, with two […]
In recognition of June being National Annuity Awareness Month
{June 18th, 2025} by Sheryl J. Moore
In recognition of June being National Annuity Awareness Month, I wanted to post my annuity quick reference. Hope you find it helpful! -sjm Annuity Quick Reference
12 Insurers That Sold the Most Annuities in Q1
{June 18th, 2025} by Allison Bell
U.S. retirement savers continued to pour cash into individual annuities in the first quarter. Overall sales amounted to $98 billion, down 5.7% from the total for the first quarter of 2024, according to issuer survey data compiled by Wink. But 2024 was a terrific year for annuity sales, and sales at the 12 highest-volume issuers increased […]
Reprint: Compensation: Commission vs. Fees #AnnuityAwarenessMonth
{June 18th, 2025} by Sheryl J. Moore
Never in my decades of insurance experience have I witnessed a debate on social media that is more heated and passionate than that of fee-based advisors versus those who are commissioned. The argument? “One cannot act in the client’s best interests unless they are a fiduciary who does not get paid a commission.” Fiduciaries […]
Reprint: Innovation in Annuities #AnnuityAwarenessMonth
{June 18th, 2025} by Bloomberg
A fireside chat with three annuity industry experts and a BI economist to discuss the space, as it relates to sales metrics, distribution and product innovation. Topics include the sales growth outlook for the Annuity space (Fixed, Variable, Indexed, RILA), product innovation in the index area, opportunities in the 401(k) market, competitive dynamics and the […]
REPRINT: DON’T ASSUME PROSPECTS KNOW ANNUITIES, #AnnuityAwarenessMonth
{June 18th, 2025} by Sheryl J. Moore
DON’T ASSUME PROSPECTS KNOW ANNUITIES April 21, 2013 by Sheryl J. Moore By Sheryl J. Moore, President and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence, an indexed product resource in Des Moines, IA. I was speaking to a health insurance agent today who was looking for information on life insurance and annuities. He was genuinely interested […]
A-CAP Provides Business Update
{June 18th, 2025} by A-Cap
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A-CAP Group (“A-CAP” or “the Company”), a New York-based insurance and financial services company with over $12 billion in assets, shared a business update today, including a financial update as of March 31, 2025, updates to product offerings, as well as several important operational developments. Utah & South Carolina Regulatory Update In May […]
RIAs Overtake Independent Brokers As Top Annuities Sales GrowthChannel, Goldman Says
{June 18th, 2025} by Ben Mattlin
For the first time, insurers ranked RIAs as the top distribution growth area for annuity sales, overtaking the channel of independent insurance agents. This is among the key findings in the fifth annual Goldman Sachs Asset Management survey of insurance and annuity providers, released on Thursday. Gathering input from more than 100 professionals at 31 […]
TIAA Traditional and Lifetime Income Annuities Now Available to Public via IRA
{June 18th, 2025} by CardRatings
TIAA-CREF recently announced that they are allowing the public to invest in their fixed and income annuities inside a Traditional or Roth IRA (via Bogleheads). This includes their most well-known TIAA Traditional Annuity, which has traditionally been only available to those working in nonprofit colleges, universities, hospitals (TIAA stands for Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America). This was […]
US insurers want to take a larger slice of the retirement market through the RIA channel
{June 18th, 2025} by Steve Randall
US insurance carriers are keen to hail the benefits of annuities in retirement planning and are using several key strategies to do so. Read via Investment News
Google’s New GenAI Model Gets Better at Life Insurance
{June 18th, 2025} by Cyril Tuohy
A follow-up quiz of Google’s latest generative artificial intelligence engine offers a window into improvements in the speed and accuracy of a technology more carriers are aiming to deploy. Read via LifeAnnuitySpecialist. But things are different with Bard’s successor, Gemini. It reports — accurately — that agent commissions on a SPIA range from 1% to […]
Northwestern Mutual Launches Season Two of “A Better Way to Money®” Podcast Offering Financial Advice to Consumers Navigating Major Life Milestones
{June 18th, 2025} by Northwestern Mutual
MILWAUKEE, June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Northwestern Mutual, a leading financial services company offering comprehensive financial planning through insurance and wealth management, renews its award-winning podcast, “A Better Way to Money®” for a second season. In each episode, host Jennifer Borget is joined by guests who share personal experiences and unique perspectives, as well as financial experts who provide in-depth knowledge […]
