Annuity advisors should not have to wait breathlessly to see what exciting thing the issuer's order processing team will do next.
That's one of the ideas driving recent annuity support services and annuity product announcements.
Here's a look at five themes behind the debuts.
1. Show financial professionals what's happening.
An insurance technology firm, iPipeline, has introduced the OneView system, a tool that will help financial advisors track the status of clients' annuity orders — in real-time.
Traditionally, pizzerias have helped customers see what's happening with orders for $20 pizzas. Insurers have not provided any kind of online tracking for annuity transactions that could involve hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement savings.
Now, iPipeline says, financial professionals can use OneView to see what's happening to annuity orders at many insurers without having to email a carrier representative or summon up the energy to call someone.
2. Offer quick returns.
Delaware Life, an arm of Group 1001, has introduced the PrimeStart Bonus 10 non-variable indexed annuity.
The contract provides a 10% bonus on premium payments made in the first 60 days after the issue date, along with interest crediting based on the lowest starting index value in the first 90 days after contract issue.
The lowest-starting-index-value feature could increase the size of the interest credit and the likelihood of the client earning an interest credit in the first contract year, according to Delaware Life.
The annuity has a minimum premium of $25,000 and a maximum issue age of 80.
It has a 10‐year surrender charge schedule.
3. Guarantee returns.
The stock market may look better, but many clients still want to lock in value guarantees.
