Annuities
Annuity news and analysis, including coverage of annuity market regulatory, compliance and legislative issues.
January 01, 2006
Pressure packedThe changing face of retirement. What does that mean? Well, given the human propensity for individuality, it could mean 76 million different things over the next 25 years. Retirement is changing because boomers are like this, or because boomers are
January 01, 2006
Follow up with successA successful initial meeting with a prospect is wasted if you fail in the next important step: following up. What are the best ways to follow up? That depends on who you ask. So we decided to ask many of you how you do it. What are your best ways...
January 01, 2006
Wheels and dealsSelf-professed gear head Russell A. Smith began his career as a life insurance agent for a large Midwestern insurance company. He spent his days knocking on doors and his nights serving up hearty helpings of Budweiser and Corona. "That only lasted
January 01, 2006
Let me introduce you to my clientsForming professional relationships with CPAs, estate planning attorneys, tax attorneys or anyone else you want to throw into the mix can be exponentially profitable for your business and theirs. In an industry that thrives on referrals, what better
January 01, 2006
An emerging annuity alternativeThe problem seemed insoluble. Jim needed some of the monthly retirement income his annuity provided but not all of it. And he needed a large sum of cash, fast. It wasn't poor financial planning; life changed for Jim in a way he could not anticipate.
December 31, 2005
The bonfire of the equitiesThe question of whether equity-indexed annuities should be classified as a fixed or variable product was headed for resolution last summer. The NASD in August announced it would issue guidance on the controversial issue, and members anxiously
December 31, 2005
A key componentIn the days before the current Bush Administration enacted its controversial plan to phase out and ultimately repeal the federal estate tax, it was a foregone conclusion for advisors working with high-net-worth clients to suggest some form of
December 31, 2005
Points of referenceSo, your financial planning practice is up and running. In fact, maybe it has been humming along for several years now, and you've done a fine job for your clients. But you're finding it harder and harder to stay on top of every latest development.
December 31, 2005
Wheels and dealsSelf-professed gear head Russell A. Smith began his career as a life insurance agent for a large Midwestern insurance company. He spent his days knocking on doors and his nights serving up hearty helpings of Budweiser and Corona. "That only lasted
December 31, 2005
An emerging annuity alternativeThe problem seemed insoluble. Jim needed some of the monthly retirement income his annuity provided but not all of it. And he needed a large sum of cash, fast. It wasn't poor financial planning; life changed for Jim in a way he could not anticipate.