National Underwriter Life & Health Magazine October 05, 2009
Cover Story
It's Showtime For SPIAs
The volatile investment markets have not dampened life insurers' willingness to take on longevity risk, which is the risk that annuitants outlive their life expectancy.
Focus
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It's Still All About Guarantees
By historical standards, second quarter 2009 was a good one for U.S. fixed annuity (FA) sales. At an estimated $27.8 billion, it was the third-best quarter in the 6 1/2 -year history of the Beacon Research Fixed Annuity Premium Study.
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VA Sales Inch Up 4.3% In 2Q
New sales of variable annuities recovered modestly in the second quarter, increasing 4.3% to $31.2 billion from a multi-year low of $30 billion in the first quarter of 2009.
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Annuity Outlook: Difficult Near-Term, Bright Beyond
The multi-year guarantee (MYG) annuity sales rally is over.
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How Income Annuities Help Build A Personal Pension
Is it finally time for fixed income annuities to shine in the retirement marketplace?
News
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Public Option Off Table In Senate
Health care reform legislation that the insurance industry could support took a giant step forward last week when the Senate Finance Committee rejected two amendments that would create a so-called "public option" to compete with private insurers.
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Proposed Consumer Agency Wouldn't Oversee Retirement Product Providers
Providers of retirement products will be exempt from oversight by the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) under a revision to the bill offered by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
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Insights From Top-Flight Speakers At NU'S L&H Executive Conference
Senior executives, regulators and industry analysts will offer "Insights and ideas for leading in this complex environment" at the Twentieth Annual Executive Conference for the Life Insurance Industry.
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Life Settlement Securitizations Pose No Systemic Threat, LISA Asserts
At a recent Congressional hearing, a representative of the life settlement industry derided as ludicrous claims that securitization of life settlements would constitute a potential systemic threat to economic stability.
Features
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2Q Variable Life Sales Rose 4.5% Over 1Q Results
Variable life insurance sales with single premiums included at 10% for the 35 companies reporting in the VALUE survey for the second quarter of 2009 were $307.3 million.
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The Case For Using Social Media
Communicating with clients and reaching new prospects is critical for maintaining and growing your business.
Opinion
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Sausage Makers
At this point more people (at least in the U.S.) probably know Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck more for his remark that "laws are like sausages.
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Are You A Fiduciary?
Discussion is stirring in Congress over whether an Obama administration proposal to have brokers who provide investment advice held to a fiduciary standard, not just the current suitability standard.
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Gee-Whiz Features Don't Help Annuity Sales
Adding "gee-whiz" features to products doesn't always make things work better, whether it's in insurance or anything else.
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Wake-up Call
Following President Obama's recent address to the joint session of Congress, I listened to several analyses on three different TV channels.
