variable annuities

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  Jackson National takes top spot in annuity sales

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  May 24, 2013

  The rankings peg Jackson National Life’s first quarter sales at $5.3 billion — the only carrier to exceed the $5 billion mark.

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  Mutual funds top products used by advisors

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  March 7, 2013

  The majority of advisors use mutual funds, common stock, ETFs and variable annuities.

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  FIAs sole annuity category to enjoy sales growth in 2012

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  February 21, 2013

  For all of 2012, indexed annuities totaled $33.9 billion, up 5 percent from the $32.2 posted in 2011.

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  Reversal of fortunes

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  February 19, 2013

  After a period of uncertainty, fixed indexed annuities are now hot-selling products among producers.

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  The only two annuity sales you will make in a volatile market

  By Jonathan Musgrave  |  February 1, 2013

  In today’s marketplace, there are only two suitable FIA sales. The first is obviously the income sale. But the second sale to make is often overlooked. Here are a few products you need to consider adding to your practice to capitalize on these sales.

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  Life, annuity acquisitions by AIMs hit $138B

  By Warren S. Hersh  |  January 29, 2013

  The buyouts in recent years are, in part, attributed to continuing low interests and, as a consequence, insurers’ earnings.

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  Nationwide debuts enhancements to marketFLEX

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  January 22, 2013

  ALSO: Product and personnel news from the National Association for Fixed Annuities and Curian Capital LLC.

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  Cogent’s Meredith Rice: VA brand awareness is down, but sales remain strong

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  January 11, 2013

  Meredith Rice, a senior project director at Cogent Research, explains the impact of brand and customer loyalty on revenue in the affluent marketplace.

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  Managed volatility funds at $129 billion in September

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  January 11, 2013

  The $21 billion total recorded in September represents more than a 21-fold increase from the $967 million posted in 2006.

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  Are some index annuities two-tiered annuities in disguise?

  By Jason Kestler  |  January 4, 2013

  Although two-tiered annuities provided significant value to those clients who desired safety and were willing to receive their funds over time, they also generated quite a bit of heartburn for insurance companies and agents when clients who misunderstood the design tried to access their funds.