The recent 2025 Annuity Industry Survey from Goldman Sachs gives us a timely and revealing look at where the industry is—and where it’s heading. With over 100 carriers weighing in, this isn’t speculation; it’s a clear view of what insurers… Read More »Reading the Signals: What the Goldman Sachs Annuity Survey Really Tells Us
It’s been a quiet few years for variable annuities. Today, however, with interest rates drifting lower, they’re becoming more relevant and more saleable. After a multi-year decline, 2024 VA sales jumped to $60 billion—a 20% year-over-year increase. While RILAs remain… Read More »Variable Annuities Are Back—And They Deserve a Fresh Look
The constant drumbeat of news around tariffs will inevitably prompt client questions about how their retirement plans may be affected. For IFAs, this presents a timely opportunity to provide clarity and reassurance. By reinforcing risk-managed strategies and guaranteed income, you… Read More »Markets are watching closely as the U.S. revisits tariff strategies. Your clients are too.
Retirement planning is no longer just about accumulating a static nest egg—it’s about creating a flexible, dynamic strategy that ensures a steady income throughout retirement. Market volatility, inflation, and longer life expectancies all pose risks to financial security, making guaranteed… Read More »Lifetime Income: The New Cornerstone of Retirement Planning
The regulatory environment for annuity sales in 2025 is shaping up to be more favorable than it has been in years. With the Department of Labor’s (DOL) fiduciary rule critically stalled and a broader political shift toward easing regulatory oversight,… Read More »A Favorable Regulatory Landscape for Annuities in 2025
What will clients be expecting from advisors in 2025? The answer contains something of a contradiction: investors are increasingly looking for customization and flexibility while also demanding simplified and transparent products. The solution to this conundrum is to take an… Read More »Annuities, Technology, and Trust: Your Guide to the Year Ahead
As widely anticipated, the Federal Reserve has cut the interest rate, opting for a half-point reduction. Reaction to this has been mixed, but the interest rate is still higher than it was in early 2022. So how might the cut… Read More »Maximizing Opportunity: How The Interest Rate Cut Can Boost Your Sales
For IFA’s, regulation and compliance can be added to the cliche about the certainty of death and taxes. The industry certainly recently scored a win with the recent federal court decisions over the DoL’s fiduciary rule, but the SEC has… Read More »Adapting to Change: Key Regulatory Insights for Financial Advisors
The Department of Labor was dealt a serious double whammy by Texas Federal Courts last week. Federal Judges of the Fifth Circuit sided with the insurance industry by blocking the government’s attempts to handcuff advisors, broker-dealers, and carriers. Naturally, this… Read More »DOL Fiduciary Rule Update: Legal Wins and What’s Next for Advisors
Q1 US annuity sales totaled $13.9 billion, a 21% increase over Q1 2023, and LIMRA forecasts that sales will continue to rise through 2024 and into 2025. While inflation is down from its 9% high in the summer of 2022,… Read More »Navigating the Age of the Annuity: The Evolving Role of Financial Advisors