Howard J. Stock

Advisors put money on non-U.S. markets leading the global economy out of the recession.

RIA buys wirehouse reps' businesses and gives them a stake in the company.

ING Financial Solutions is launching today a new, simplified variable annuity, called ING Select Opportunities, with much lower fees than its flashier, pre-crash offerings.

Unemployment fears stifle a consumer-led recovery, but corporate spending will pick up the slack, managers say.

The SEC doesn’t yet require insurers to register indexed annuities, but wirehouse reps prefer it, ING CEO Ford said.

Market observers say that Obama’s healthcare plan as it now stands creates 30 million new consumers without reining in costs.

Despite advisors’ bullish prognostications, January's average production dropped by 11% to $14,930 from a month earlier.

Premiums are down 12%, but with the cost of risk rising, life sellers should take the opportunity to prepare for a brighter future.

But uncertainty still reigns.

Aggressive hiring buoyed the independent broker-dealer’s sales figures last year.

Financial services firms have yet to create a strong retirement income plan, Cogent finds.

Prospects and clients might say they're feeling upbeat about the economy, but their money isn't talking.

The company increased sales by 14% last year, surpassing $1 billion for the first time in its history.

Guaranteed living benefits may now be synonymous with variable annuities, but unless insurers rein in costs and restore benefits, sales may continue to slide.

The organization didn't announce a Lifetime Award Winner this year.

Advisors are slow to take advantage of their recurring-revenue opportunities.

Merrill Lynch’s high account minimums could banish many BofA clients to a call center, taking their advisors’ main source of production with them.

Advisors are thinking outside the box to grow their businesses despite market volatility last year.

Sales declined 11% from the previous quarter and 40% from a year earlier.

Whitehouse plans to tax the “non-earned” income of high earners to pay for Medicare could hurt annuity sales, claims a lobbyist for the insurance industry.