Annuities

These strategies can help advisors achieve annuitylike results while cutting out intermediaries and increasing returns.

Our IRA expert answers questions about the number of recharacterizations allowed, earned income contribution rules and how to purchase annuities without a tax hit.

In 2013, fees and commissions from annuity sales produced $3.43 billion in revenue, up 9% from 2012, according to the Michael White Bank Annuity Fee Income Report.

Fixed indexed annuities have helped drive overall industry growth, as advisors at large B-Ds and wirehouses embrace the controversial products.

New funds provide hedging tools to limit or amplify clients' currency exposure on their foreign investments.

After variable annuity sales plunged in 2012, expectations are high for the coming years for new players and higher sales.

People underestimate the chances of dying from likely causes, like heart failure, while overestimating the chances of dying from an unlikely cause, like murder. This can cause big mistakes in retirement planning.

Firm's partners say they wanted 'control of our destiny -- we wanted to own our own equity.'

The move is part of a shift of emphasis from life insurance "to a more well-rounded protection and retirement planning approach."

Investment advisors will play a critical role in helping the nearly 80 million baby boomers and future generations develop a sustainable plan for retirement, a pair of senators said on Wednesday.

One way to help clients avoid outliving their money is to encourage them to use a portion of their assets to purchase an ordinary, straight-ahead immediate annuity without any bells and whistles.

Traditional immediate annuities are now known as income annuities, and consumers are making sure of substantial future cash flows by paying well in advance.

Some academics maintain that if a client obtains an immediate annuity, it pays an income stream for life and the individual is less likely to outlive his or her money. But of course, many planners often see issues with this in real-life situations.

An annuity offers the investor income for life -- for a price. Considering the return on investment, how do annuities compare to bonds?

Lincoln National topped $10 billion in individual variable annuity sales in the nine months ended Sept. 30, the most in at least six years, as rivals retreated from the contracts.

Clients’ desire for principal protection plus profit potential has benchmark-based products booming.

Such annuities typically mean “watered-down guarantees” and there’s not a lot of demand for that, a panel of speakers said at LIMRA’s 2013 annual conference on Monday.

The firm was praised for its client marketing materials at the annual Retirement Income Industry Association conference. Allianz and Principal were also honored.

IRS private letter ruling gives heirs choices about annuities.

Issuers have been busy changing fees, adjusting payout levels and consolidating age bands.