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Do Fixed Annuities Clash with Rising Interest Rates?

Do Fixed Annuities Clash with Rising Interest Rates?

Do Fixed Annuities Clash with Rising Interest Rates? | August 23, 2012 | , , ,

As interest rates hover at all-time lows, demand for safe money options has been taking a hit. Proof of this can be seen in the recent LIMRA report which showed that fixed annuity sales dropped 14% in the second quarter of 2012 on a year-over-year analysis. This drop in demand is simply due to the belief that rates are much more likely increase than to decrease going forward. At the current level, it is hard not to have this belief. So what safe money options...

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Tips for Using Retirement Calculators

Tips for Using Retirement Calculators

Tips for Using Retirement Calculators | August 22, 2012 |

Given that you have found this blog, you are likely one of many who are using the internet to help ensure that your retirement plan is as strong as possible. There are a tremendous amount websites, blogs, and articles which all have some great value-add features. An important feature that many now include is a retirement calculator which you can often use free of charge. Although it is fantastic to have so many tools at our fingertips, very few of these calculators actually give detailed...

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Q2 of 2012 Results: Variable and Fixed Annuity Sales on a Decline

Q2 of 2012 Results: Variable and Fixed Annuity Sales on a Decline

Q2 of 2012 Results: Variable and Fixed Annuity Sales on a Decline | August 21, 2012 | ,

According to LIMRA’s second quarter 2012 survey, variable annuity (VA) sales in the second quarter of 2012 declined 5% compared to the same quarter of 2011. Total VA sales in Q2 of 2012 were $38.6 billion, which is a 5% increase to what was realized in Q1 of 2012. This survey found that total fixed annuity sales also dropped in the second quarter of 2012 compared to the same quarter of 2011. These products had a sharper drop down to $18.4 billion which amounts to...

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Q2 of 2012 Results: Indexed Annuity Sales Continue to Rise

Q2 of 2012 Results: Indexed Annuity Sales Continue to Rise

Q2 of 2012 Results: Indexed Annuity Sales Continue to Rise | August 20, 2012 |

According to LIMRA’s second quarter 2012 survey, the indexed annuity market has continued its impressive growth with its now fourth consecutive quarter of outpacing traditional fixed annuity sales. Indexed annuity sales in quarter 2 totaled $8.6 billion, which is a 6% increase compared to the same quarter in 2011. LIMRA theorized that this continued increase is driven by the popular guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit (GLWB) riders, which were elected 71% of the time for products which offered them. Allianz Life continues to hold the top...

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The Financial Rule of 100 Applied to the Golden Years

The Financial Rule of 100 Applied to the Golden Years

The Financial Rule of 100 Applied to the Golden Years | August 20, 2012 | , , , ,

Written By: Jeremy Smith | Amerishield If you subtract your age from 100 the difference is the suggested maximum percentage of investment savings you should permit to be at risk. Note the word maximum, not the minimum, permitted to be at risk. Risky investments are not for everyone. It could be dangerous for everyone who violates the financial rule of 100. At age 55 (100 – 55 = 45) this suggests that you permit no more than 45 percent of your investment assets to be...

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An Unanticipated Recommendation

An Unanticipated Recommendation

An Unanticipated Recommendation | August 17, 2012 | , , , ,

Written By: Cal Burgess | Retirement Servicing Group A few months ago I made a recommendation to a referral (now a client) regarding an indexed universal life policy. His financial goals were straight forward; he wanted to protect his money from rising federal income taxes while protecting as much of his money from market risk as possible. When we met, I could tell that he was frustrated with the performance of his portfolio and was skeptical about other financial vehicles that he entertained. After about...

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Survey Results: Strong Majority of Recent Annuity Buyers Are Happy with Their Purchase

Survey Results: Strong Majority of Recent Annuity Buyers Are Happy with Their Purchase

Survey Results: Strong Majority of Recent Annuity Buyers Are Happy with Their Purchase | August 16, 2012 | , ,

A recent survey found that almost 9 out of 10 buyers of traditional fixed annuities are happy with their purchase. In late 2011, LIMRA surveyed 1,200 individuals 40 years of age and over who had purchased an annuity within the past three years. They found that 86% of traditional fixed annuity buyers remained satisfied with their purchase. Also, they found that high satisfaction rates from buyers of indexed annuities (83%) and variable annuities (75%). The study revealed that the most popular reason these individuals gave...

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Tips for Increasing Your Social Security Income

Tips for Increasing Your Social Security Income

Tips for Increasing Your Social Security Income | August 15, 2012 | , ,

Given the 76th birthday of Social Security this week, Emily Brandon was nice enough to post an informative article highlighting tips for increasing your social security payments. Although you may believe that the impacts to these factors may be hardly noticeable when looking at a monthly impact, the overall impact realized over multiple years can be surprisingly large. Below are the tips that she revealed in her article called How to Increase Your Social Security checks: • Work for at least 35 years: benefits are...

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Permanent Life Insurance: The Financial Perks

Permanent Life Insurance: The Financial Perks

Permanent Life Insurance: The Financial Perks | August 14, 2012 | , , , ,

Written By: Cal Burgess | Retirement Servicing Group Who would have ever thought that one of the most attractive tax deferred, cash accumulating vehicles could be found inside a permanent life insurance contract? Imagine that, insurance policies that have outperformed the S & P 500 over the last 15 years with respect to cash accumulation. If you haven’t heard this concept, I strongly suggest that you educate yourself on all of the benefits that you have been missing out on. One of the ways to...

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Survey Results: 72% of Non-Retired Baby Boomers Believe They Will Have to Delay Their Retirement

Survey Results: 72% of Non-Retired Baby Boomers Believe They Will Have to Delay Their Retirement

Survey Results: 72% of Non-Retired Baby Boomers Believe They Will Have to Delay Their Retirement | August 13, 2012 | ,

A recent AARP survey has revealed that almost three in four non-retired baby boomers believe that they will have to delay their retirement. Their survey of 1,852 registered voters found that non-retired 50-64 year olds (baby boomers) were very concerned about their financial health. The findings revealed that 72% believed that they would have to delay their retirement. Even more concerning, the survey showed that 50% of the non-retired baby boomers have little confidence that they will ever be able to retire. Given the anxiety...

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