Almost half of financial planning professionals say they bring up variable annuities in “every conversation” with their clients, according to a new survey.

The Hartford’s decision to leave the individual annuity market doesn’t mean the insured retirement industry is struggling, according to the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI).

Annuity sales in 2011 grew 7.7%, fueled in large part by a 28% increase in net variable-annuity sales during the year.

Annuity sales are being influence by increasing emotion and a desire by buyers to secure their retirement, not accumulate wealth, a new report finds.

The number of new variable annuity products tripled in the second quarter, with lifetime guaranteed withdrawal benefits continuing to dominate the market.

Half of middle-market baby boomers say they lack the confidence to manage their investing, and fewer than 50% have contacted a financial services professional for help, according to a new survey from the Insured Retirement Institute.

Less is more, at least when it comes to consumers’ interest in reading prospectus information about variable annuities (VA).

The annuity industry ended last year on “strong and secure footing,” where variable annuity assets reached an all-time high and fourth quarter sales showed the highest levels of last year, a report showed.

A retirement planning group is reminding financial service professionals and their clients not to overlook the required minimum distribution (RMD), a compulsory withdrawal that must be taken from tax-deferred accounts by Dec. 31.

National Retirement Planning Week, designed to coincide with Financial Literacy Month, is scheduled for April 12 to April 15, as various organizations schedule outreach efforts designed to raise public awareness to the need to comprehensively plan for retirement.