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.

The net assts of the U.S. variable annuity industry posted an increase for the first time in five quarters, leading one industry expert to suggest a “turning point.”

The second quarter marked the greatest increase in combined net assets in variable annuities in the U.S. in more than four years.

The Insured Retirement Institute said net assets in variable …  Read →

NAVA, the Association for Insured Retirement Strategies, has changed its name to the Insured Retirement Institute, as part of a rebranding that includes a new mission and the welcoming of …  Read →