Variations on the indexed annuity offerings are providing a growing number of pre-retirees and retirees with new financial planning options.

Annuity sales increased 16% in the first quarter, reaching $60 billion, with variable annuity sales leading the way with a 24% increase in sales over the same period last year.

Indexed annuities had record sales for a second consecutive year, reaching $32.1 billion, according to LIMRA’s analysis of sales.

The financial services reform legislation approved this month assures that indexed annuities will remain regulated as insurance products, not securities.

A federal appeals court has voided Rule 151A, a regulation that would have treated indexed annuities as securities, placing them under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Phoenix Cos. introduced a new series of indexed annuities it says brings flexibility and diversification to the marketplace.

Variable annuity sales, after falling 26% in the first six months of last year, perked up enough to erase some of those losses for the entire year, LIMRA reported.

Surprise! A federal court has said that the SEC did not follow guidelines when implementing Rule 151A, so the court is telling the SEC that it must re-evaluate the mandate …  Read →

A federal court has told the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to reconsider its controversial Rule 151A, saying that while it supported federal oversight of the products over confusing state …  Read →

Congress might consider reversing the idiotic Rule 151A, which brings indexed annuities into line with securities and thus under the purview of the SEC, effectively shutting insurance agents out of …  Read →