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.

An executive summary, providing prospective and current investors in financial instruments with easy-to-understand information, should become commonplace, according to a strong majority of participants in the latest IFAwebnews.com poll.

The words is out: People don’t want to read boring prospectuses for the financial products they buy. Even more importantly, as the Insured Retirement Institute recently found, they don’t bother.

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

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.