The experts have looked at some figures and peered into their crystal balls, and if what they see in the life insurance and financial services sectors is more than just a hiccup, we might see some good trends.

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

The Hartford hopes to expand its annuity business by re-entering the structured settlement annuity market.

“Building our annuity business is an important part of our wealth management strategy, and we are …  Read →

Applications filed for individually underwritten life insurance increased 2.1% in July, an “unprecedented” increase for the month, according to the MIB Life Index.

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards’ has opened public comment periods for its proposed amendments to its experience requirement for initial CFP certification and changes to its disciplinary rules.

Securian Financial Group’s credit protection business with increase by about 25% after it completes its acquisition of American Modern Life Insurance Co. (AMLIC) and its subsidiary, Southern Pioneer Life Insurance Co. (SPLIC).

Consumers can access the “best” insurance information from state insurance department websites in California, Georgia, Kansas, Ohio, Texas and Utah, while other states’ insurance regulatory websites must improve, according to consumer advocates.

Life insurance seems to get short shrift in discussions among clients and financial advisors, perhaps because of its complexity, a new survey and industry expert suggest.

Just one-half (49%) of 2,410 …  Read →

California officials predict that Standard & Poor’s (S&P) recent downgrade on the credit rating of U.S. government securities will not affect life insurers’ dealings with their consumers in the state.

Unitrin announced its new name will be Kemper Corp., effective Aug. 25, when the company also will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the KMPR ticker symbol.