Thursday, July 31, 2008

Horace Mann Reports Results for Second Quarter - MarketWatch


Horace Mann Reports Results for Second Quarter
MarketWatch - Jul 30, 2008
... other 104.3 98.7 5.7% Total Annuity and Life investments 3405.0 3584.6 -5.0% Property & Casualty Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost 2008, ...
Great-West Lifeco reports second quarter 2008 results and dividend ... Canada NewsWire (press release)
all 575 news articles

Guaranty Financial Group Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2008 Results - Centre Daily Times


Guaranty Financial Group Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2008 Results
Centre Daily Times, PA - 8 hours ago
... from the second quarter 2007, principally as a result of increased fixed annuity sales commissions, and increased fees and service charges on deposits. ...

Prudential Financial, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2008 Results - MarketWatch


Prudential Financial, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2008 Results
MarketWatch - 21 hours ago
Current quarter results reflected lower asset-based fees, primarily associated with market-related declines in variable annuity account values. ...
Prudential's Net Falls 30% Wall Street Journal
Prudential Profit Beats Estimates on International (Update1) Bloomberg
all 24 news articles

MetLife, Inc. Q2 2008 Earnings Call - Seeking Alpha


MetLife, Inc. Q2 2008 Earnings Call
Seeking Alpha, NY - 14 hours ago
In individual business, variable annuity deposits were up from first quarter level. We also saw strong positive net flows in the second quarter. ...

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

SEC Seeks To Regulate Indexed Annuities Agents - Hartford Business


SEC Seeks To Regulate Indexed Annuities Agents
Hartford Business - Jul 27, 2008
“It’s not the demand that will shift, it’s the distributors,” said Chad Tope, senior vice president of annuities distribution for ING’s fixed annuity ...

Pros and cons of fixed annuities - Zanesville Times Recorder


Pros and cons of fixed annuities
Zanesville Times Recorder, OH - Jul 20, 2008
I'm sure you have heard about annuities. There are two types and this article is on fixed annuities. Most of us have seen a presentation or own a fixed ...

Annuity Papers, Please. Hold the Jargon - Wall Street Journal


Annuity Papers, Please. Hold the Jargon
Wall Street Journal - Jul 28, 2008
Fixed annuities guarantee a specific payment each period regardless of fluctuations in the value of the annuity issuer's underlying investments. ...

"I Thought Our Plan Was In Compliance!" - Part II - The Metropolitan Coporate Counsel


"I Thought Our Plan Was In Compliance!" - Part II
The Metropolitan Coporate Counsel, NJ - 1 hour ago
... and survivor annuity" ("QJSA") requirements, generally limited to defined benefit and money purchase (ie, providing for a fixed employer contribution) ...

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. Q2 2008 Earnings Call ... - Seeking Alpha


Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. Q2 2008 Earnings Call ...
Seeking Alpha, NY - 13 hours ago
We have also seen improving fixed annuity sales as interest rates have moved up. Forecasting sales in these equity markets is very difficult particularly in ...

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

MetLife Cuts Forecast After Net Falls on Investments (Update3) - Bloomberg


MetLife Cuts Forecast After Net Falls on Investments (Update3)
Bloomberg - 4 hours ago
Annuity operating earnings fell by 46 percent to $146 million because a decline in equity markets caused the company to lower its profitability forecast on ...

Ameriprise Financial Reports Second Quarter 2008 Results - Business Wire (press release)


Ameriprise Financial Reports Second Quarter 2008 Results
Business Wire (press release), CA - Jul 23, 2008
Variable annuity net inflows of $0.8 billion in the quarter were partially offset by continued fixed annuity net outflows. Fixed annuity net outflows slowed ...

Monday, July 28, 2008

Allianz launches Variable Annuities in Europe - Prdomain Business Register (press release)


Allianz launches Variable Annuities in Europe
Prdomain Business Register (press release), India - 17 hours ago
The annuity can never decrease in value, but can increase as fund assets grow. The new, higher annuity level is fixed and is again guaranteed for life, ...

The Hartford Announces Second Quarter Net Income Of $543 Million ... - StreetInsider.com (subscription)


The Hartford Announces Second Quarter Net Income Of $543 Million ...
StreetInsider.com (subscription), MI - 5 hours ago
... gains and losses such as net periodic settlements on credit derivatives and net periodic settlements on the Japan fixed annuity cross-currency swap. ...

Bank annuity sales fall in April - InvestmentNews


Bank annuity sales fall in April
InvestmentNews, NY - Jul 15, 2008
The growth trend in fixed annuity sales has been propelled by volatility in the equity markets and the dismal economic environment, according to Greg ...

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Give Your Pension An £11000 Boost - Motley Fool UK

Give Your Pension An £11000 Boost
Motley Fool UK, UK - Jul 9, 2008
And again, there will be a crossover point where the income from the fixed annuity begins to exceed the payout from the level annuity. ...
Delivering value What Investment
Hargreaves speaks out against 'RPI annuities' FT Adviser
all 3 news articles

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2008 Earnings - Earthtimes (press release)

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2008 Earnings
Earthtimes (press release), UK - 11 hours ago
Growth of sales, premiums and annuity deposits, cash flows, gross profits and profitability. -- Availability of capital required to support business growth ...
StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2008 Earnings PR Newswire (press release)
all 420 news articles

Monday, July 21, 2008

Fitch Affirms Liberty Life's IFS Rating at 'A+' - MarketWatch


Fitch Affirms Liberty Life's IFS Rating at 'A+'
MarketWatch - 8 hours ago
... yield curve and unsettled regulatory sales practice concerns, have resulted in slow growth for the company's fixed and indexed annuity products. ...

How To Make Retirement Savings Last - North American Press Syndicate


How To Make Retirement Savings Last
North American Press Syndicate, NY - 4 hours ago
A single-premium immediate annuity can guarantee a source of income for a defined period-or even for life-in exchange for a lump sum premium payment. ...

BUYINS.NET: RegSHO.com Launches Short Sale Compliance Website For ... - Trading Markets (press release)


BUYINS.NET: RegSHO.com Launches Short Sale Compliance Website For ...
Trading Markets (press release), CA - 1 hour ago
It also offers equity and fixed income products, including US, European, and Asian equities; government and agency securities; money market products; ...

Life, Health Insurers Hit by Mortgage-Backed Securities - Insurance News Net (press release)


Life, Health Insurers Hit by Mortgage-Backed Securities
Insurance News Net (press release), PA - Jul 16, 2008
This operating loss was primarily caused by a $207 million increase in policy surrenders, a $260 million increase in fixed annuity reserves, ...

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Financial Q&A: Does your brokerage account have enough insurance? - Christian Science Monitor


Financial Q&A: Does your brokerage account have enough insurance?
Christian Science Monitor, MA - 9 hours ago
It does not cover unregistered investments such as fixed-annuity contracts, hard commodities, commodity options, or futures contracts. Nor, he points out, ...

LIFE ASSURANCE How to choose the right life assurance - Personal Finance


LIFE ASSURANCE How to choose the right life assurance
Personal Finance, South Africa - 11 hours ago
... including level annuities, which pay the same amount for life; escalating annuities, which can increase in line with inflation or by a fixed amount ...

There are alternatives to traditional retirement plans - Chillicothe Gazette


There are alternatives to traditional retirement plans
Chillicothe Gazette, OH - Jul 13, 2008
A fixed annuity is a fixed interest rate annuity that pays you a guaranteed fixed interest for a specific period of time. There is no risk of loss, ...

Saved by the Lords? - CityWire.co.uk


Saved by the Lords?
CityWire.co.uk, UK - 15 hours ago
... requires a pension to be taken in the form of an annuity by the age of 75, so that the age limit shall be fixed in accordance with subsection (2) below. ...

Financial Q&A: Jumping from one annuity to another can prove costly - Christian Science Monitor


Financial Q&A: Jumping from one annuity to another can prove costly
Christian Science Monitor, MA - Jul 13, 2008
Commissions paid to sales agents on annuities can be substantial, and if you jump from the fixed annuity to the variable version you'll be paying two ...

Friday, July 18, 2008

Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2008 Earnings - FOXBusiness


Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2008 Earnings
FOXBusiness - 7 hours ago
Growth in non-interest income from sources such as insurance and annuity sales, debit and credit card interchange fees, and title insurance has aided in ...

Thursday, July 17, 2008

The Obama Tax Reform Plan For Long Term Economic Growth? - American Chronicle


The Obama Tax Reform Plan For Long Term Economic Growth?
American Chronicle, CA - 14 hours ago
Take Social Security out of the public sector and replace it with a mandatory, deferred, fixed benefit, single-life-annuity program managed by existing ...

ABI unveils guidance on annuities - FT Adviser


ABI unveils guidance on annuities
FT Adviser, UK - Jul 16, 2008
In many ways you could compare an annuity to a mortgage as people will come off a fixed-rate and just stay on the standard variable rate. ...

Annuity regulation won't stop shady sales - Tulsa World


Annuity regulation won't stop shady sales
Tulsa World, OK - Jul 16, 2008
Because annuities offer a fixed minimum rate of return guaranteed by the insurer, they have been treated like an insurance product, rather than a security. ...

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Boost your pension payout - Scotsman


Boost your pension payout
Scotsman, United Kingdom - Jul 13, 2008
However, we feel that if you are going to buy an annuity, then a fixed increasing annuity at 3% is likely to be a much better deal than RPI linking. ...

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Pension Option Can Pay Off - Hartford Courant


Pension Option Can Pay Off
Hartford Courant, United States - Jul 13, 2008
... Md. Think of it this way: How big an income stream would the $97000 give you if you used it to purchase an immediate, fixed annuity? ...

Paternoster sees business increase 550 per cent - FT Adviser


Paternoster sees business increase 550 per cent
FT Adviser, UK - 4 hours ago
The regulated insurance company is now the approved annuity provider for 41 pensions schemes, representing 50000 scheme members and over £9m of monthly ...
Paternoster sees continued business growth Money Marketing
all 6 news articles

Study: NC retirees will outlive savings - News & Observer


Study: NC retirees will outlive savings
News & Observer, NC - 11 hours ago
... group that pushes for tax breaks for annuities, which are insurance products that provide a guaranteed monthly income for a fixed term or until death. ...

Monday, July 14, 2008

Sevolution SM Campaign for The Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider ... - Business Wire (press release)


Sevolution SM Campaign for The Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider ...
Business Wire (press release), CA - 11 hours ago
Annuities are long-term, tax-deferred investments designed for retirement and will fluctuate in value. They also allow customers to create a fixed or ...

Annuity sellers must adopt this code - This is Money


Annuity sellers must adopt this code
This is Money, UK - 20 hours ago
He says that for those looking to switch a large loan, the bank's two-year fixed rate at 6.49% (with a fee of £995, on loans up to £1m) stacks up well ...

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Tune out the bad financial advice - Asbury Park Press


Tune out the bad financial advice
Asbury Park Press, NJ - 19 hours ago
You can buy no-commission annuities through Vanguard Group and T. Rowe Price, or through Napfa members, who have access to immediate fixed annuities at low ...

Fitch Affirms Midland National Life & North American Co. for Life ... - Business Wire (press release)


Fitch Affirms Midland National Life & North American Co. for Life ...
Business Wire (press release), CA - Jul 2, 2008
Although top line growth in its fixed annuity business could be negatively affected by unfavorable regulatory rulings, Fitch expects SFG to maintain its ...
Fitch Affirms Trustmark Insurance Company's IFS Rating; Outlook Stable Business Wire (press release)
all 15 news articles

Shop and compare - Vernon Morning Star


Shop and compare
Vernon Morning Star,  Canada - Jul 11, 2008
Think of an annuity; a series of payments that last for a fixed period of time, and have a terminal value of zero. There are several different types of ...

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Barclays/MetLife team-up kicks off scramble to add annuity ... - FinancialWeek (subscription)


Barclays/MetLife team-up kicks off scramble to add annuity ...
FinancialWeek (subscription), NY - Jul 3, 2008
Hartford offers a fixed-annuity option to 401(k) plans. “It does make a lot of sense to offer guaranteed income as a component of a target-date fund,” Ms. ...

Annuityspecs.com Provides Central Resource for News on SEC's ... - Insurance News Net (press release)


Annuityspecs.com Provides Central Resource for News on SEC's ...
Insurance News Net (press release), PA - Jul 10, 2008
Sheryl J. Moore, founder of the site had this to say, “We believe that Indexed Annuities should remain fixed insurance products, and that the SEC’s proposal ...

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Equitable Life: Q and A - Times Online


Equitable Life: Q and A
Times Online, UK - Jul 9, 2008
The life assurer has sold off most of its operations, transferring its fixed pensions to Canada Life in 2007 and all of its remaining with-profits annuity ...

Hargreaves speaks out against 'RPI annuities' - FT Adviser


Hargreaves speaks out against 'RPI annuities'
FT Adviser, UK - Jul 8, 2008
However, we feel that if you are going to buy an annuity, then a fixed increasing annuity at 3 per cent is likely to be a much better deal than RPI linking. ...

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Delivering value - What Investment

Delivering value
What Investment, UK - Jul 8, 2008
By contrast, the fixed-increase annuity rising at a level three per cent per annum offers investors the prospect of a better overall return. ...

Cash proves safe haven amid current market volatility - Palm Beach Daily News


Cash proves safe haven amid current market volatility
Palm Beach Daily News, FL - Jul 5, 2008
If you consider a fixed annuity, make certain you hook up only with the financially strongest of companies, rated A++ and A+ by AM Best. ...

Infrastructure biggies seek ways to pass on costs - Sify


Infrastructure biggies seek ways to pass on costs
Sify, India - 10 hours ago
Bidders are keenly pushing an annuity model for these projects, he said. For Gayatri, profitability could come down by 1% because of inflation, ...

Tune Out Bad Financial Advice for Summer Tune-Up - Bloomberg


Tune Out Bad Financial Advice for Summer Tune-Up
Bloomberg - Jul 7, 2008
You can buy no-commission annuities through Vanguard Group and T. Rowe Price, or through Napfa members, who have access to immediate fixed annuities at low ...

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Buying protection, but at a high price - MarketWatch


Buying protection, but at a high price
MarketWatch - 3 hours ago
Highlights: An equity-indexed annuity, or EIA, is a contract between a buyer and an insurer that gives the investor a certain amount of money at a ...

New funds can provide payments in retirement - Dallas Morning News


New funds can provide payments in retirement
Dallas Morning News, TX - Jul 7, 2008
... strategies and use their managed income funds to cover discretionary expenses, while using Social Security, pensions, and annuities to cover fixed ones. ...

"Virtual millionaires" may be a dime a dozen - Seattle Times


"Virtual millionaires" may be a dime a dozen
Seattle Times, United States - Jul 6, 2008
Generally, they cost about 50 percent more than a conventional fixed annuity. Let me give you an example, using quotes for a Vanguard inflation-adjusted ...

Newriver Releases Prospectus Express 2.0 - Expands Technology ... - PR Web (press release)


Newriver Releases Prospectus Express 2.0 - Expands Technology ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 2 hours ago
For the last 10 years, brokerage firms, individual variable annuity and retirement plan providers have had access to a "layered disclosure" regime of ...

Monday, July 7, 2008

How to save some for now and some for later - Chicago Tribune


How to save some for now and some for later
Chicago Tribune, United States - Jul 6, 2008
One way, according to the actuarial firm Milliman Inc. in Seattle, is to include an immediate fixed-income annuity in your retirement portfolio. ...

Hedging pensions against inflation - Scotsman


Hedging pensions against inflation
Scotsman, United Kingdom - Jul 4, 2008
For example, a 3 per cent fixed escalating annuity could be bought with half of the retirement fund, with the remainder used for income drawdown. ...

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

SecondLife Fairgrounds Speedway

SecondLife Fairgrounds Speedway
FoxStirling
7 min - Jan 12, 2007


Racing at the Fairgrounds Speedway figure 8 track!