Annuity Market News articles from July 2001

Annuity Market News archives from July 2001

Internet Paves Way For VA Growth.(variable annuity)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... While the use of digital signatures is probably the most talked about technological revolution to come down the annuity pike in recent times, several other Internet-related technologies are paving the way for growth in the marketing, sales,...

Schwab Debuts Low Cost Annuity For the Affluent Investor.(Charles Schwab and Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Amid almost no fanfare, in late May Charles Schwab and Co. launched a new no-load, low-cost variable annuity that was created to cater exclusively to Schwab's affluent investors. The Schwab Signature Annuity is underwritten by Great-West...

SEC Warns of Exchange Scrutiny.(Securities and Exchange Commission)
July 1, 2001... Recent increases in variable annuity contract exchanges has led the Securities and Exchange Commission to examine the issue and clarify its position. In a letter dated June 19, the SEC's Division of Investment Management outlined its views...

Equity-Index Annuities Sales Flat in Q1.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Despite desperate efforts by investors to find a safe harbor for their money from the roiling equity markets, sale of equity-index annuities (EIAs) during the first quarter of 2001 remained at $1.26 billion, the same level as the previous...

INVESCO Beefs Up VA Wholesaling.(variable annuities)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... INVESCO Funds Group has been carving out a niche for itself in the variable annuity industry. The fund group, with $37 million under management, has been successful in gaining inclusion for its variable investment funds within the VAs of...

At Deadline.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Competition Remains Severe Competition within the variable product marketplace is as severe as ever with heightened market volatility and an increasing number of products being introduced, according to Mark Mackey, CEO of the National...

Variable Life Sales Tepid in 1Q.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Sales of variable life insurance products increased 2.3% in the first quarter of this year compared to the first quarter of 2000, according to the VALUE Variable Life Survey prepared by management and human resources consulting firm...

GRO May Be Balm for Investors' Fears.(Guaranteed Return Option annuity)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... As volatility turns the stock market into the shock market for many investors, interest is growing in products with "living benefits" that guarantee an annuity holder's nest egg. That trend hasn't escaped the notice of American Skandia, which...

Chart Attribution.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The charts on pages 10 and 11, which show distribution of variable products by independent broker-dealers, are taken from Financial Planning Magazine, May 2001 Issue.