Articles
In-depth analysis of how lifetime income products work, what they cost, and how to evaluate them. Mechanics first, no product recommendations.
David Stipp on Anti-Aging Science and the Need to Hedge Longevity Risk in Retirement
David Stipp has written about science, medicine, the environment and biotech since 1982 for The Wall Street Journal , Fortune , Salon , Science and other publications.
The Dangers of Buying an Annuity When Interest Rates are Low
Interest rates are the raw material used in manufacturing annuities. Rates are currently very low--the 10 year treasury note is hovering around 3.4 percent and 30 year mortgage rates are now less than 5 percent. The financial crisis has led to an upsurge in the sale of fixed annuities. Fed-up…
The Costs of Investing and How the Fund Management Industry Comes Out on Top
A common refrain among the financial media and the asset accumulation community is that annuities represent a poor option because of the high fees and expenses—much of which is presumably directed towards compensation of intermediaries—that are incurred by the customer.
A Changing Variable Annuity Landscape -- What to Watch for in the Next Few Years
This is the second part of an interview with variable annuity industry analyst and consultant Ryan Hinchey .
A Changing Variable Annuity Landscape -- The Consumer Perspective
This is the first part of an interview with Ryan Hinchey .
The Case for Mutual Insurance Companies
The benefits of choosing to be a customer of a mutual insurance company are very real.
Calculating the Value of a Longevity Annuity
A longevity annuity is arguably the most efficient way to insure longevity risk. Consider the following example to see why this is the case:
Calculating the Extra Yield Provided by a Life Annuity
A common question is how annuities compare to other financial products that seem similar such as bonds, certificates of deposit and money market funds.
The Business Week Cover Story on Retirement--Life-Cycle in Theory but Status Quo in Practice
Business Week just ran a timely cover story on the post-financial crisis retirement landscape. Portions of the feature present a remarkable contradiction.
Bob MacDonald on the Unprecedented Opportunity in the Annuity Industry
Bob MacDonald has had a storied career as a leading entrepreneur and executive in the financial services industry.