Sheryl's Articles Archives - Page 2 of 6

Pacific Life’s Whirlwind Month: New Hires, Dropped Products, Layoffs

{April 26th, 2022} by Cyril Tuohy

As one of their first actions, the company’s new leaders decided to kill Pacific PremierCare, a life insurance policy that also pays long-term care benefits. The decision might seem somewhat surprising, as not many companies are exiting the business, according to Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report. “If anything, hybrid products are […]

Paid-Out Commissions Rose in 2021. But There’s More to the Story.

{April 19th, 2022} by Warren S. Hersch

Wink CEO Sheryl Moore said in an email that the Department of Labor fiduciary rule could affect agent compensation, in particular on sales of tax-qualified annuities offered through employer-sponsored retirement plans. Click HERE to read the full story via LifeAnnuitySpecialist

I Love Annuities and You Should, Too!

{April 19th, 2022} by Sheryl J. Moore

If you have ever wondered why I am so passionate about educating people (specifically) about annuities, listen in. My thanks to Douglas Jones for the opportunity to share my story!

Wink Sees 40% Growth in Structured Annuities After Record Year

{April 5th, 2022} by Cyril Tuohy

Also, at least four new companies will enter the fast-growing market for the first time in 2022, according to Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report. In 2021, there were 15 companies offering a total of 55 structured annuity products, she said. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist

Deferred annuity sales reach $243 billion in 2021: Wink

{March 21st, 2022} by Editorial Staff

“This was both a record-setting quarter and a record-setting year for structured annuity sales,” said Moore. “The 2021 sales topped the prior year’s record by nearly 59%! And soon, more companies will enter this growing market.” Click HERE to read the full story via RIJ

Private Equity Comes With Dollars But Also Some Questions

{March 8th, 2022} by Steven A. Morelli

If you’re thinking that there seems to be a lot of private equity behind the annuity business these days, you are not wrong. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2019, just before the pandemic struck, private equity-owned companies accounted for 26.7% of fixed index annuity sales, according to data from Moore Market Intelligence. By […]

Annuity Sellers Face Rolling Economic Headwinds

{March 8th, 2022} by John Hilton

The Federation of Americans for Consumer Choice, joined by a number of independent insurance agents and agencies, sued the Department of Labor last month, claiming the new rule improperly “broadens the agency interpretation of who is considered a fiduciary.” For now, the new rules are the rules and will make selling annuities more difficult, said […]

Hard Core Annuity Users Reveal How Many They Own and Why

{March 1st, 2022} by Cyril Tuohy

Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, said she saw her 401(k) evaporate into a “201(k)” when the dot.com bubble burst in 2000. The collapse scarred her for life. “I relied on my church just for milk for my kids to get by,” she told Orchard. Today, Moore owns two indexed annuities, […]

Things for Clients to Consider

{February 8th, 2022} by Sheryl J. Moore

Annuities are not right for everyone. When it is time to have the annuity talk with clients, here is a list of things they should consider when buying an annuity. Looking for minimum retirement income There is a minimum amount of income that we all need to pay our bills- the amount isn’t expendable income. […]

Staid Annuities Get Star Treatment in Movie About the Importance of Guaranteed Retirement Income

{February 8th, 2022} by Terrence Dopp

Ever ponder exactly what it means for filmmakers to have their movies obtain a rating from the Motion Picture Association? Probably not. But for documentarian Doug Orchard, that was a key question for his new film The Baby Boomer Dilemma, which explores shortcomings in the current retirement system and the role of annuities within portfolios. Securing […]

A Tale Of Three Annuities

{February 8th, 2022} by Sheryl J. Moore

I get frustrated, frequently, by the regular barrage of negativity that surrounds most of the “news” that I read on annuities. If it isn’t a swayed account from so-and-so’s beneficiary, talking about how an annuity wasn’t suitable for their deceased parent, it is a hack job from some media outlet that caters to mutual fund […]

The Dark Side of Automation, Layoffs Emerges in Distribution Survey

{February 8th, 2022} by Cyril Tuohy

These agents play a key role for certain products, such as fixed-indexed annuities, almost two-thirds of which are sold through brokerage general agencies or marketing organizations, according to Wink. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist ………………………………………………. Most of the cuts, however, came primarily from insurers that supported distribution outside of the […]

Annuities and the Problem of Index Bloat: Do We Really Need 138?

{February 1st, 2022} by Aaron Smith

Index choices on annuities have been expanding so dramatically that it spurred Sheryl Moore, who’s been closely following the market for years, to create a LinkedIn post: “Today, there are 138 unique indices, upon which your indexed interest is benchmarked, on indexed annuities. 138!!! (There were 12 when I started my business 17 years ago.)” Click HERE […]

A New Film, ‘The Baby Boomer Dilemma,’ Praises Annuities

{February 1st, 2022} by Kerry Pechter

In a office in Des Moines, amid foot-high stacks of reports-to-be-read and items-to-be-filed, we find Sheryl Moore, founder of annuity consulting firm Wink, Inc., whose life goal is to “rebrand annuities” in a positive way. I know several of these experts; I could tell that the filmmaker knows how to draw people out. Click HERE […]

Buffered Annuities Are Hot. Whether They’ll Stay That Way Is Disputed.

{January 31st, 2022} by Cyril Tuohy

… No way, says Sheryl Moore, CEO of research firm Wink. She sees sales of $86 billion by 2025 for 22% yearly growth. Click HERE to read the full story via LifeAnnuitySpecialist ******* Article excerpt: But Moore, whose firm publishes Wink’s Sales & Market Report, thinks $50 billion by 2026 is far too low. “This market […]

Annuity Issuers Eye Rising Rates, Stock Swings for Clues About Sales

{January 18th, 2022} by Cyril Tuohy

Significant rate increases on these multi-year guaranteed annuities, as the products are called, could “translate to a significant increase in sales,” said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report. Click HERE to read the full story via LifeAnnuitySpecialist

What’s not being said?

{December 14th, 2021} by Sheryl J. Moore

Earlier this year, we explored things that the insurance company might not tell you when writing indexed annuity business. In this article, we will look at indexed life insurance products. Bait-and-Switch on Inforce Renewal Rates Why would someone reduce the credited rates/caps/etc. on an inforce life insurance policy? How about because on indexed life, […]

Big Surprises That Might Rattle, or Delight, the Life Industry in 2022

{December 14th, 2021} by Warren S. Hersch

Wink CEO Sheryl Moore said that if yields on 10-year Treasuries — the primary benchmark for pricing fixed-rate and fixed-indexed annuities — were to hit 3% “that would be the biggest and best surprise.” The 10-year Treasury right now returns about 1.5% annually. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist

My, How Annuities Have Changed!

{December 7th, 2021} by Sheryl J. Moore

By the time that you read this, variable annuities will be older than my mother, indexed annuities will be the same age that I was when I had my third child, and fixed annuities will be older than anyone in my lineage, per Ancestry.com. It is hard to believe that these innovative retirement income products […]

Aggressive Annuity Illustrations Should Be Reined In, Critics Says

{November 22nd, 2021} by Warren S. Hersch

Wink CEO Sheryl Moore observes that the average fixed annuity rate is a mere 1.71%, while variable annuities are illustrating at less than 8% net. She said in an email that to illustrate a fixed product that has a floor at a rate higher than a variable annuity is “inconceivable.” Click HERE to read the full story […]

To See Frenzied M&A, Just Visit Front Lines of Insurance Sellers

{October 11th, 2021} by Aaron Smith

Also, Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink and publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, said “none of these distributors have expressed a desire for an IPO as their end game.” She added, “I wouldn’t say that is outside the realm of possibilities, but we just cannot know at this point.” Click HERE to read the full story via LifeAnnuitySpecialst

Average Returns on Indexed Annuities Fall Below 3.3%, Study Says

{October 11th, 2021} by Cyril Tuohy

Sheryl Moore, founder of Wink, told Pechter that she thought his numbers on returns for indexed annuities seemed too low. But that data is also apparently hard to find. She said that as recently as six months ago, insurers were telling her it didn’t exist. Click HERE to read the full story via LifeAnnuitySpecialist

F&G Snaps Up Stake in Marketing Group to Grow in Indexed Life

{October 11th, 2021} by Cyril Tuohy

Private equity-backed Fidelity & Guaranty Life was the No. 9 seller of indexed universal life in the second quarter, according to Wink’s Sales & Market report. That was its highest rank in the past five years. For the industry as a whole, sales for the three months ending June 30 rose 23% to $627 million over the […]

2011-2020 FIA Returns Were Modest, Data Suggests

{October 8th, 2021} by Kerry Pechter

While studying a table of annual fixed indexed annuity (FIA) cash flows, I noticed a row labeled “Investment Returns.” The table came from LIMRA’s Secure Retirement Institute (SRI). Click HERE to read the full story via RIJ Sheryl Moore, founder of Wink, Inc., which collects data from issuers of all types of annuities, said my […]

16 Ways Seasonal Businesses Can Better Manage Finances During Sales Cycles

{September 28th, 2021} by Forbes Finance Council

4. Diversify The best way to weather seasonal storms is to develop multiple revenue centers. Launch one when another is doing less than great. This way, you and your business will be able to weather the ups and downs of cash flow and revenue challenges. – Sheryl J. Moore, Wink, Inc. Click HERE to read the […]

14 Financial Documents That Business Leaders Should Keep A Hard Copy Of (Even In The Digital World)

{September 21st, 2021} by Forbes Financial Council

4. Your Articles Of Incorporation Your articles of incorporation should always be kept in hard copy for S- and C- Corps. This documentation is requested so frequently by banks, investors and others. By all means, digitize it, but keep a hard copy handy as well. – Sheryl J. Moore, Wink, Inc. Click HERE to read the full […]

Annuities are now a big business for PE firms

{September 14th, 2021} by Emile Hallez

Over the past five quarters, annuity providers owned by private equity firms have accounted for more than 40% of all indexed annuity sales, according to data provided by Moore Market Intelligence. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews

Episode 114: We Love Annuities with Sheryl Moore

{September 13th, 2021} by That Annuity Show

Summer is almost over. What’s the outlook for the annuity industry as we head back to our (virtual) offices? Sheryl Moore is the perfect guest to provide us with predictions and savvy forecasts. She graciously joins us today to talk about changes in carrier ownership, product design changes and regulatory evolution. Also, do you […]

The Best-Selling Indexed Annuity Has Changed. The Issuer Hasn’t.

{September 7th, 2021} by Cyril Tuohy

Allianz 222 held the No. 1 position for 21 consecutive quarters, then ceded its perch in the last three months of 2020 to Allianz Benefit Control, data from Wink’s Sales & Market Report show. Allianz Benefit Control was then the top-selling indexed product in the first quarter and Wink expects it to repeat that dominance for the second […]

LUMINARIES Class of 2021: Thought Leadership — People

{August 31st, 2021} by contributions from Jeff Berman, Michael S. Fischer, Emily Holbrook, Janet Levaux, Bernice Napach, Ginger Szala and Melanie Waddell

We’re pleased to present the first Thought Leadership & Education winners of our new, pioneering recognition program: the LUMINARIES. Members of the Class of 2021 are being honored for the dynamic efforts they lead that are driving the financial services industry forward. “Why are we doing what we’re doing? Why are we doing it that […]

If Brokers Drop Commission-Paying Annuities, This May Be Big Issue

{August 31st, 2021} by Warren S. Hersch

Wink CEO Sheryl Moore identified a big lack of product choices. There are, she noted, just 98 fee-based deferred annuities from 34 companies. She added that, as of the first quarter of this year, only 2.28% of the $58.1 billion in deferred annuity sales was attributable to fee-based products. “Insurance companies are not going to exert any effort […]

Things they won’t tell you

{August 24th, 2021} by Sheryl J. Moore

I have viewed myself as an educator on life insurance and annuity products for well into two decades. That said, I’ve not been as vocal about some things as I maybe should. Let this article be a first step in righting those wrongs. Who can you trust in the indexed annuity sale? Yourself. […]

Meet the LUMINARIES Class of 2021

{August 17th, 2021} by Janet Levaux

We’re pleased to present the first winners of our new, pioneering recognition program: the LUMINARIES. The program’s Class of 2021 members are being honored for the dynamic and inclusive ways they are driving the wealth, investment and retirement industry forward. An evolution of our Broker-Dealers of the Year awards, the LUMINARIES program shines a spotlight […]

LUMINARIES Profiles: Coming Soon

{August 17th, 2021} by Janet Levaux

We’ll be showcasing profiles of our esteemed judges, finalists in our new awards program and other VIPs who are driving the industry forward as part of our year-long coverage plan. Click HERE for Profiles via ThinkAdvisor ThinkAdvisor’s LUMINARIES celebrates top advisors and industry executives, as well as their programs, projects and services, […]

Equitable, Prudential, Brighthouse Tout Gains in Buffered Annuity Sales

{August 10th, 2021} by Warren S. Hersch

“Structured annuities are the golden child of the annuity industry right now,” said Wink CEO Sheryl Moore. She added that sales of Structured Capital Strategies and other top sellers aligned with her expectations. She also noted that the New York-based Equitable was first to enter the market for the products and so has the benefit of experience. Click […]

Insurer Quietly Tests Limits for Selling Complex Life Policies Directly

{August 9th, 2021} by Charlotte Zimmer

“I really hope this insurance company has some secret sauce where they’re going to break the bank and be successful at it,” said Wink CEO Sheryl Moore. “But I’m gonna have to say I’m cautiously optimistic for them. There’s a lot of ‘what ifs’ here.” Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist

The State of Annuities: Webinar Recording

{July 6th, 2021} by InsuranceNewsNet

A look at how annuities are evolving from a year of disorder. Sheryl Moore, President and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence, will discuss the latest trends and data from the annuity marketplace, providing answers to important advisor questions such as: How sales are being impacted due to current market trends? How sales continue to migrate […]

Annuity Rates: No Reason to Get Psyched Out: Reprint #AnnuityAwarenessMonth

{June 29th, 2021} by Sheryl J. Moore

Let me guess: you nor your agents haven’t sold fixed annuities for at least a decade. Am I right? Well, give me a minute. I am going to challenge you about why we all should probably keep that arrow in our quivers. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why fixed annuities aren’t […]

Why Annuity Adoption Among Fee-Based Advisors Is Still So Slow

{June 29th, 2021} by Warren S. Hersch

In the first quarter, a sliver of the deferred annuities sold, or 2.28%, were fee-based, according to new Wink data. That’s only slightly higher than the 1.87% recorded in the last quarter of 2020. “Sales of fee-based annuities are increasing quite steadily, but the growth really isn’t too much to get excited about,” says Sheryl Moore, the CEO of […]

Structured Annuities Trump Indexed Products In 1Q Wink Sales Report

{June 28th, 2021} by Staff Reports

“Things couldn’t look brighter for the structured annuity market,” said Sheryl J. Moore, CEO of both Moore Market Intelligence and Wink, Inc. “My latest forecasts show structured annuity sales eclipsing indexed annuities’ before 2022 closes. Low fixed interest rates and market volatility have not been kind to indexed annuity sales.” Click HERE to read the […]

(Sheryl) Moore’s Law on Annuities in 2021

{June 22nd, 2021} by Kerry Pechter

RIJ talks with Sheryl Moore of Wink, Inc., the annuity data and consulting firm, about the results of her first-quarter 2021 survey of annuity sales. She shares her opinion on a range of annuity-related topics. “The structured annuity is the golden child right now,” Moore told RIJ. “It’s relatively new, and everybody likes a bright shiny […]

REPRINT: CONSUMERS DEMAND INDEXED ANNUITIES #AnnuityAwarenessMonth

{June 8th, 2021} by Sheryl J. Moore

CONSUMERS DEMAND INDEXED ANNUITIES October 31, 2012 by Sheryl J. Moore by Sheryl J. Moore Just fifteen years ago, I was hard-pressed to find any information about indexed annuities in the public domain. Nothing was ever found in the newspaper or at the library; not even on that confounded thing they called “the internet.” It […]

REPRINT: The (Annuity) sky isn’t falling #AnnuityAwarenessMonth

{June 8th, 2021} by Sheryl J. Moore

Part of what I do for my full-time hustle is to track every annuity, its features, rates, and sales. AnnuitySpecs may look like a simple website, but there is A LOT of work that goes into that tool. Almost a dozen people are needed just to keep up with all the product information that goes […]

REPRINT: HOW CAN SO MANY BE SO WRONG ON ANNUITIES? #AnnuityAwarenessMonth

{June 8th, 2021} by Sheryl Moore

April 13, 2018 by Sheryl J. Moore Did you know that the biggest fear of Americans age 50 and older is running out of money in retirement?1 Did you know that an annuity is the one financial instrument that can guarantee an income you will never outlive? Let that sink in. We’ll get back to that in […]

The State of Annuities

{June 8th, 2021} by InsuranceNewsNet

A look at how annuities are evolving from a year of disorder. Register today for this educational webinar on how annuity markets are rebounding from a year of disruption, both around the COVID-19 pandemic and apart from it. Sheryl Moore, President and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence, will discuss the latest trends and data from […]

NAILBA Charitable Foundation Announces Additions to its Board of Directors

{June 1st, 2021} by NAILBA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—(Fairfax, VA)—May 18, 2021—The National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA) Charitable Foundation, the Association’s philanthropic arm, has elected new officers and board members. NAILBA congratulates James J. Sorebo, CLU, SVP of Sales at Highland Capital Brokerage and former NAILBA Chair, for his election as President of the Foundation. The Foundation also announced […]

Small, High-Flying Annuity Issuer Downgraded by A.M. Best

{June 1st, 2021} by Richard Bedard

In April last year, market research firm Wink announced that Upstream was offering the best rates on multi-year guaranteed annuities for terms of three, five, seven, 10 and 15 years. Wink CEO Sheryl Moore said at the time that it was remarkable that the company had the highest rate for every single duration. Click HERE to read the full story […]

13 Finance Experts Share Major Money Mistakes Entrepreneurs Often Make

{May 18th, 2021} by Forbes Finance Council

4. Being Your Own Bookkeeper Do not make the mistake of being your own bookkeeper or accountant when starting your own business. With ever-changing tax laws, it is impossible to stay abreast of every section of the tax code. Outsource this responsibility to a good CPA and it will be the second-best investment you make […]

Annuity Bonuses Start to Catch On Again After Years of Decline

{May 11th, 2021} by Cyril Tuohy

Last year, sinking interest rates may have helped revive interest, according to Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report. “When rates are bad, the search for yield always intensifies,” she said. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist

Structured Annuities on Pace to Beat Fixed-Indexed, Wink’s Moore Says

{May 11th, 2021} by Cyril Tuohy

Wink CEO Sheryl J. Moore is expecting structured annuities to do even better than a previous breakout product, fixed-indexed annuities. “I project that structured annuity sales will soon gain enough momentum to surpass where their indexed brethren were just over a decade after development,” she said. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist

Expect RILAs to outsell FIAs by 2024: Wink

{May 7th, 2021} by Editorial Staff

At the current pace, sales of structured annuities (aka registered index-linked annuities or RILAs) will have climbed higher than those of indexed annuities at a comparable point in the product life cycle,’ said Wink president Sheryl Moore. Low interest rates and market volatility continued to hurt annuities in the fourth quarter of 2020. Only multi-year guaranteed […]

New To Financial Planning? 16 Experts Share Tips To Get You Started

{April 27th, 2021} by Expert Panel

2. Document your monthly expenses. A financial plan can start with something as simple as documenting your monthly expenses—utilities, mortgage, insurance and so on—in a spreadsheet. Sum the expenses for each month to determine your monthly obligations, and average the expenses by line so you can estimate the average cost of each item. Then, compare […]

13 ‘Must-Have’ Abilities And Offerings For Today’s Financial Advisors

{April 5th, 2021} by Expert Panel, Forbes Finance Council

11. Virtual Meetings A webcam and a microphone have become essential to working in financial services since the pandemic hit last year. If financial services professionals cannot “meet” with their clients virtually and face-to-face meetings are no longer an option, their businesses will die. When was the last time you convinced someone to write a […]

11 Popular Financial Tips That May Cause More Harm Than Good

{March 29th, 2021} by Expert Panel, Forbes Finance Council

3. ‘Annuities are expensive and ineffective.’ When consumers read or hear that “annuities are expensive” and “don’t offer market-like returns” from the investment community, it has the potential to derail their retirement plans. Often, investment professionals don’t realize that annuities’ primary value proposition is transferring risk—that the purchaser will live in retirement too long—not necessarily […]

Integrity Acquires Brokers International In Blockbuster Deal

{March 29th, 2021} by John Hilton

“This is huge because Brokers International was the first marketing organization in the life insurance and annuity space, and they’re now selling to the biggest distributor of [Medicare supplement] products in the nation,” said Sheryl Moore, president and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence. “Now they’re going to have the opportunity to leverage their med supp […]

Integrity Adds $3.5B of Yearly Premiums With Latest Purchase

{March 29th, 2021} by Richard Bedard

Sheryl Moore, CEO of Moore Market Intelligence, told InsuranceNewsNet the acquisition was “huge,” combining the first marketing organization for life insurance and annuities, Brokers International, with the largest distributor of Medicare supplement products. She also touted the opportunities for cross-selling. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist

Sammons Doubles Down on Fee-Based Advisors With New Hire

{March 29th, 2021} by Cyril Tuohy

Sinclair has a lengthy history of working with fee-based advisors, said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, which tracks the industry. He used to work for Jefferson National, which provided annuities to these advisors, she noted. “His experience will no doubt be helpful to Sammons in their initiatives to further annuity […]

Inspiring Women of Iowa award finalists announced

{March 16th, 2021} by N/A

Sixteen finalists in four categories for the annual Inspiring Women of Iowa award have been announced. The event, whose proceeds benefit the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, honors women of courage, confidence and character as well as people who make up the communities that support them. Courage Award finalists are Chelsea Krause, Sheryl Moore, Krista […]

‘Too Good to Be True’ Annuity Illustrations Spur Criticisms

{March 2nd, 2021} by Warren S. Hersch

“There are more than 120 different indices available on indexed annuities today,” says Wink CEO Sheryl Moore. Fewer than a third of the indexes “have been in existence for at least a decade,” she adds, citing Wink’s Index Intelligence Report. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist Wink’s Note: Misinformed, […]

Why all the Buzz Around Structured Annuities, Now?

{February 24th, 2021} by CUNA Mutual

Sheryl Moore will be droppin’ some annuity knowledge on the 17th of March. WARNING: Those not in attendance will miss the chance to see the mic drop. Everyone has been warned…our listeners will not only have a better understanding of what’s going on in the annuity market, but why NOW is the best time to […]

Annuity sales tumble but drive mega deals and RIA partnerships

{February 17th, 2021} by Tobias Salinger

And, in addition to the billions in sales among new RILAs launched in 2020 by issuers such as Prudential Financial, earlier entrants like Equitable, Brighthouse, Allianz and Lincoln Financial Group are raking in purchases of the products, says Sheryl Moore, CEO of annuity research firm Wink. RILA sales surged by 38% year-over-year in 2020 to $24 […]

Prudential Quietly Preps New Annuity After $2B FlexGuard Success

{February 17th, 2021} by Cyril Tuohy

With buffered annuities in existence for only about a decade, “These products are still immature in terms of the product life cycle,” said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, the publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist

Retirement Inside Out Podcast

{February 10th, 2021} by Financial Independence Group

Check it out. Tom Lamendola and I will give you the skinny on what’s going on with annuities. – sjm

Death Benefits May Bring New Life to Sales of Buffered Annuities

{February 10th, 2021} by Cyril Tuohy

“I suspect that as this market matures, we will see more companies positioning their products for sales outside of the accumulation space,” said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist

MassMutual buys Great American Life for $3.5 billion

{February 10th, 2021} by Editorial Staff

“This transaction is symbiotic,” Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink Inc., the annuity data and marketing shop in Des Moines. “MassMutual, in addition to having a robust life insurance line, dominates the multi-year guaranteed annuity market and has competitive variable annuities too. Great American complements them with its strong market share in the fixed, indexed, and […]

Insurers Have Cut Products, Workers, Costs. Are Commissions Next?

{February 3rd, 2021} by Warren S. Hersch

Wink CEO Sheryl Moore says she’s not seeing reductions. A couple of carriers have, to the contrary, offered “commission specials,” such as an additional payout — say, 0.50% more for 45 days — to encourage agents to sell a particular product. Cuts in commissions, to the extent they’re happening, may be limited to one product from a […]

How Insurers, Trying to Gain Edge, Peek at What Rivals Are Doing

{January 27th, 2021} by Hannah Miller

There have been recent layoffs in the life insurance industry, but Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, said she hasn’t seen a trend in cutting competitive intelligence roles at companies. She considers Wink, which publishes Wink’s Sales & Market Report, a competitive intelligence provider. Her company relies on data that includes publicly available information like regulatory filings as well as sales […]

After Dodging Bullet, Insurers Lift Age Restrictions on Applicants

{January 27th, 2021} by Hannah Miller

Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, noted that companies that still have age restrictions may be hesitant to lift them. “The low-interest rate environment and the changes in the stock market due to Covid-19 I think are keeping carriers where they’re at,” she said.

New York Life Rolls Out Novel Way to Sell Fixed-Indexed Annuities

{January 27th, 2021} by Warren S. Hersch

“This is a smart move for New York Life, given the current market environment,” said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, a market research firm. She added that its field agents have probably been losing sales to indexed annuities for 26 years. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist

Symetra Yanks Guaranteed Universal Life Products as Low Rates Persist

{January 6th, 2021} by Cyril Tuohy

“For products that have strong guaranteed minimum cash values and death benefits, this can be a tremendous financial strain,” said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, in an email. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist

Vermont Insurer Eyes Pacific Life in Race to Be Top Indexed Life Seller

{January 6th, 2021} by Cyril Tuohy

“It is conceivable that National Life could take Pacific Life’s top spot in indexed life for 2020,” said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink. She said much will depend on the results from this quarter, which typically is the largest of the year for the product segment. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity […]

Indexed Annuities’ Fortunes May Ride on More Than Rates Come 2021

{December 23rd, 2020} by Warren S. Hersch

Sheryl Moore, CEO of market research firm Wink, says that robust stock markets alone won’t provide much relief for the product line. She says that creating indexed annuities was challenging enough when the 10-Treasury note yielded 2%. Now the government bond pays less than 1%. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist

At 10 Smaller Annuity Issuers, Third-Quarter Sales More Than Doubled

{December 21st, 2020} by Cyril Tuohy

In April, Wink said the insurer offered the best rates on five different multi-year guaranteed annuities that had terms from three to 15 years. “MYGA specials” were also a factor in the third quarter, according to Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, publisher of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, which tracks the annuity marketplace. She said buyers found it hard […]

RECORDED WEBINARS AND PODCASTS: The Year In Annuities: 2020 Hindsight With Sheryl Moore .

{December 16th, 2020} by InsureTech Express

With 2020 winding down, we are taking some time with Sheryl Moore, the president and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence and Wink Inc., to review some of the year’s highlights. Click HERE for the recording via InsureTech Express Sheryl has been the ultimate insider in the annuity business for decades. We at InsuranceNewsNet rely heavily on her data […]

Constant Drip Of Low Rates Deteriorates Annuity Distribution

{December 9th, 2020} by John Hilton

“Insurance companies have had to adjust dramatically to accommodate COVID,” said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Moore Market Intelligence. “Their sales are down, and it’s like, ‘We’re not able to make up for what we’re losing.’ And I’m concerned about that. Because when people aren’t able to make it paycheck to paycheck, it’s going to hit […]

Life Insurers Regain Footing After Shaky 2020

{December 9th, 2020} by John Hilton

Insurers entered 2020 believing that the new principles-based reserving rules would be the biggest disruption of the business of life insurance. Oh, how little they knew what was to come. The COVID-19 pandemic throttled sales figures, sent insurance executives scrambling to activate emergency financial plans, and spurred product development and delivery changes all along the […]

MYGA Magic: Why These Annuities Are Busting Out

{December 8th, 2020} by Steve Morelli

LEARN MORE! Hear Sheryl J. Moore dissect third-quarter annuity sales and project into 2021 in a free webinar 1 p.m. ET this Wednesday, sponsored by Advisors Ignite USA. Sign up here. Although low interest rates have been bedeviling annuity sales, multi-year guaranteed annuities had their best quarter in at least five years. Sheryl J. Moore admitted being […]

The Year in Annuities: 2020 Hindsight with Sheryl Moore

{December 2nd, 2020} by InsuranceNewsNet

Signup for the webinar here: https://hubs.li/H0BkK640 With 2020 winding down, we are taking some time with Sheryl Moore, the president and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence and Wink Inc., to review some of the year’s highlights. Sheryl has been the ultimate insider in the annuity business for decades. We at InsuranceNewsNet rely heavily on her data and […]

Wink Sees Drop in Sales of 3 Types of Life Products

{December 2nd, 2020} by Allison Bell

Sheryl Moore, Wink’s president, said in a commentary included with the results that she thinks sales of whole life will continue to be strong for the rest of the year. Sales of indexed universal life may benefit, temporarily, from a consumer rush to buy the product before new life insurance policy illustration rules take effect, […]

Which annuities are selling in the coronavirus economy?

{December 2nd, 2020} by Tobias Salinger

In fact, sales of all products rebounded from the previous quarter, according to Sheryl Moore, the CEO of annuity research firm Wink. Still, with the exception of the double-digit increases among MYGAs and structured VAs, Moore points out that sales of most of the other products are more than 10% behind their pace at this time last […]

What’s Better than a Paycheck for Life?

{November 25th, 2020} by Sheryl J. Moore

If your prospects have never heard of annuities, there are some great things you can share with them, in order to make them receptive. Some people plan to invest in their home, fix it up, and eventually sell it when they are ready to retire- then live off the proceeds. Others may own a business, […]

Trust Me

{November 17th, 2020} by Sheryl Moore

One of the biggest reasons that people put their retirement savings monies into Certificates of Deposit (CDs), rather than annuities, is because they are comfortable with their bank. They know what a CD is; their parents likely had some. The bank is real; they can walk inside of it. They know people at their bank; […]

Jackson Readies Two Buffered Annuities to Storm Into Market

{November 11th, 2020} by Cyril Tuohy

Jackson may have waited to create a buffered product partly out of concern that it could cannibalize the insurer’s huge variable annuity business, speculated Sheryl Moore, CEO of market research firm Wink. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist Jackson’s new buffered annuities are likely a response to the prospect of […]

The Well-Paying Life Insurance Job You Don’t Want Right Now

{November 4th, 2020} by Cyril Tuohy

If you work in the life insurance industry, there’s one job you may not want at the moment, despite the fat salary. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist. Sheryl Moore, CEO of the Wink and Moore Market Intelligence, which tracks the life and annuity market, told InsuranceNewsNet last week that as many as “10 […]

3Q Earnings Could Reveal Insurers’ Plans On Layoffs, Low Rates

{October 28th, 2020} by John Hilton

With the economic recovery slowing, winter on the way, and a second round of COVID-19 threatening public health, insurers are staring at a prolonged downturn. This is the backdrop as public companies produce their third-quarter earnings reports. Analysts are eager to see the bottom lines as many insurers are starting to show cracks in the […]

Nationwide’s New Bet: Workers Want Indexed Annuities in 401(k)s

{October 25th, 2020} by Cyril Tuohy

“I do expect more companies to offer in-plan indexed annuities,” said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink and More Market Intelligence, which tracks the annuity market. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist Companies need time to comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, which governs in-plan investment choices, she said. […]

Reliable and relevant

{October 14th, 2020} by Sheryl J. Moore

I will never forget the day when Grandfather came home with tears in his eyes, talking about his client who had died unexpectedly. You see, this client’s wife had just held my grandfather’s hand for hours, as people came through a funeral home, paying their last respects to her husband. She repeatedly thanked him, looking […]

New York Life’s Variable Annuity in the Pipeline Has Unusual Twist

{September 30th, 2020} by Cyril Tuohy

New York Life appears to be getting ready to roll out a new annuity that has a little of something for everyone. …………………………………………….. Variable annuities have offered individual subaccounts that perform like an indexed annuity for many years, said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Moore Market Intelligence, in an email. What makes IndexFlex interesting is that New […]

In Uncertain Market, Consumers Cling to the Model T of Annuities

{September 23rd, 2020} by Warren S. Hersch

“Fixed annuities are all about the rate,” says Sheryl Moore, CEO of market research firm Wink. “If the rates are terrible, no one is going to invest in product development or innovation, because the sales just aren’t there.” Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist

Annuity Sellers Have Created Only 30 Products for $80T Market

{September 23rd, 2020} by Arthur D. Postal

That lack of selection can be frustrating, according to Sheryl Moore, president of Moore Marketing Intelligence, which provides data about the life insurance and annuity market. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist

Broker Words—September 2020

{September 23rd, 2020} by Stephen Howard

It probably won’t make the AP wire that the role of a monthly trade publication isn’t #breakingnews. There are a number of industry eZines that fill that role. Over almost 38 years I’ve been blessed that God has placed in my path a true wealth of friends and industry experts to help achieve this publication’s […]

Moore Commentary. Annuity Compensation: Commission vs. Fees

{September 20th, 2020} by Sheryl J. Moore

“Social influencer creates social unrest with controversial article!” That could be the story of my life. Many read my article in the previous issue on the different possibilities for interest earnings and total compensation on annuities. It definitely got people talking! The earlier article assumed any fees to cover Assets Under Management (AUM) for the […]

In Your 30s? 14 Strategies To Reach Savings Goals Faster

{September 16th, 2020} by Expert Panel, Forbes Finance Council

Your 30s are often considered your prime earning years. At this age, you’re in a great position to start capitalizing on life experiences and building your nest egg. Starting to save earlier in life gives you more options later on and puts you in a great position when it’s time to retire. We asked a […]

Nest Egg Depleted? 12 Expert Tips For Rebuilding

{September 16th, 2020} by Expert Panel

The pandemic has brought uncertainty to the national economy and has impacted household budgets. In addition to a volatile market, many have faced reduced work hours and work stoppages—forcing individuals and families to dip into their savings to stay afloat. Households need to rebuild their emergency savings if they’re to be ready for potential future […]

INDEXED LIFE AS A REPLACEMENT FOR INDEXED ANNUITIES?: REPRINT #LIAM2020

{September 15th, 2020} by Sheryl J. Moore

IUL SHOULD ONLY BE SOLD TO FULFILL A LIFE INSURANCE NEED. If you asked me four years ago what the average cap was on an indexed annuity’s annual point-to-point crediting method, my response would have been, “a decent 6.86 percent.” Today, my response is, “a lousy 3.13 percent.” How are you, the independent insurance agent, supposed […]

WHY ARE INDEXED LIFE CAPS SO MUCH HIGHER THAN INDEXED ANNUITIES’? REPRINT #LIAM2020

{September 15th, 2020} by Sheryl J. Moore

Number one question asked since historical-low interest rates have depressed indexed annuity caps: “WHY ARE THE CAPS ON INDEXED LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCTS SO MUCH HIGHER THAN THOSE ON INDEXED ANNUITIES?” Good question. Simple answer. Let us explore how insurance companies are able to make a profit on each of these products. On annuities, insurance companies only […]

Annuities in coronavirus slump as VAs draw regulatory and academic scrutiny

{September 9th, 2020} by Tobias Salinger

In a signal of the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic, annuity sales are tumbling and shifting toward protection-based products. Click HERE to read the full story via Financial Planning ……………………………………………………………………………………………. The changing conditions coincided with a new issuer reaping with the most sales of fixed-index annuities, Wink CEO Sheryl Moore says. After more […]

Understanding Indexed Life Illustrations: Reprint #LIAM2020

{September 8th, 2020} by Sheryl J. Moore

At what rate do we illustrate the cash value growth of indexed life insurance products? This is a question that has plagued the life insurance industry since indexed universal life (IUL) was developed in January 1997. The National Association for Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) adopted the life insurance illustration model regulation two years before the […]

Monday Motivation: Trust me

{September 2nd, 2020} by NAILBA

“Kick off your week with important tips about annuity sales in the special edition of NAIBA’s award-winning Perspectives magazine” Click HERE to view Trust Me by Sheryl Moore via NAILBA. Click HERE to view NAILBA on LinkedIn.

“Why NOW is THE BEST Time to be Selling Annuities”

{August 26th, 2020} by Sheryl J. Moore

If you are looking for an opportunity to get pumped-up and hear what’s going on in the annuity business, you HAVE TO check this out! Vision Sales Forum Day 1. Monday, September 21, 2020. 2:00 P.M. “Why NOW is THE BEST Time to be Selling Annuities” -Sheryl Moore, President & CEO Moore Market Intelligence Click […]

Trust Me

{August 19th, 2020} by Sheryl J. Moore

One of the biggest reasons that people put their retirement savings monies into Certificates of Deposit (CDs), rather than annuities, is because they are comfortable with their bank. They know what a CD is; their parents likely had some. The bank is real; they can walk inside of it. They know people at their bank; […]

IMO’s Business Model Tries to Disrupt How Annuities Are Sold

{August 12th, 2020} by Cyril Tuohy

A Detroit-based independent marketing organization is betting it can boost its agent ranks with a simple proposition: join us and get paid in hours, not weeks. Click HERE to read the full story via Life Annuity Specialist ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… “While I have heard of many of the services that are […]

SALES MAY BE DOWN, BUT THE ANNUITY INDUSTRY WILL BOUNCE BACK WITH SHERYL MOORE

{August 5th, 2020} by Paul Tyler

EPISODE 57. Sheryl Moore, Chief Storyteller of Wink, Inc. and industry guru joins us to talk about the state of the annuity market. Yes, sales are down. But Sheryl finds some bright spots and suggests ways we can adapt our products and sales processes to succeed over the next 12-18 months. Click HERE to listen via […]

Annuity Compensation: Commission vs. Fees

{July 22nd, 2020} by Sheryl J. Moore

I recently achieved a new status in the insurance industry: social influencer. And never, in my decades of insurance experience have I witnessed a debate on social media that is more heated and passionate than that of fee-based advisors versus those who are commissioned. The argument? Click HERE to read the original story via NAILBA […]

Prudential Tips ‘First Domino’ By Suspending GUL Product: Analyst

{July 8th, 2020} by John Hilton

Prudential Financial is pulling its UL Protector product from the market, effective July 13, and one industry analyst expects many more products to join it on the sidelines. The problem is that ultra-low interest rates make it difficult to support guaranteed universal life designs, explained Sheryl J. Moore, president and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence […]

Legacy’s Virtual IMO University: Insights and Strategies for Sucess in an Uncertain World

{July 1st, 2020} by Legacy Marketing Group

SHERYL MOORE, president and CEO of Moore Market Intelligence, founder of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, and renowned Annuity Rockstar, will reveal what’s happening in the FIA market, including carrier and product trends and how carriers are reacting to our current environment. Click HERE to view invite.

Better than Throwing Darts

{June 30th, 2020} by Kerry Pechter

When Kent Jacquay, a 47-year-old former insurance producer with a knack for computer programming, speaks to groups of insurance agents about selling fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) his favorite prop is a dartboard—a metaphor for how they tend to pick contracts for clients. Click HERE to read the full article via Retirement Income Journal. ……………………………………………………………………………….. […]

INDEXED ANNUITY GLWBS: A DECADE OF CHANGE Reprint #AnnuityAwarenessMonth

{June 29th, 2020} by Sheryl J. Moore

INDEXED ANNUITY GLWBS: A DECADE OF CHANGE March 29, 2016 by Sheryl J. Moore It has now been more than a decade since I developed the concept of offering Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefits on fixed and indexed annuities. What was the motivation behind this? One question- “If guaranteed lifetime income is the greatest value proposition […]

Does Your Suffering Need Buffering?

{June 9th, 2020} by Kerry Pechter

Buffered or structured variable annuities ‘are the new shining star of the annuity market,’ said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, Inc., which tracks annuity sales. ‘This is where life insurers will start focusing their product development resources.’ Ten short years ago, the annuity developers at AXA Equitable (now Equitable Financial) faced a dire challenge. […]

The Fixed Annuity Market, Analyzed

{June 3rd, 2020} by Sheryl J. Moore

It is hard to believe how very dramatically things have changed in our world in just a short three months. At this time in February, I was doing a keynote for a group of insurance company executives who focus their sales primarily on annuity products. We had some good food, did some networking, and exchanged […]

Annuity sales falter, but clients flock to this product

{June 2nd, 2020} by Tobias Salinger

The economic fallout from the coronavirus is tilting the annuity marketplace in favor of structured products even as overall sales falter. Click HERE to read the full story via Financial Planning ………………………………………………………………………………….. Low interest rates drew clients to structured products in the first quarter, boosting the fastest growing segment of the annuities […]

From Stay-At-Home Mom To Insurance Evangelist

{May 27th, 2020} by John Hilton

Originally published February 2020 and reprinted in celebration of Sheryl’s 15th anniversary of the founding of Wink, Inc. Sheryl Moore found herself alone at just about the worst time in life to be alone. A single, stay-at-home mom of three kids with no child support and no job, she calculated her child care costs at $455 […]

Helping Your Clients Meet Retirement Income Needs

{May 13th, 2020} by Kate Stalter

The market downturn is focusing investors’ attention on the safety of future income streams, particularly those earmarked for retirement. Click HERE to read the full story via U.S. News Sheryl Moore, CEO of Moore Market Intelligence in Des Moines, Iowa, says many consumers are unfamiliar with annuities. “Most people have never heard of an annuity. […]

Transamerica VA targets fee-based advisers

{May 6th, 2020} by Emile Hallez

Transamerica rolled out a low-cost variable annuity Monday that’s designed for fee-based advisers. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews ………………………………………………………. The announcement from Transamerica “is intriguing,” Sheryl Moore, head of Moore Market Intelligence, said in an email. “It almost looks like they are going to have an internal sales team, within their home […]

The (Annuity) sky isn’t falling

{April 22nd, 2020} by Sheryl J. Moore

Part of what I do for my full-time hustle is to track every annuity, its features, rates, and sales. AnnuitySpecs may look like a simple website, but there is A LOT of work that goes into that tool. Almost a dozen people are needed just to keep up with all the product information that goes […]

Is the coronavirus crisis the right time to talk to clients about annuities?

{April 22nd, 2020} by Tobias Salinger

In the middle of a public health and economic crisis, a so-called flight to safety sounds like a great idea. Click HERE to read the full story via Financial Planning ……………………………………………………………………………………… These conditions make it a good time to discuss whether annuities might fit a client’s goals, says Sheryl J. Moore, CEO of […]

Annuities take center stage

{April 15th, 2020} by Emile Hallez

The COVID-19 pandemic has given people many reasons to be nervous, not least of which being how it has hurt their investments and their ability to retire. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews ………………………………………………………………………………………. “There’s a flight to safety,” said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Moore Market Intelligence. “If this is anything like things […]

What Has Become of Us?

{April 8th, 2020} by Sheryl J. Moore

When I heard about my grandfather’s experience paying his first death claim, I KNEW what a noble profession being an insurance agent was. Protection. Security. Safety. These values motivated me to serve the life insurance industry, beginning in my early 20s. Working for a mutual/career agency company marketing participating whole life, and transitioning to a […]

Companies Pull Annuities, Drop Rates

{March 25th, 2020} by Steve Morelli

Annuity companies are scrambling to reduce rates and starting to pull products from the market, said Sheryl Moore, Wink CEO. Carriers are holding back while the equity and bond markets roil in volatility. Although the stock markets have been dropping persistently, bond prices have been fluctuating wildly, especially since the Federal Reserve cut its funds […]

CSO Deadline Drives Indexed Life Sales Records In 2019: Wink

{March 24th, 2020} by Press Release

Life insurance sales were very strong in 2019, according to Wink’s Sales & Market Report, with indexed life sales smashing records. Click HERE to read the full story via INN …………………………………………………………………… “I anticipated that this would be another record-setting year for indexed life,” said Sheryl J. Moore, president and CEO of both Moore Market […]

Observation Posts

{March 20th, 2020} by Kerry Pechter

As if we weren’t already deeply divided, Americans are now asked to stand six feet apart. Clear verbal communication, not communicable viruses, is now essential. Words can be contagious, for good or ill. If the following comments go viral, no harm will be done, and maybe some good. Click HERE to read the full story […]

Echoes Of 2008: Annuities Surge When Equities Crash

{March 18th, 2020} by Steve Morelli

The past few weeks of dramatic news might sound eerily similar to the 2008 crash, but there are some key differences for annuities, as well as some positive similarities. Click HERE to read the full story via INN ………………………………………………………………………………… Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink, also said although this crisis has many similarities to […]

Annuity Rates Plummet, Commissions Might Be Next

{March 18th, 2020} by Steve Morelli

Annuity companies have been cutting their rates across all fixed products – some a few times in two weeks amid the crash in equity markets and Treasury yields, said an annuity analyst. “I track about 80 annuity companies,” said Sheryl Moore, CEO of Wink. “As of yesterday, I had 75 rate reductions just since March […]

Sheryl Moore and Phil Graham

{March 11th, 2020} by Sheryl Moore and Phil Graham

Annuities… What to expect with recent economic challenges. How will it affect your annuity business.

Way to go Rockstar!

{February 25th, 2020} by Wink's RockStars

Sheryl J. Moore, a 2019 NAILBA ID Twenty Award Winner was recognized at the NAILBA 38 annual meeting. View NAILBA Perspectives HERE: https://view.joomag.com/nailba-perspectives-winter-2020/0548239001579540261?short Held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Dallas, TX. NAILBA 38 was non-stop opportunity for sharing ideas, building relationships, and support the growth of the brokerage industry. […]

Sheryl Moore: From Single Mom To Insurance Rock Star

{February 11th, 2020} by John Hilton

She learned fast in a business not known for producing fast learners. After a few years mastering product development, competitive intelligence and marketing, Moore took a leap of faith and started her own company in 2005. Today, she is one of the industry’s top experts on product performance and pricing. Click HERE to read the […]

Brighthouse, Athene announce FIA innovations

{February 8th, 2020} by Editorial Staff

Competition and the low interest rate environment continues to drive innovation in the fixed indexed annuity market as companies try to dress up their products and avoid a trend toward commoditization. Click HERE to read the full story via RIJ The average cap rate on an FIA account that’s linked to the S&P500 […]

Cboe Announces Dynamic Lineup for 36th Annual Cboe Risk Management Conference U.S. 2020

{February 1st, 2020} by Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

CHICAGO, Jan. 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), one of the world’s largest exchange holding companies, will host the 36th annual Cboe Risk Management Conference (RMCSM) U.S. at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs, Florida, on Monday, March 2, through Wednesday, March 4. Known for decades as the premier educational forum for equity derivatives, […]

Security Benefit’s legal woes over indexed annuities persist

{January 28th, 2020} by Emile Hallez

A class-action lawsuit claiming that Security Benefit defrauded its indexed annuity clients by deceptively marketing proprietary index performance reemerged in federal court this week. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. “Insurance companies have been offering hybrid indices on indexed annuities since 2012,” said […]

How an Annuity Expert Built Her Software Company

{January 8th, 2020} by Marc Glickman, FSA, CLTC

“He said, well, why didn’t you buy an indexed annuity? It’s a retirement savings product that guarantees you a paycheck for the rest of your life… an indexed annuity would not subject me to losing money, but allows me to earn money based on the market’s performance to a limited degree.” – Sheryl Moore On […]

What Might the SECURE Act Mean for Lifetime Income?

{December 31st, 2019} by John Manganaro

Among the many important provisions included in the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act is the establishment of legal protections for plan sponsors offering lifetime income products on their defined contribution (DC) plan menus. Click HERE to read the full story via PLANADVISER …………………………………………………………………………………………. Annuity Misconceptions Are Hard […]

Crafting Annuity Confidence and Clarity Is Hard Work

{December 23rd, 2019} by John Manganaro

One passionate analyst says the highly nuanced annuity marketplace does not receive sufficiently careful attention from either the financial services media or potential consumers. In response to an American Benefits Council (ABC) survey fielded last year, of the 93 large companies polled by the Council, only 13 (14%) indicated that their organization offers a lifetime […]

With annuity sales rising, Congress provides a ‘safe harbor’ in 401(k)s

{December 23rd, 2019} by Tobia Salinger

Congress has passed a bill expected to lead to rosier annuity sales in the future — just as structured products are picking up on the macroeconomic slack dragging down fixed products. Issuers and brokerages are cheering the inclusion of a bipartisan federal retirement bill called the Secure Act in a giant budgetary measure. The legislation […]

Nine Financial Factors To Consider Before Buying Your First House

{December 23rd, 2019} by Expert Panel

Purchasing a house is one of the most — if not the most — impactful financial investments that most of us make in our lives. The mortgage, financing and associated costs of maintenance have the potential to impact a homeowner’s income well into the future. Deciding to buy a house today could have a major […]

In Your 30s? 14 Strategies To Reach Savings Goals Faster

{December 11th, 2019} by Expert Panel, Forbes Finance Council

Your 30s are often considered your prime earning years. At this age, you’re in a great position to start capitalizing on life experiences and building your nest egg. Starting to save earlier in life gives you more options later on and puts you in a great position when it’s time to retire. We asked a […]

Structured annuity sales up 61% in 3Q2019, YoY: Wink Inc.

{December 11th, 2019} by Editorial Staff

Total sales for all deferred annuity products in the third quarter of 2019 was $55.2 billion, a decline of 5.2% from the previous quarter, according to the 89th edition of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, issued November 26. Total variable deferred annuity sales—including structured annuities and conventional variable deferred annuities—were $25.9 billion in the third quarter, up […]

3Q Life Insurance Sales Sag Amid Low Rates, Persistent Regulation

{December 3rd, 2019} by Staff Reports

Low rates and regulation combined to keep life insurance sales down in the third quarter, one leading analyst says. The new data was compiled by Wink, Inc. in its 89th edition of Wink’s Sales & Market Report. Click HERE to read the full story via INN. ………………………… “While third quarter is typically a […]

Life Lessons

{November 26th, 2019} by Sheryl Moore

While I have never sold or endorsed any company or product, I have heard many a tale from the front lines. I wanted to take the time to share with you some lessons learned in life insurance, by friends and colleagues. Competitive ENLGs result in MIA TPAs A long-time career agency owner that I know, […]

NAIC Panel Splits On Requiring New Illustration Rules For Old Policies

{November 20th, 2019} by John Hilton

A significant split opened up this week on applying tightened indexed universal life insurance illustration rules to in-force policies. A National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ subgroup is still working through the details, but has a mandate to clamp down on multipliers and bonuses that critics say enable insurers to get around Actuarial Guideline 49, approved […]

Penn Mutual’s Possibilities Podcast: An Industry Expert’s Take on Today’s Changing Product Landscape

{November 20th, 2019} by Penn Mutual

Industry expert Sheryl J. Moore discusses how regulatory changes and trends such as leveraged indexed products are changing the life insurance and annuity marketplace — and why more than ever — advisers should steer clear of illustration-based selling and invest more time in educating clients and strengthening relationships. Click HERE to listen. Sheryl J. Moore […]

How to Choose an Annuity Issuer

{November 13th, 2019} by Kerry Pechter

When you shop for a new car, what are your criteria? The manufacturer’s reputation? The model or style of the vehicle? Its main function or purpose in your life? The proximity of the dealer? Or maybe you already have a specific automobile in mind. Your inquiries wouldn’t stop there. You’ll want to know, for instance, […]

NAILBA Attendance Up – And So Are The Challenges

{November 13th, 2019} by Steve Morelli

DALLAS – The association representing life brokerage agencies opens its annual conference’s first full day with some wind in its sails as it pushes into a challenging future. The National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies had 825 registrants as of Monday, with another 50 to 75 expected to walk in, said Dan LaBert, NAILBA’s CEO. […]

Security Benefit indexed annuity fraud lawsuit may signal trouble for other insurers

{October 29th, 2019} by Greg Iacurci

A lawsuit that alleges Security Benefit Life Insurance Co. engaged in a fraudulent scheme related to its indexed annuities hints at trouble for other indexed annuity shops at a time when the products are growing more popular. Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… “The way that product […]

Class-Action Suit Targets Security Benefit’s Proprietary Index

{October 29th, 2019} by John Hilton

Three consumers filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that Security Benefit Life Insurance Co. defrauded consumers by implementing a “fraudulent scheme” involving a proprietary index used in two fixed indexed annuities. The plaintiffs, from Illinois, Arizona and California, where the suit was filed Oct. 16, claim the company misrepresented returns. “Security Benefit’s fraudulent scheme included the […]

Looking For A CPA? 16 Tips For Finding The Right One

{October 23rd, 2019} by Forbes Financial Council

Whether they’re handling business or personal finances, a good Certified Public Accountant (CPA) can be worth their weight in gold. Most entrepreneurs don’t start their journey with an in-depth knowledge of how to manage and organize business finances, and almost all of us would welcome expert assistance with our taxes. A good CPA can put […]

NAILBA Announces Winners of 2019 ID Twenty Awards

{October 17th, 2019} by Pam Sheehan

For Immediate Release Contact: Pam Sheehan Phone: 303-503-6305 Email: PSheehan@nailba.org NAILBA Announces Winners of 2019 ID Twenty Awards Appreciating 20 of the Industry’s innovators and trailblazers (Fairfax, VA, October 16, 2019) NAILBA, the Voice of Independent Distribution (ID), has announced the 2019 recipients of the ID Twenty Awards. In the […]

Ohio National Lawsuits Tossed Out; Two Others Proceed

{October 9th, 2019} by John Hilton

A judge for the Southern District of Ohio tossed out a pair of lawsuits by separate brokers last week, bolstering Ohio National’s 2018 decision to eliminate trail commissions on certain variable annuities. Judges in a pair of other lawsuits have ruled that broker-dealers Veritas Financial Partners and NEXT Financial Group may proceed with claims against […]

NY Best-Interest Rule Causing Insurers to Stop Offering Annuities in the State

{September 11th, 2019} by Alex Padalka

Now that New York’s tougher rules on the sales of annuities and insurance have gone into effect, insurers are preparing to stop selling the products in the state, according to news reports. Issued by the New York State Department of Financial Services, Regulation 187, as it’s known, requires financial entities selling annuities to consider their clients’ […]

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