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Hybrid Annuity Sales Hit All Time Highs! Do You Know Why?

September 13, 2014 By Annuity Guys®

Record numbers of retirees and savers are flocking to fixed and fixed index annuities – why?

For many baby boomers , the great recession is still ingrained into their thoughts as they make plans for their retirement. The thought of losing 30-40% or more of their portfolio in the stock market has sent them out seeking safer growth options; while other baby boomers seek the safeguard of knowing that they will have lifetime **guarantees for their foundational income in retirement.

The insurance industry is on pace to issue $100,000,000,000.00 (that’s one hundred billion dollars) in just fixed and fixed index annuities this year alone! With banks offering safe money rates that hover just over zero, we should not be surprised by the number of people flocking into contractually **guaranteed growth and income options. However, this is most likely not the only reason for this level of annuity sales growth. Annuities have traditionally paid better rates than the banks so the growth of sales should not be based upon higher interest rates alone. [continued below video…]

Video: Annuity Guys, Dick & Eric, discuss why it seems like everyone wants a “hybrid” Fixed Index Annuity!

Guarantees, including optional benefits, are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuer, and may contain limitations, including surrender charges, which may affect policy values. During this segment, Dick and Eric are referring to Fixed Annuities unless otherwise specified. 

According to AARP, about 8000 people will turn 65 everyday from now until 2029. These baby boomers have seen one of the greatest bull markets of all time during the eighties and nineties followed by substantial market volatility and more recently a “lost decade” of market gains. They appear to be interested in preserving their wealth and income in retirement and many are willing to give up some of the market’s upside potential to protect against market backslides. There may not be empirical evidence to support the fact that retirees are valuing the **guarantees that annuities offer, but the dollars seem to be speaking loudly that boomers believe that annuities are a good option for retirement planning.

Is now the right time to join the crowd moving a portion of one’s savings into fixed or hybrid fixed index annuities? It depends – do you feel the need to protect retirement dollars from losses resulting from the next big correction in the equities market? Do you want a predictable, stable income stream that you cannot outlive? Do you wish you had your parents company sponsored pension plan? Does the fear of outliving or losing your money keep you up at night? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to join the millions of satisfied annuity owners who value the way these financial products secure their retirement.

The inspiration for this weeks entry came from our friends at the Insured Retirement Institute.

IRI Second-Quarter 2014 Annuity Sales Report: Industry-Wide Sales at Highest Level in Three Years

Indexed Annuities Power Fixed Annuity Sales to Five-Year High; Variable Annuity Sales Up from First Quarter

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) today announced final second-quarter 2014 sales results for the U.S. annuity industry, based on data reported by Beacon Research and Morningstar, Inc. Reaching the highest mark in three years, industry-wide annuity sales in the second quarter of 2014 rose to $59.9 billion, a 6.8 percent increase from $56.1 billion in the previous quarter and a 9.9 percent increase from $54.5 billion in the second quarter of 2013.

Fixed annuity sales – supported by record fixed indexed annuity sales – increased to $24.3 billion in the second quarter of 2014, according to Beacon Research. This was a 7.6 percent increase from $22.6 billion in the previous quarter and a 41.6 percent increase from $17.1 billion in the second quarter of 2013. Variable annuity total sales reached $35.6 billion in the second quarter of 2014, according to Morningstar. This was a 6.2 percent increase from $33.5 billion in the first quarter of 2014, but a 4.6 percent decline from $37.3 billion in the second quarter of 2013.

“These are the highest industry-wide sales we’ve seen in three years, and on the fixed side of the market, the highest in five years,” said Cathy Weatherford, IRI President and CEO. “We continue to see moderate growth, driven by consumer need for protection and income, in all types of retirement income products, and more robust growth in certain products based on the macroeconomic conditions of the day. For example, the market is currently experiencing a surge in the sale of fixed indexed annuities that – in addition to offering upside potential with downside protection and access to **guaranteed lifetime income – can be used by consumers as an alternative to traditional fixed income investments without the interest rate risk.”

According to Beacon Research, continued growth in fixed annuity sales were largely supported by a surge in fixed indexed annuity sales, which hit a new quarterly record of $12.9 billion in the second quarter of 2014. This represents a 14.8 percent increase from first-quarter 2014 sales of $11.2 billion and a 41.5 percent increase from second-quarter 2013 sales of $9.1 billion. Income annuity sales also rose during the second quarter of 2014, topping $3.39 billion – a 3.2 percent increase from nearly $3.29 billion in the previous quarter and a 32.7 percent jump from $2.56 billion in the second quarter of 2013. For the entire fixed annuity market, there were approximately $12.5 billion in qualified sales and $11.8 billion in non-qualified sales during the second quarter of 2014. [Read More…]

 

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Filed Under: Annuity Commentary, Annuity Guys Blog, Annuity Guys Video, Annuity Income, Annuity Safety, Hybrid Annuities, Market Safe Annuities, Retirement Tagged With: Annuity, Annuity Industry, Annuity Owner, Annuity Sales, Equity-indexed Annuity, Fixed Annuity, Fixed Index Annuity, Hybrid Annuity, Income Annuities, Income Potential, Indexed Annuity, Life Annuity

 

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  ** Guarantees, including optional benefits, are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuer, and may contain limitations, including surrender charges, which may affect policy values. Annuities are not FDIC insured and it is possible to lose money.
Annuities are insurance products that require a premium to be paid for purchase.
Annuities do not accept or receive deposits and are not to be confused with bank issued financial instruments.
During all video segments, Dick and Eric are referring to Fixed Annuities unless otherwise specified.


  *Retirement Planning and annuity purchase assistance may be provided by Eric Judy or by referral to a recommended, experienced, Fiduciary Investment Advisor in helping Annuity Guys website visitors. Dick Van Dyke semi-retired from his Investment Advisory Practice in 2012 and now focuses on this educational Annuity Guys Website. He still maintains his insurance license in good standing and assists his current clients.
Annuity Guys' vetted and recommended Fiduciary Financial Planners are required to be properly licensed in assisting clients with their annuity and retirement planning needs. (Due diligence as a client is still always necessary when working with any advisor to check their current standing.)



  # Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a variable annuity and its underlying investment options. The current prospectus and underlying prospectuses, which are contained in the same document, provide this and other important information. Please contact an Investment Professional or the issuing Company to obtain the prospectuses. Please read the prospectuses carefully before investing or sending money.


  ^ Investors should consider investment objectives, risk, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectuses and summary prospectuses, which can be obtained from a financial professional and should be read carefully before investing.


  ^ Eric Judy offers advisory services through Client One Securities, LLC an Investment Advisor. Annuity Guys Ltd. and Client One Securities, LLC are not affiliated.