Interest Rate Risk of Annuities

By Mark R. Triplett
AnnuityNews

What is the one risk that CDs, fixed annuities and fixed indexed annuities share? Interest rate risk!

You could, for example, miss out on having a higher interest rate credited to your savings if the current interest rates increase during the penalty period of the fixed interest-bearing vehicle of your choice.

With CDs, the risk is often short lived because of the short-term nature of the vehicle. If you purchase a 12-month CD at 0.75 percent interest, however, and six months later the going rate for the same CD is 1.5 percent, you have missed out on the opportunity until your CD matures. Hopefully at that time you are able to take advantage of the higher rate, assuming it is still available.

Fixed annuities, often longer in penalty period, have even higher interest rate risk. A five to 10-year penalty period is common for a traditional fixed annuity. If rates increase during the penalty period, you may be forced to wait several years before you can elect an alternative vehicle. Or you may be faced with losing a percentage of your savings for a premature withdrawal. The trade-off for the longer penalty period is usually a higher interest rate credited to the savings.

Traditionally, the longer the penalty period is, the higher the interest rate will be. But considering today’s ultra low interest rate environment, longer-term annuities pose an incredible interest rate risk.

Today, we are experiencing a period of time that is anything but typical. Since 2003, we have seen a low interest rate period that has not existed since 1967. The 10-year U.S. Treasury Note is hovering just above 2 percent. And annuity products purchased today will be backed by these low-yielding bond portfolios for most of the penalty period.

Now, enter fixed indexed annuities. They offer an opportunity to earn interest based on an external benchmark that is often an indexed of a stock market. Indexed annuities are designed to give the consumer an opportunity to earn higher interest than what would otherwise be available. A reasonable expectation for a fixed indexed annuity would be 1 to 2 percent above the fixed rate on that particular annuity.

For example, if a five-year indexed annuity fixed rate were paying 4 percent today, it would be fair to make the assumption that an indexed annuity could give the consumer an opportunity to earn 5 percent to 7 percent over the same period of time. The rate earned, however, could be less.

Because fixed rates have dropped tremendously, so have the crediting rates on new indexed annuity products. They are all relative. Today’s indexed products will provide an opportunity, not a guarantee, to earn 1 to 2 percent more than the fixed rates that are available. A five-year product with a fixed account of 1.5 percent will mean that the expectation for an indexed annuity would be about 2.5 to 3.5 percent. Considering that the national average interest rate for a five-year CD is about 1.5 percent, indexed annuities are still a popular alternative.

Whether a traditional fixed or indexed annuity is purchased, however, the bond portfolio backing the products will be tied to the same low-yielding portfolio. If a consumer purchases a 10-year (or longer) product and new money rates increase during the penalty period, the consumer will experience the rate risk I mentioned earlier. The product renewal rates for a recently purchased product will be minimally affected by the future rate environment for new money purchases. They will be tied to the original portfolio that backs the in force policy. Meanwhile, consumers purchasing the same product with new money during an increased rate period will have a more favorable experience with their purchase.

Still, according to industry research, the most popular fixed indexed annuity products sold today have penalty periods of around 10 years. Many of these products have a premium bonus added to the policy. And because of the bonus, these products typically have lower crediting rates than what are found on products that don’t offer one.

In some cases, an indexed annuity product with a shorter penalty period, not offering a bonus will give a consumer an “opportunity” to earn higher interest than one with a bonus— during the exact same crediting period. 

Unfortunately, the bonus on many fixed indexed annuities is kind of like getting a one-year free subscription to satellite radio (that is basically an added benefit for a long-term lease) in an otherwise undesirable car. One year later, when the satellite radio is gone, you are stuck with a long-term lease. Flashy offers may not be in your best interest or your clients’.

I’ll relent, however, that sometimes a bonus is necessary. If a consumer is attempting to recuperate losses experienced in another investment, it may make sense. On the other hand, it may make sense if the consumer would like to overcome surrender charges from a less desirable product in order to purchase a better product.

But don’t use it as a crutch to make a sale. And if you are replacing another product, be sure you are not encouraging your client to trade in their car with the expired satellite radio for another car with the same terms.

Mark R. Triplett is vice president of annuity distribution at AMZ Financial. Mark can be reached at [email protected].

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