Broker/dealer revenues continue to face headwinds as advisors escalate their preferences for passive products, avoiding the revenue-sharing payments that asset managers have depended on for so long.
VA sales slump to lowest level in 25+ years, Wink Inc. reports
Wink Inc. reported deferred annuity sales in both the fourth quarter, and in all of 2022, were the greatest they have been since Wink began tracking sales of the product in 2015. However, the news for variable annuities was not so good.
‘Financial wellness’ a challenge for many Americans, study finds
While more than 9 in 10 Americans view financial wellness as important, nearly half report they do not feel financially stable, and nearly one-third have less than $500 in their emergency savings fund, according to a recent survey.
Medicaid unwinding is CMS agency’s ‘biggest challenge’
The administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services said one of her agency’s top priorities “is to ensure a smooth transition from COVID-19 waivers and flexibilities, including continuous enrollment.”
How Walmart is taking on the cost of employee health care with ‘innovation’
Affordability remains a huge problem with employer-based health coverage, but one corporation tackled that issue by changing the way its employees receive care.
HHS Secretary: U.S. needs to move from illness-based to wellness-based health care system
The U.S. health care system, he said, is one in which “people come in to the health care system when it’s very late in their situation.”
LIMRA: Life insurance premium expected to maintain record levels through 2024
Enough positive variables are in play for LIMRA analysts to project record-level life insurance premium through 2024. Specifically, December 2020 changes to the IRS tax code criteria that cash value life insurance policies must meet to retain tax-advantaged status.
Debunking the Top 10 estate planning myths
Estate planning isn’t only for the rich, and it involves more than simply writing a will.
Louisiana attracts 9 property insurers with incentive program
Nine insurers are interested in writing property insurance in Louisiana after the first round of an incentive program ended Friday….
4 long-term care trends emerge as pandemic recedes, regulators say
The devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to several trends in long-term care as facilities and caregivers did their best to cope.
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon ends re-election campaign
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announced today that he will not seek re-election, citing a desire to step away for…
NAIC survey: 88% of insurers are using AI or machine learning
A recent survey of auto insurers found that 88% of insurers currently use, plan to use or plan to explore using artificial intelligence or machine learning as part of their everyday operations.
Is the Silicon Valley Bank failure 2008 all over again?
“Things are different this time” they say, but things are awfully familiar too, especially with the effects of deregulation.
What led up to this crisis and why advisors should be appalled that it happened.
7 client acquisition strategies for today’s financial advisor
Two industry experts recently shared some tips and techniques to help advisors acquire the clients they need to take their business to the next level of success.
A study found 2022 fines and restitution decreased significantly compared with 2021, in large part because of one record-breaking fine FINRA ordered in 2021 against an online brokerage firm. Additionally, the number of disciplinary actions declined for the third year in a row.
Vehicle theft data indicates more than 250,000 thefts were reported in the fourth quarter of 2022 alone.
IRI unveils 2023 roadmap for federal legislation, policy impacting retirees
The Insured Retirement Institute has unveiled its 2023 security blueprint, an ambitious and comprehensive roadmap for the association’s federal legislative and regulatory public policy agenda.
Bipartisan group introduces bill to help Americans maximize Social Security benefits
A bipartisan group of senators proposed legislation and has asked the Social Security Administration to help Americans better understand the optimal time for them to claim their benefits.
