More employers are offering both high-deductible and traditional health plans to employees, a new survey found. High-deductible plans are helping employers hold down costs and retain employees interested in cheaper health insurance options.
Easier and faster application and underwriting processes are on the way as human intervention cedes to artificial intelligence, noninvasive medical reviews and data analytics, a new report found. Insurers are making major strides in the use of AI and advisors are going to feel the differences.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is looking into MetLife’s failure to pay some workers’ pensions as the insurer announced it will postpone its fourth-quarter and full year 2017 earnings report.
What is in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ proposed “Best Interest” Revisions to NAIC Annuity Suitability Regulation? Our Kim O’Brien breaks it down.
Advisors across the industry are being given the go ahead to text clients. Companies such as Merrill Lynch and Voya have strict guidelines on texting, but executives say they must be active in a communication channel favored by so many Americans.
The U.S. economy is rolling along on all cylinders. But analysts say there are reasons for concerns as many impacts are expected through the end of the year.
New York State officials raced ahead of the NAIC with its best-interest amendment covering life insurance as well as annuities. Now New York officials want the NAIC to include the stricter standard in its model law going out to all states.
Turnkey asset management programs (TAMPs) have grown significantly in recent years, but that growth might be coming to an end due to a variety of factors.
The financial world could see an exodus of advisors from firms in the coming months, one analyst says. Advisors are expected to leave while they still can do so without penalty as more and more firms plan to exit the broker protocol agreement.
Bankers Life and parent CNO Financial are reorganizing under new leadership as a variety of challenges await.
Banks were active purchasers of registered investment advisors last year, new data indicates. New tax cuts could spur additional bank acquisition activity, some experts say.
The stock market continues to hum along generating strong growth, but could a correction be around the corner? Some analysts say real estate lending offers investors correction protection while maintaining strong returns.
Mergers and acquisitions among registered investment advisors (RIAs) slowed a bit in the second half, but the year concluded with a record number of deals.
Survey data is finding that younger investors are not benefiting from the bull stock market nearly as much as they should. Moreover, many young people don’t have much knowledge, or pay much attention to their investments.
Our Kim O’Brien explores further what the Department of Labor means by ‘best’ interest. Advisors need to know this to sell products under the DOL fiduciary rule mandates that went into effect June 9, 2017.
Life insurers are late to the digital game and missing out as consumers go mobile with finance.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans might be holding its appeal decision until the Department of Labor completes a review of the controversial fiduciary rule, one analyst said.
Security Benefit Life executives say the time is right for a version of its popular RateTrack floating rate annuity that adds a lifetime income benefit.
Some advisors are torn over the value of long-term care insurance. Since most recipients will end up using the insurance, some say price hikes are inevitable. Others say no product or strategy better protects clients from end-of-life risk.
