Loyalty to advisors “drops significantly” as client educational achievement levels rise, new research reveals.
Read moreNineteen percent of Americans have nothing set aside to cover an unexpected emergency, according to recent data. How can advisors help their clients? By pushing them to establish an emergency fund.
Brokerage, career agent and personal producing general agent (PPGA) channels remain the top channels through which UL products are sold, but the numbers are constantly changing, a new report finds.
A new study finds that women nearing retirement age have a significant lack of financial knowledge. Combined with the fact that women live longer than men, the study is alarming news for both clients and advisors.
Nineteen percent of Americans have nothing set aside to cover an unexpected emergency, according to recent data. How can advisors help their clients? By pushing them to establish an emergency fund.
Brokerage, career agent and personal producing general agent (PPGA) channels remain the top channels through which UL products are sold, but the numbers are constantly changing, a new report finds.
A new study finds that women nearing retirement age have a significant lack of financial knowledge. Combined with the fact that women live longer than men, the study is alarming news for both clients and advisors.
For those clients who are forced into an early retirement, financial advisors have to navigate both the emotional and financial fallout, and re-adjust that client’s retirement plan on the fly. Here are some tips to do that.
New fee-based annuities, bringing products to market faster, and more transparency in how agents are paid are just some of the main developments in play within the annuity sales industry, a consultant says.
Brighthouse Financial, the newest major life and annuity distributor in the U.S., moved quickly to expand its product line in time for its spinoff from MetLife earlier this month.
New ways to engage with prospects and earn their trust.
Homes are costing more and inventory is shockingly low. How can advisors help clients find their dream home in this strong seller’s market? By following some sound principles.
How do commission-based annuity sales compare with fee transactions? Our Kim O’Brien takes a side-by-side look and the results may surprise you.
A new study finds the nation’s public pension plans are in worse shape that originally thought due to sketchy accounting practices. What is the answer and how can advisors help?
Jackson National is latest life insurance company to report strong second-quarter earnings. The company sold $17 billion worth of variable annuities last year even as the variable annuity market continued to shrink.
In a direct swipe at Vanguard, Fidelity slashes fees on 14 of its flagship funds. Is there an opening for the Boston-based giant to take down low-fee Vanguard?
Most insurance company executives in second quarterly earnings calls said their businesses thrived despite the prophesies of doom emanating from the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule.
The two-week quarterly earnings reporting period for the nation’s major life and retirement insurers finds most of them exceeded expectations….
Divorce is incredibly costly and the right advisor can save a client a bundle — or at least limit the expense. Some experts share tips for preparing and protecting a client headed for splitsville.
Our Cyril Tuohy ponders whether tiny Switzerland, with its private decentralized health care system for 8 million people, could be a model for U.S. health care reform going forward.
Allianz SE posted a strong second quarter due to spiking sales of capital-efficient products such as variable annuities without income guarantees, hybrid variable annuities and fixed indexed annuities, company executives said.
New RIA relationships and the growth of roboadvisories are major trends in the industry, as found in the latest Schwab quarterly report. Analysts say both issues will be felt by industry players for many years to come.
Summer means executive movement in the insurance industry. We recap the announced comings and goings among the top life insurance and annuity providers.
A U.S. appeals court allowed the attorneys general from 17 Democratic states to defend subsidy payments to health insurers under the Affordable Care Act.
Financial advisory growth has stymied, with fewer active advisors in play, and per-advisor revenues in decline, a new report finds. What are the factors in play?
The new Department of Labor fiduciary rules could have implications for cyber-security systems if they are not strong enough. Client personal information must be securely protected under the rule’s Impartial Conduct Standards.
Contact your Medicare clients as early as possible to lock them in and take care of their insurance needs for the next year.
Consumer confidence is at a nearly 16-year high, experts point out, a major indicator that the markets will continue to expand for the rest of 2017. But if confidence indicators flag, be wary of a crash.
As the Senate’s discussion of health care reform proceeds in fits and starts, one question that continues to be asked is: Where will health insurance agents and brokers fit in as the Affordable Care Act is dismantled?
Another quarter with double-digit earnings growth for the S&P 500 appears likely for the second period of 2017, analysts say. How long with the bulls keep running?
The Federal Reserve appears committed to normalizing interest rates further and initiating its balance sheet reduction this year, experts say.
A look at how fixed annuities stack up against bond mutual funds.
How to build trust so that prospects trust you even before they meet you and become clients much more rapidly.
Commentary As you read this, most of you are aware that the Comment Period on delaying the DOL Rule was…
Merger-and-acquisition transactions in the first half of 2017 rose 15 percent to a record 82 deals compared with the year-ago period, new data finds.
Retiring early means confronting a host of sensitive and significant planning questions. Knowledgeable advisors can help their clients get the right answers.
A pilot, Direct-to-Consumer annuity offering by Nationwide is generating plenty of useful data about consumer habits and their needs to speak to live advisors.
Detractors are already saying Anthony Scaramucci is unprepared to face withering fire as White House communications chief, but the former hedge-funder has been in battle for some time.
A deadline to comment on the controversial Department of Labor fiduciary rule expires at midnight Friday.
A new study reveals that millennials and women are growing more interested in socially responsible investment options. Advisors in those demographics are moving with the trends, data shows.
New York State regulators seek information from insurers to determine whether they are using external data sources to underwrite life insurance coverage.
How does an advisor plan for the client who wants to work in retirement? Such a plan can improve the retirement outlook, but the pitfalls include unrealistic expectations.
What licenses do you need to sell various financial products in a Department of Labor fiduciary rule world? Our Kim O’Brien discusses the various licenses and dismisses some incorrect information.
With online advice models gaining momentum in the financial services world, many traditional advisories are adopting ‘hybrid’ models that combine both robo and human aspects. Prices for these services vary, a new study found.
A draft House appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would defund the health insurance navigators program.
Brighthouse Financial will eliminate surrender charges on a universal life (UL) insurance policy, a move that will give policyholders more flexibility.
New annuity research tool by Beacon Annuity Solutions will help advisors demonstrate that their recommendations are in the best interest of clients, a company executive says.
The Impartial Conduct Standards in the Department of Labor fiduciary rules have caused some confusion. Our Kim O’Brien is here to sort it all out.
Deciding when to take Social Security benefits can be one of the most important decisions an advisor helps a client to make.
The New York Department of Financial Services is requiring more than 3,000 financial institutions to implement a formal cybersecurity policy to address the rising threat of cyberattacks.
Some 67 percent of financial advisors rely on practice management support – especially to deal with the growing complexity of advising, according to a recent poll.
The Global Insurance Accelerator, or GIA, is helping InsureTech start-ups get off the ground with seed capital, mentorship and exposure. GIA is funded by some of the best-known insurers located in the Des Moines area.
Two new indexed variable annuity products will help Allianz Life Insurance post record sales and deal effectively with the new regulations in the Department of Labor fiduciary rule, company execs say.
If you’re going for the dividend route, which of the two primary dividend strategies is best: dividend growth, or dividend yield? Investment gurus are casting a vote for growth.
Some 93 percent of people 25 years and younger are willing to buy insurance online compared to only 63 percent…
Investors should diversify their holdings across emerging markets, experts say. But take care to be wary of volatility and invest with some trepidation.
A serious health condition need not be a barrier to obtaining life insurance coverage.
Fred Fern had all of his money invested in IBM in 1962. When the blue chip of blue chip stocks…
Cybersecurity ETFs are a hot investment right now due to the persistent global cyber threats. But experts say there are important things to look for before plunging your client’s money into a cybersecurity ETF.
Asset managers and owners expect their investment in ESG alternative assets, including hedge funds, infrastructure, real estate and private equity…
A sustainable approach for brokers navigating the emergence of technology in group health insurance.
The Duty of Diligence contained in the Department of Labor fiduciary rule will require advisors to employ a standardized, systematic and repeatable process when issuing advice, our Kim O’Brien says.
Consumers want health care cost transparency when making insurance decisions.
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