Pick and Roll(over)
Hundreds of TV ads for financial services have appeared during the 2013 NCAA men's basketball tournament so far. None was an absolute slam dunk, but all were good. Read on, watch the video clips, and...
View ArticlePBS critiques 401(k) plans
The PBS investigative journalism series, "Frontline," will focus on 401(k) and IRAs in its broadcast in the evening of April 23. Judging by the 30-second preview (embedded in this item), "The...
View ArticleObama’s Budget Too Austere for Retirement Industry
There’s outrage and indignation over the administration’s call for a $3 million cap on lifetime accumulations in tax-favored accounts, but only a tiny number of accounts would be affected.
View ArticleVanguard to offer 401(k) services through TPAs
The move represents an expansion of the Vanguard Retirement Plan Access program, which was introduced in October 2011 to offer bundled services to sponsors of small- to mid-size 401(k) plans and to...
View ArticleThe Hartford hedges its VA risk in Japan
The company also announced that financial results for the first quarter of 2013 will include a deferred acquisition charge (DAC) of approximately $600 million, after tax.
View ArticlePoland denies rumors that it will nationalize ‘second pillar’ assets
In spite of those denials, many observers believe the government will still attempt to access some of the assets, due to the need to reduce its deficit in line with the European Union's excessive...
View ArticleFitch: Puerto Rico’s bond rating (BBB-) depends on reform
Reforms signed into law in Puerto Rico last week aim to reduce future cash flow deficits in the plan both by increasing payments into the plan and reducing future cash payments out of the plan, Fitch...
View ArticleFunny Money and the Super-Rich
The publisher of The Prudent Bear website blames U.S. monetary policy for empowering tasteless parvenus to leverage their way to the top—or at least onto the Forbes 400.
View ArticleI’ll Let You Work Out the Details
Is it really true that if you cap a small business owner's tax-deferred retirement accounts at $3 million, he or she will stop offering a plan at all? Sounds like blackmail.
View ArticleING U.S. to rebrand as Voya Financial
The operational rebranding process is expected to take approximately 24 months once it is started, and ING U.S. would not use its new name and logo commercially until the operational rebranding...
View ArticleFinancial / Retirement Planning Software Directory
See the detail on financial planning software including vendors, scopes, costs, and contacts.
View ArticleVA Net Flows ‘Grim’ in 4Q 2012: Morningstar
“A spike in outflows from group contracts and continued large outflows from companies that have exited the business were the major components of the precipitous drop," wrote Morningstar's Frank...
View ArticlePick and Roll(over)
Hundreds of TV ads for financial services have appeared during the 2013 NCAA men's basketball tournament so far. None was an absolute slam dunk, but all were good. Read on, watch the video clips, and...
View ArticleObama’s Budget Too Austere for Retirement Industry
There’s outrage and indignation over the administration’s call for a $3 million cap on lifetime accumulations in tax-favored accounts, but only a tiny number of accounts would be affected.
View ArticleA Man of Conviction
How did Matthew Hutcheson, once a poster boy for fiduciary rectitude, turn into the wanted-poster man for fiduciary misconduct? But his ill-fated deal for the Osprey Meadows golf course (pictured) in...
View ArticlePrincipal Financial Joins the DIA Club
The Principal Financial Group is stepping up its individual retirement income business by introducing a new deferred income annuity and engaging annuity consultant Moshe Milevsky, vice president Jerry...
View ArticleGreetings from New Orleans
At the LIMRA-LOMA-SoA Retirement Industry Conference in the 'Big Easy' this morning, Bob Kerzner sprang the news that his organizations will sponsor a new retirement designation--for home office...
View ArticleAmerican General introduces FIA with 7% roll-up
The contract offers three interest-crediting strategies – a one-year fixed interest account, an annual point-to-point index interest account, and a monthly point-to-point additive index interest...
View ArticleThe Phoenix Companies launches Income Elite Annuity
Contract holders can choose from three different point-to-point indexed accounts and a fixed account. In lieu of stronger death benefit guarantees, the product is designed to provide a larger...
View ArticleNew York Life urges devoting annual IRA contributions to its DIA
According to a New York Life example, if a 37-year-old male purchased a GFIA with a $5,000 IRA contribution and then contributed $5,000 annually for the next 30 years, at age 67 he could receive over...
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