The Reverse Mortgage Puzzle, Part II
Last week we focused on the HECM product, and how it became less generous after the financial crisis. This week we examine the role of the banks—large ones and smaller ones—and their roles (or former...
View ArticleThe Case Against Helicopter Money
'Distributing largesse financed by the central bank would have dangerous systemic consequences in the long run,' writes the chief economist of Allianz SE.
View ArticleThe Reverse Mortgage Puzzle: Part III
“There’s still a dark cloud over HECMs,” said Michael Banner, a long-time advocate of reverse mortgages who has a CE-accredited business devoted to teaching financial advisors about HECMs.
View ArticleWe’re 10X Too Fearful of a Crash: Shiller
The actual likelihood of an extreme crash occurring in the next six months, Yale economist Robert Shiller and colleagues found, is only about 1.7%.
View ArticleIntegrity Life enhances popular Indextra indexed annuity
Launched Sept. 29, 2014, Indextra has garnered sales to date of more than $800 million, making it the most successful first-year product debut in W&S Financial Group Distributors history.
View ArticleMorningstar and Redtail expand partnership
The integration expands the relationship between the two firms. In 2014, Morningstar's proprietary research and analytics were added to the Redtail CRM user interface.
View ArticleAmericans still overestimate safe retirement spending rate: NY Life
At greatest risk are the 31% of respondents who believe they can spend 10% or more of their savings each year.
View ArticleEnvestnet and partners add automated retirement solutions
VMS's Retirement Revolution platform offers multiple services, including plan design and set-up, full recordkeeping and administration, and fiduciary protection that addresses the new DOL rules, the...
View ArticleFinancial / Retirement Planning Software Directory
See the detail on financial planning software including vendors, scopes, costs, and contacts.
View ArticleSocial Security Maximizer
The Social Security Maximizer is an integral tool for a retirement planner's comprehensive financial planning calculations.
View ArticleSurprise: DOL Rule Targets Indexed Annuities
The DOL may have put a crimp in the sales of the hot-selling but controversial annuity product when, without specific warning, it raised the regulatory bar for the sale of fixed indexed annuities....
View ArticleThe Reverse Mortgage Puzzle, Part II
Last week we focused on the HECM product, and how it became less generous after the financial crisis. This week we examine the role of the banks—large ones and smaller ones—and their roles (or former...
View ArticleThe Reverse Mortgage Puzzle: Part III
“There’s still a dark cloud over HECMs,” said Michael Banner, a long-time advocate of reverse mortgages who has a CE-accredited business devoted to teaching financial advisors about HECMs.
View ArticleFirst Sign of Blood from DOL Fiduciary Rule
'The unexpected change regarding FIAs in the final DOL rule and the related Best Interest Contract Exemption has cast a cloud over our future growth rate,' said John Matovina, CEO of American Equity,...
View ArticleVanguard fees fall to as low as two cents per $1,000
The expense ratio reductions span five fund share classes (Investor, Admiral, ETF, Institutional, and Institutional Plus) across five fund categories: Domestic stock index, domestic bond index,...
View ArticleIn DC plans, managed accounts and TDFs suit different wealth tiers: Cerulli
The four largest managed account providers in the U.S., with about 95% of the market, include Financial Engines (60%; $113.4 billion), Morningstar (21%; $40.3 billion), Fidelity (8%; $14.5 billion)...
View ArticleManager who helped launch three-insurer in-plan annuity rejoins...
In his first tour at AB, Jeff Eng helped develop and launch Lifetime Income Strategy, the first target-date fund with a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit rider option provided by three different...
View ArticleThose who work longer live longer, study shows
Healthy retirees who worked a year longer had an 11% lower risk of mortality, while unhealthy retirees who worked a year longer had a 9% lower mortality risk.
View ArticleFinancial / Retirement Planning Software Directory
See the detail on financial planning software including vendors, scopes, costs, and contacts.
View ArticleSocial Security Maximizer
The Social Security Maximizer is an integral tool for a retirement planner's comprehensive financial planning calculations.
View Article