Fourth-quarter variable annuity sales totaled $33.3 billion, a 30 percent decrease from fourth quarter 2007, according to data released today from NAVA, the Association for Insured Retirement Solutions.
The combined net assets of U.S. variable annuities decreased 13 percent to $1.1 trillion, as compared to the end of the third quarter of 2008. Net assets decreased by 24.1 percent relative to the fourth quarter one year ago.