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November 19, 2009 at 07:00 PM
Life insurers had success with selling indexed annuities and whole life in the third quarter, but a tougher time with variable annuities and variable life products.
AnnuitySpecs.com
Indexed annuity sales totaled $7.5 billion in third quarter 2009, reports the AnnuitySpecs.com, Des Moines, Iowa.
That’s down nearly 10% from second quarter but up 11% from the same period last year, says Sheryl J. Moore, president and chief executive officer. Some companies’ sales rose more than 75% but others saw sales drop by almost 60% she says, citing new figures from her firm’s Advantage Index Sales & Market Report.
“The big story this quarter is the shake-up in rankings among the indexed annuity carriers,” says Moore. For instance, Allianz Life, Minneapolis, took back its position as the top sales leader, a position it last held in fourth quarter 2007, Moore says. American Equity, Des Moines, Iowa, moved up to second place while third, fourth and fifth place went to Lincoln National Corp., Radnor, Pa.; Jackson National Life Insurance Company, Lansing, Mich.; and Aviva USA, Des Moines, respectively.
The bank distribution channel has tripled its indexed annuity market share during the year, and it captured over 12% of all third quarter sales, Moore says.
Insured Retirement Institute
The IRI, Washington, says net variable annuity sales fell to $2.8 billion in the third quarter, from $4.9 billion in the third quarter of 2008, but that total sales fell somewhat less sharply, to $31 billion, from $38 billion.
Total VA assets increased to $1.3 trillion at the end of the third quarter, up 1.2% from a year earlier.
The year-over-year asset increase is the first the VA market has experienced in 5 quarters, the IRI says.
“The growth in asset value from this time last year marks a significant turning point for the entire financial industry, signaling a welcome expansion of investment value as the market regains strength,” IRI President Cathy Weatherford says in a statement. “With this new data we see that annuity asset values have regained their pre-market decline values, reporting the largest worth in 15 months. We are encouraged by this progress, as it bolsters the comprehensive value of insured retirement strategies.”
Kehrer-LIMRA
