Should Hartford’s Annuity Holders Be Worried? (Wall Street Journal)

Hartford Financial Services Group announced last week it would exit the annuity business. What does that mean for anyone holding a Hartford annuity? Hartford will stop new annuity sales April 27, but it is still obligated under state-insurance regulations to protect its existing customers and service their accounts until the day all of the accounts have been drawn down. Customers with variable annuities have their money in an account separate from the account of the insurer itself. Nothing changes; it stays at the fund manager where it is. Money in Harford's fixed annuities is part of the insurer's general account, but regulators will look to ensure that the same level of required reserves and backup capital will be there to protect them.

Read the story.