Top 20 Companies for Annuity Sales

Although sales of annuities fell in the second half of 2011, first half sales were so strong they propelled up by 8% over 2010, to $240.3 billion, so says the latest data from LIMRA. In the fourth quarter, total annuity sales dropped slightly to $57.4 billion from the same quarter in 2010.

Joseph Montminy, LIMRA assistant vice president, annuity research, said in a statement, “While we saw significant growth in the first half of 2011, third and fourth quarter annuity sales fell quarter over quarter, tempering the double-digit growth seen at the midyear mark. In this economic environment, VA companies are carefully managing the risks associated with their guaranteed living benefit riders, which has had an impact on overall sales trends.”

Here are the Top 20 companies and their annuity sales in 2011, along with where the companies ranked in they Top 20 for variable and fixed annuity sales:

(Former Cincinnati Reds CEO Carl H. Lindner in 2000 standing next
to a poster of the Great American Ball Park.)

20. John Hancock
(total sales, $2.62 billion)

— Ranked 17^th in variable annuity sales: $1.79 billion

— Did not place in top 20 for fixed annuity sales

19. Great American
($3.01 billion)

— Did not place in top 20 for variable annuity sales

— Ranked 7^th in fixed annuity sales: $2.96 billion

18. Sun Life Financial
($3.03 billion)

— Ranked 13^th in variable annuity sales: $3.01 billion

— Did not place in top 20 for fixed annuity sales

(AVIVA Group CEO Andrew Moss (right) on the floor of the New York
Stock Exchange.)

17. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
($3.11 billion)

— Ranked 16^th in variable annuity sales: $2.33 billion

— Did not place in top 20 for fixed annuity sales

16. Protective Life
($3.38 billion)

— Ranked 14^th in variable annuity sales: $2.35 billion

— Did not place in top 20 for fixed annuity sales

15. AVIVA
($4.54 billion)

— Did not place in top 20 for variable annuity sales

— Ranked 5^th in fixed annuity sales: $4.54 billion

(American Equity executives in 2004 ringing the opening bell of the NYSE.)

14. Pacific Life
($4.98 billion)

— Ranked 12^th in variable annuity sales: $3.32 billion

— Ranked 13^th in fixed annuity sales: $1.67 billion

13. American Equity Investment Life
($5.09 billion)

— Did not place in top 20 for variable annuity sales

— Ranked 4^th in fixed annuity sales: $5.09 billion

(AXA CEO Henri de Castries.)

12. AEGON USA
($5.46 billion)

— Ranked 10^th in variable annuity sales: $5.25 billion

— Did not place in top 20 for fixed annuity sales

11. RiverSource Life Insurance
($6.98 billion)

— Ranked 9^th in variable annuity sales: $6.40 billion