MetLife, Inc. has announced its plans for the future, which includes scaling back sales of what it terms “capital intensive products” like variable annuities and introducing accident and health products in the U.S.
During its investor conference held yesterday, William J. Wheeler, president of the Americas for MetLife, said it projects sales of roughly $18 billion for variable annuities. That is down significantly from 2011, when its VA sales hit $28.4 billion, making it the top VA seller in the U.S., according to LIMRA.
As of March 31, MetLife had nearly $1.6 billion in liabilities in its variable annuity business, of which two-thirds had a living benefit rider.