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Life Health > Annuities > Variable Annuities

Variable Annuities In Flux in Q2

By Danielle Andrus

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The variable annuity market saw a lot of changes in the second quarter, according to a report by John McCarthy, product manager of annuity solutions for Morningstar. Annuity carriers filed 182 changes in the second quarter, according to the report, although McCarthy said most of these changes were “low impact.” In the first quarter, carriers filed just 97 changes, compared with 168 in the second quarter of 2012.

The most common changes were to the age bands on lifetime withdrawal benefits, but McCarthy said the “most significant changes” came from carriers trying to limit risk. For example, The Hartford reallocated assets and closed several contracts, according to McCarthy, and AXA announced a living benefit buyback offer. AXA also closed its Retirement Cornerstone 12.0 series.

The Hartford closed contracts in its Personal Retirement Manager and Leaders IV series of products in May, which McCarthy said “finalized Hartford’s pullback from the VA market.” The company also directed annuity owners who have the Lifetime Income Builder rider to reallocate by Oct. 4 or lose the benefit. Annuity holders will be required to have at least 40% of their assets in fixed income and a risk-based asset allocation model.

Fee Changes

Jackson National Life reduced the fee on its Freedom Flex series by 0.1% at the 5% annual step-up level. The company also added new step-up frequencies with quarterly 5%, 6% and 7% levels. Fees for the quarterly options are between 0.1% and 0.15% higher than the yearly step-ups.

Jackson National also raised the fee on Lifeguard Freedom 6 Net lifetime withdrawal benefit by 0.15% and lowered the withdrawal percentages by 0.5% for the 75-year-old age band and 1% for the 81-year-old age band.

Lincoln filed several changes, including lowering the lifetime withdrawal rate on its i4LIFE Advantage to 3.5% for a 65-year-old. Lincoln also made several changes to the Lifetime Income Advantage 2.0 funds. The firm added an age band and reduced the withdrawal rate for 55-year-olds to 3.5% on the single version. For the joint version, Lincoln added an age band and reduced the 65-year-old withdrawal rate to 4.5%. Lincoln increased the eligible age to 70 on a feature that doubles the withdrawal rate if the owner needs to be admitted to a nursing home.

Monumental Life consolidated age bands and raised the fee on its guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit by 0.25%.

New Issues

Allianz issued Investment Protector, a new accumulation benefit with a 1.3% fee that guarantees principal after 10 years. The company will also increase the fees on its Income Protector withdrawal benefits by 0.35%.

Nationwide issued a new annuity with more than 100 subaccount options, many in alternative asset classes. The annuity costs 0.40% and offers a 4.5% lifetime withdrawal guarantee. A joint version offers a 4.25% lifetime guarantee at age 65 for a 0.95% fee.

Ohio National raised the fee on its single-life withdrawal benefits and increased the payout on the 70- to 74-year-old age band to 5%. It also issued a new lifetime withdrawal benefit that 5.5% on the single-life version and 5% on the joint version. If the account balance drops to zero, the benefit could switch to between 3% and 9%.

Another new issue is from Pacific Life: the Pacific Choice annuity, which has a 1.2% fee and two types of withdrawal benefits.

SunAmerica issued a new lifetime withdrawal benefit that offers a 5% lifetime withdrawal for 65-year-olds. The fee is 1.10% and the benefit comes with two step-ups. SunAmerica also increased the withdrawal percentage for its Income Builder-Dynamic Option by 0.25% to 5.25% for the single-life version and 5% for the joint-life.

Transamerica, though, had the most changes by far, with 39 new contracts. Revisions were made to the Axiom, Members, Advisors Access, Income Access, Partners, Principium, Retirement Income Plus and TA Variable Annuity products, including new death benefits and investment options. Transamerica also cut the initial payment guarantee and the fixed life annuitization option.

The Retirement Income Plus is a new contract with a 5.5% lifetime withdrawal on the single-life version (5% for the join version). It offers six investment options with a 1.3% fee.

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Check out Milevsky: Mispricing Annuities, Then and Now on ThinkAdvisor.

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