Commentary
#312 | The New Money Tipping Point
With rates making a decisive and sustained move upwards for the first time since 2019, we have to ask an uncomfortable question – at what point will life insurers begin to wall off in-force portfolios and offer new portfolios that…
#311 | The Shifting Winds of AG 49-A
For the third time, the IUL Illustration Subgroup of the Life Actuarial Task Force (LATF) of the A Committee of the NAIC – yes, that’s really how the hierarchy goes – will take up the question of what to do…
#308 | The New Ohio National
Almost a year ago to the day, Ohio National announced that it had agreed to be acquired by Constellation, an insurance holding company backed by two Canadian pension plans and spearheaded by the former CEO of Prosperity Life. The response…
#305 | The Specter of Rising Interest Rates
Not withstanding Russia’s horrific invasion of Ukraine and the potential impacts to the financial system, we are facing – for the first time since 2020 – the specter of a persistently rising interest rate environment. This time feels different. Think…
#303 | Consolidated Distribution, Proprietary Products
I want to acknowledge that much of the information from this article comes from very helpful third-party sources. This topic isn’t exactly in my wheelhouse, but it’s getting to the point where I felt like I wanted to write about…
#302 | An Imminent Mortality Disaster?
At the end of 2021, Scott Davidson, CEO of OneAmerica, was on a virtual Indiana Chamber of Commerce news conference with other local CEOs discussing the impact of COVID on their businesses. Davidson’s main point was to advocate for vaccinations…
#301 | The Rise of Defined Outcome Funds
Since the creation of indexed insurance products in the mid-1990s, the core value proposition has always been index-linked downside protection with upside potential. As I was told by one prominent annuity distributor recently said: “we believe in insurance, sure, but…
#300 | Get Ready for AG 49-B
At the NAIC Life Actuarial Task Force (LATF) virtual meeting in early December, Fred Andersen (MN), the chair of the IUL Illustration Subgroup, read a prepared statement asking for comments on a particular nuance related to AG 49-A and the…
#298 | Malice – or Mechanics?
This is the last post of 2021. It's been a heck of a year - thanks for continuing to support The Life Product Review. Happy Holidays and a Merry New Year! I remember well when, several years ago, a spate…
#296 | The Unstoppable Force and the Immovable Object
Over the past decade, the entire life insurance industry has been reshaped by falling and then persistently low interest rates and investment yields. Life insurers have exited the market, been sold, spun off and now, increasingly, parceled up and dumped…
