Product Analytics
#396 | Lincoln’s IUL Challenge
Full Article Lincoln’s history in Indexed UL is an interesting one. Lincoln was one of the first companies to introduce Indexed UL, starting with LifeElements in 2007. Since then, Lincoln has followed basically every fad or phase in Indexed UL…
#391 | The VUL Fund Divide
Over the past couple of weeks, both Penn Mutual and Prudential have released updated versions of their VUL policies. The changes to the policy charge structures themselves are minimal. Prudential increased both commissions and surrender charges on Custom Premier II.…
#390 | Pacific Life Turns the Tide
This week, Pacific Life announced that it’s going to do something that it hasn’t done since February of 2011 – a cap increase for its legacy Indexed UL suite that dates all the way back to 2005. The previous increase…
#386 | A Shift in Guaranteed VUL
What’s the difference between a Guaranteed UL and a Guaranteed VUL? In theory, the only difference should be that GUL credits a fixed rate to cash values and GVUL provides for the ability to invest cash values in mutual funds…
#385 | Proof, Pudding
I’ve decided to make this article free for everyone, but you’ll note that it’s #385 – which means that there are 384 other articles on the site that are available only to subscribers. This one is par for the course…
#382 | Protective Gets the Golden PLR
Full Article The running joke on fee-based life insurance and annuity products is that they’ve been the “next big thing” for at least the past 20 years. Conceptually, fee-based products make all the sense in the world. Financial advisors are…
#379 | Whole Life as a Fixed Income Alternative – Part 2
Full Article If we go back through the 5 key tradeoffs and decision points in fixed income investing, Whole Life – a participating all-base Whole Life – makes a uniquely compelling case. It is the only product with tabular guaranteed…
#375 | Engineered Indices & FIA
Quick Take The worlds of Indexed UL and Fixed Indexed Annuities are increasingly converging and with profound potential implications for IUL. All of the tactics that have been used in Indexed UL to massively increase illustrated performance and subsequently curtailed…
#374 | The Missed UL Opportunity
Full Article If there is one overarching trend that has dominated the life insurance and annuity landscape since interest rates started rising in 2022, then it is the seemingly insatiable appetite for fixed rate annuities. Basic fixed annuities that pay…
#373 | 2023 Mid-Year Engineered Index Observations – Part 1
Quick Take Despite the slick marketing material and splashy names, the reality is that the vast majority of engineered indices have followed the same basic structure - low volatility targets, high reliance on long-duration fixed income, Excess Return architecture and…
