| News covering the insurance and financial advising industry |  |
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- Lawyer cites areas to watch on fiduciary rule
The U.S. Labor Department's new fiduciary rule, scheduled to be issued this summer, is likely to draw scrutiny from the industry, lawyer Brad Campbell says. Among the top concerns: the precise formulation of prohibited-transaction exemptions, the way the rules affect the IRA marketplace and the way rollover solicitations will be treated, Campbell says. AdvisorOne
(2/28)     
| Industry News | | |
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- Deferred-income annuities are starting to catch on
New York Life's deferred-income annuity product has exceeded $1 billion in sales, which points to their growing appeal, possibly because of larger annual payouts than immediate annuities. "They want a pension," Matt Grove of New York Life says about the product's buyers. Deferred-income annuities still represent a fraction of all annuity sales, but more insurance companies are offering them. MarketWatch/Encore blog
(2/26)
- Study looks at contributions by those with both IRA and 401(k)
Workers who have both an IRA and a workplace 401(k) had an average total balance of $225,000 on Dec. 31 and contributions of about $11,000 during the year, Fidelity says. "By maximizing the long-term, tax-advantaged growth potential of both workplace savings plans and IRAs, investors can create a personalized plan to help them achieve better outcomes in retirement," Fidelity's James MacDonald says. Financial Advisor online
(2/28)
- Commentary: Boomers are more secure than generally thought
Despite the general impression that baby boomers near retirement are headed for more work or the poorhouse, some studies indicate that this age group is no more vulnerable than any other -- particularly when considering all sources of potential income, including real estate, IRAs and business assets. It's not a universal, however, as people in certain demographic segments, such as high-school dropouts, single mothers and African-Americans, are more likely to have to rely on Social Security as their retirement income. Bloomberg Businessweek
(2/24)
| Policy Watch | | |
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| Building Your Business | | |
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- Commentary: Creativity is important in marketing universal life
Insurers must be creative in designing and marketing universal life even as the products' share of premium is increasing, writes Bill Aguayo of Insurance Technologies. Fixed-indexed universal life insurance and secondary-guarantee universal life products can be used to keep universal life alive and appealing in the market, Aguayo writes. Other strategies include increasing policy charges, adding features such as long-term-care riders and diligently monitoring profit sources, he writes. National Underwriter Life & Health
(2/28)
| NAIFA News | | |
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Planning opportunities with the new tax laws
March's NAIFA ClientCast Power Session LIVE features Mark Miller, CPA and managing director of Kolb+Co., who will share the changes brought about by the new tax laws and what planning opportunities it will create for you and your clients. Join us for Power Session LIVE on Friday, March 8. If not already enrolled, register now to get your e-mail invitation to the session. Remember, ClientCast is a free NAIFA member benefit.
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A majority of Americans worry about retirement and would prefer a transportable, defined-benefits pension system, according to a National Institute on Retirement Security survey. More than 80% of respondents said pension access should be available to all Americans, and 87% said policymakers fail to understand the problems of saving for retirement. 
