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Cover Stories

Mad About 401(k) Annuities

by Kerry Pechter

Mad About 401(k) Annuities

Tue, May 11, 2010

Part I: ‘Keep Your Hands Off My 401(k).’ Based on their recent e-mails to the Labor Department's RFI, some Americans think Uncle Sam wants to confiscate private savings.

The Savings Sweepstakes

by Kerry Pechter

The Savings Sweepstakes

Wed, May 05, 2010

Lottery-like savings programs aren’t widely legal in the U.S., but a Harvard Business School professor believes they could inspire more low and middle-income Americans to save.

The Goldman Touch

by Edward Jay Epstein

The Goldman Touch

Wed, Apr 28, 2010

The complex deal at the heart of the SEC’s case against Goldman Sachs may reveal Wall Street to be a labyrinth or casino, but it doesn’t necessarily establish fraud.

Volcker’s Minsky Moment

by Kerry Pechter

Volcker’s Minsky Moment

Wed, Apr 21, 2010

“The banks shouldn’t be running casinos on the side,” said former Fed chairman Paul Volcker at the Hyman P. Minsky Conference in New York last week.

News

It’s Crunch Time for Annuity Issuers: Conning Research

Wed, May 12, 2010

"Premiums have actually declined, and rebuilding them will be a challenge," said Conning's Scott Hawkins.

Prudential Financial Nets $536m in 1Q 2010

Wed, May 12, 2010

Individual annuity gross sales for the quarter just past were $4.9 billion (up from $2.2 billion a year ago), while net sales were $3.2 billion (up from $643 million a year ago.)

Milliman Proposes “Simple, Obvious” In-Plan Annuity Fix

Wed, May 12, 2010

"The life insurance companies have a big opportunity here," said Ken Mungan of Milliman. "They should jump on it."

Post-Crisis, Greeks Face Longer Work Lives

Wed, May 12, 2010

Today, the police, harbor workers, security services and journalists for the state media can retire in their 50s. Starting in 2013, these privileges will be abolished.

Jackson National Tailors GMWB for the Tax-Conscious

Wed, May 12, 2010

The new living benefit allows contract owners to withdraw enough to offset all or part of the income tax on their distributions.