Annuity sales in the third quarter rose 12% from a year ago to $62.3 billion, according to the Secure Retirement Institute, while annuity sales are up 19% year to date. Todd Giesing, assistant vice president, director of SRI Annuity Research, said 49% of total sales used non-qualified assets, which is "a key indication that tax deferral is a significant driver of growth in 2021."

LIMRA

The long-term risks of COVID-19 will have an effect on life insurance actuarial tables, as well as critical illness, chronic illness and disability insurance, says Paolo Bandeira Pinho, vice president and medical director of innovation for Diameter Health. He cites research that shows people who had COVID-19 have a nearly 60% higher risk of death up to six months later than people who did not have COVID-19.

Full Story: InsuranceNewsNet Magazine (6/23) 

Over the past decade, projected health care and medical expenses for retirees have increased significantly and hit a record high, according to research by Fidelity Investments. Even single retirees should plan for at least $143,000, with women incurring more expenses than men.

Full Story: BenefitsPRO (free registration) (5/10) 

Roth IRAs are more attractive than ever for retirement planning, Roger Wohlner writes. Among the reasons are low tax rates that make converting a traditional IRA to a Roth less expensive and changes proposed in the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2021, also called SECURE Act 2.0, that favor Roths over traditional IRAs, such as the elimination of the stretch IRA rule, he writes.

Full Story: ThinkAdvisor (free registration) (5/11) 

How investing has changed during the pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has changed how some people approach investing, with 52% of millennials saying they have embraced a more aggressive strategy, a recent Bank of America poll has found. Respondents say they consider factors such as reputation, fees and personal recommendations when selecting an advisor.

Full Story: ThinkAdvisor (free registration) (4/6) 

NAIFA has expanded access to the NAIFA Family Response Fund to benefit members of the association affected by deadly winter storms in Texas. Officials in Texas and media reports indicate the extreme weather and associated utility outages have resulted in significant property losses and fatalities. Read more.

The life insurance industry is likely to see some big changes in 2021, writes Bill Unrue, CEO of Ensight. Three major shifts Unrue expects are increased regulation, consumers demanding better technology and more focus on the dangers of not having enough coverage.

Full Story: WealthManagement (12/22)