A review of 10 of the largest variable annuity providers by Symetra Life Insurance found widespread increases in the fees charged to customers, reductions in guarantees and benefits offered under many riders and sometimes the elimination of an entire guaranteed living benefit offering according to Paul Menchaca in a brief article in financial-planning.com magazine, a [...]

As more financial advisors sell insurance, a recent report indicates some could be unsuitably cross-selling annuities in conjunction with reverse mortgages. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, requested by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and released in June, cites recent cases in which reverse mortgages were sold to seniors to get them to inappropriately invest [...]

Why would someone purchase an annuity? What goals would one have in order to want to purchase an annuity? How do you know if the insurance company is really a financially strong and sound company? Should you be looking at a fixed annuity? An Equity-Indexed Annuity? A Variable Annuity? A deferred annuity? An immediate annuity? [...]