Capital

A recent Wall Street Journal article indicates that the number of government-backed reverse mortgages has increased 20% from the same period last year. This stands in contrast to the number of new home equity loans which decreased 70% from the same period last year. The increased interest in reverse mortgages is directly related to the fall-out from the financial crisis. Seniors who have suffered as a result of decreasing asset values in the capital markets see home equity as a potentially...

Much has changed in light of the financial crisis. Among the changes is an increased level of skepticism when it comes to conventional wisdom in matters related to money. For example, a recent article suggests revisiting the following pillars of conventional wisdom--each of which had been pretty much sacrosanct prior to the financial crisis: Rent a home rather than owning it. Buy an annuity rather than investing in the capital markets. Leave money for heirs now rather than keeping it all until...

The U.S. life and annuity insurer MetLife appears to be in a strong position relative to its competitors. MetLife is one of the leading providers of variable annuities in the United States. At a recent industry conference, MetLife's CEO explained that one of his primary concerns involves extending the company's leading position by taking advantage of acquisition and new business opportunities that have resulted from the financial crisis: MetLife shunned U.S. rescue funds and padded its finances...

Prudential Financial and Ameriprise Financial have both indicated that they will decline funds that are available to them through the U.S. Treasury's TARP program. $22 billion in TARP funds are available to six life insurers: Hartford Financial Services Group, Prudential Financial, Principal Financial Group, Lincoln National, Allstate and Ameriprise Financial. Hatford Financial Group is in the final stages of accepting $3.4 billion in funding while Lincoln National is likely to accept $2.5...