Guaranteed Living Benefit

Guaranteed living benefits (GLB) or living benefits are optional guarantees that can be embedded into variable annuity products. In the past, variable annuities could come with a guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMDB) which paid a minimum benefit upon death of the annuitant. Over the past decade, however, product development and innovation have flourished, and insurers offer income, accumulation, or withdrawal guarantees that can provide a significant measure of protection against market risk while the annuitant is alive. Some of these “living benefits” include: guaranteed minimum income benefit (GMIB); guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (GMWB); guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit (GLWB), and; guaranteed minimum accumulation benefit (GMAB). Guaranteed living benefits have proven to be incredibly popular. More than 95% of variable annuity sales in 2007 contained some form of living benefit. Guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits (GLWB) have proven to be one of the most popular guarantees.

Jackson Approaching Variable Annuity Capacity Limits

In yet another sign of variable annuity capacity constraints, Jackson National recently announced that they are approaching the upper range for 2012 sales of variable annuities with guaranteed living benefits . Jackson’s November 8 press release indicates the company has roughly $1 billion worth of remaining 2012 capacity. Jackson indicated that this remaining capacity will be used for new product sales and that they will no longer accept new 1035 exchange business or qualified transfers...
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Understanding the Value of Living Benefit Guarantees

Advisor Perspectives just published the first in a series of articles from Wade Pfau. These pieces are important and should be read by anyone considering guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits or any of the other optional guaranteed living benefit features that accompany variable annuities.

While Pfau’s focus is on standalone...

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No Time for Guarantees

The concept is seductive: a financial product that provides upside exposure in the event that equity markets trend up and to the right while also providing a floor of protection in case the bottom falls-out from under markets again.

Sort of like having your cake and eating it too. Very tempting in light of the massive financial uncertainty that has existed for the past several years.

Products playing into this “upside plus protection” theme include (but are not limited to) variable annuities with guaranteed...

What is Driving the Rush for the Variable Annuity Exit?

The...

Variable Annuities without Living Benefits

The popularity of living benefit features is one thing that seems clear when looking at variable annuity sales data. The vast majority of variable annuity sales include one of several living benefit or guaranteed living benefit features. National Underwriter reports that Bellevue, Washington-based Symetra will be selling a line of low cost variable annuities that do not contain any living benefit features. Apparently Symetra considers the GLB -free variable annuity as an underserved niche. The...
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