Ratings

Ratings are a form of financial analysis applied to a variety of corporations, securities, governments and other entities. For example, an insurance company rating is a measure of financial strength and the ability of of an insurance company to meet its obligations. Ratings are provided by third-party rating agencies such as A.M. Best, Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch. These third party rating agencies assign grades to the entity or security they are analyzing. For example, high quality, which are considered the least riskiest, get an AAA rating whereas bonds with a BB or less are considered highly risky junk bonds. The lower the rating, the more the issuer has to pay in terms of a coupon rate to attract buyers. Ratings are not static and can be downgraded or upgraded depending on the agency’s appraisal of the issuer’s or entity’s financial health.

Standard and Poor's Raises Outlook on The Hartford

S&P raised its ratings outlook on The Hartford Financial Services Group from negative to stable. The Hartford had received a series of ratings downgrades in light of the financial crisis and its impact on the company's variable annuity business. The ratings revision appears to be attributable in large part to the $3.4 billion in TARP funds that The Hatford received from the federal government. S&P considers The Hartford's life and annuity subsidiaries to be at "A" (strong) levels...
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A.M. Best Downgrades 64 Insurance Companies, Considers 3 Impaired

Rating agency A.M. Best has recently issued a report indicating that three insurance companies have become financially impaired thus far in 2009. A.M. Best considers an insurance company impaired once a state department of insurance has taken its first official regulatory action against the company. The three carriers considered impaired are: Shenandoah Life Insurance Company American Network Insurance Company Penn Treaty Network America Insurance Company A.M. Best indicated that more impaired...
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Target Date Funds Under Increasing Scrutiny

Target date funds are receiving attention from the SEC, the DOL and Congress. The increased scrutiny is a result of the way that target date funds have performed during the market meltdown over the past year. As reported recently , in theory target date funds are supposed to provide a smooth and somewhat automated transition from more risky assets to less risky assets as people approach retirement. One of the problems is that the actual asset allocations for people approaching retirement varies...
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Moody's Optimistic on Life and Annuity Insurers

Rating agency Moody's released a brief that expresses a bit of optimism regarding life and annuity insurance companies: "Even if markets turn sour again, life insurers and reinsurers are considered to be fit enough to weather the financial and economic crisis because of their solid balance sheets..." While Moody's indicated that additional ratings downgrades may result if market conditions worsen, their own stress tests indicate that companies should be able to maintain their investment...
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Hartford Financial Hit with Downgrade from Fitch Ratings

Fitch Ratings cut their ratings on Hartford Financial Services Group to two steps above junk status. Analysts are concerned about Hartford's decision to pause or cancel annuity sales in Japan, Germany and the U.K. Hartford has also begun implementing major changes to its U.S. based variable annuity business. Hartford is one of the life and annuity insurers that has been particularly hard hit by the capital market risk and volatility that has been rampant during the financial crisis. Source:...
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