Consumer

The purchaser of a product or service.

5 Reasons to Question the Recent Indexed Annuity Article in Bloomberg

An article on indexed annuities appeared in Bloomberg yesterday (click here to read).

The article is substantive and comes from a credible source.  It is provides a good explanation of why surrender fees need to be a front-and-center consideration for any consumer considering the purchase of an...

Pimco Bearish on the Prospect of Long Term Deflation

Pacific Investment Management Company (Pimco)--the large asset manager headed by Bill Gross--has taken a position that reflects skepticism of the possibility of long-term deflation in the United States. During the first half of 2010, Pimco entered into derivative contracts with a notional value of $8.1 billion.
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Veritat Offers Comprehensive, Fee-Only Financial Planning Services that are Affordable and Scalable

Veritat is a start-up seeking to leverage process and technology innovation to scale a business model that is typically saddled with persistent and burdensome variable costs.  If successful, Veritat will be able to deliver premium services to a mass audience.

As a registered investment advisor (RIA) that adheres to the fiduciary standard, Veritat provides comprehensive financial planning services through financial advisors who are employed by the company and share a common sense of mission.

We spoke with Dr. Kent Smetters who is the President of Veritat and a professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. 

 

Annuity Digest: How did Veritat come into existence?

Dr. Kent Smetters:...

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Deflation Concerns Gaining Traction as Economy Stalls

The consumer price index has fallen for two consecutive months: 0.2 percent in May and 0.1 percent in June. The unemployment rate in the United States remains at a persistent 9.5 percent, and in July the U.S. shed 131,000 jobs. Not exactly the type of news that supports a strong recovery or growth story. As discussed in a recent Wall Street Journal article , some large and very prominent investors are conditioning their investors and structuring their portfolios for deflation. PIMCO's Bill...

Annuity Costs May Increase as a Result of Dodd-Frank Act

The financial system reforms imposed by the Dodd-Frank Act will likely result in a broad range of increases in the cost of financial services products. Similar to Sarbanes-Oxley, the regulatory costs of the legislation will ultimately be passed along to the buyers of financial services.

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