Displaying items by tag: indexed annuities

Every day, 12,000 individuals from the baby boomer generation in the US turn 65, and by 2030, all baby boomers will have reached this age milestone. This demographic shift has led to a change in investment priorities, with baby boomers now seeking more protection-oriented financial products, such as annuities. Annuities offering downside protection and guaranteed returns have gained popularity over those promising high growth potential.

In 2023, the annuity market in the US saw record-high sales of $385 billion, largely driven by the demand for products with downside protection features. Fixed annuities and fixed index annuities, accounting for 67% of total annuity sales, have become the preferred choice, reflecting a significant shift from previous years. These annuities align with the risk preferences of baby boomers, offering market-linked returns while shielding investments from market volatility.

Fixed index annuities, in particular, provide an attractive option for retirees seeking stable income streams, combining potential market returns with downside protection. However, they come with limitations, including capped returns and surrender periods, necessitating careful consideration before incorporation into retirement plans.

Finsum: Demographic shifts have already had a major long-term impact on bonds, and now retirement concerns are shifting the landscape once again. 

According to data from the insurance trade association Limra, annuity sales hit $310.6 billion in 2022, surpassing the prior annual record of $265 billion, set in 2008. That year the U.S. was in the midst of the Great Recession, while the S&P 500 index lost 57% from its peak. In 2022, the S&P 500 posted its largest loss since 2008, ending the year down 19.4%. Since annuities hedge risks such as market volatility, they became quite popular last year with investors. Annuities also benefited from the Fed raising interest rates, which created a better return on investment. Plus, U.S. bonds, which typically act as a safe haven for investors when stocks falter, suffered their worst year on record last year. This left very few options for savers looking for safety and a return. Investors were especially bullish on fixed-rate deferred annuities. Total sales of fixed-rate deferred annuities last year hit $112.1 billion, more than double the sales from 2021. They also broke the prior annual record from 2002, when investors bought $80.8 billion, according to Limra data. Indexed annuities also had a record year, with sales of $79.4 billion, an 8% increase on its 2019 record. However, variable annuities, which are generally tied to the stock market, saw annual sales of just $61.7 billion, the lowest since 1995.

Finsum: With a volatile stock market, rising interest rates, and the worst year on record for bonds, annuity sales had a record year, with fixed-rate deferred annuities and indexed annuities also posting annual sales records.

(New York)

Indexed annuities are seemingly just one option from the vast annuities market available to advisors. That said, they fill a unique and interesting role. At their most basic level indexed annuities have payouts tied to the performance of specific indexes. This can be good because they can offer more income than fixed annuities, but they also come with caps that mean you don’t get to participate in anything close to the full upside of the market. If you want a little more potential return, buffered annuities are a good idea. They offer more upside on index returns in exchange for more risk on the part of investors. The “buffer” is essentially a contractual mitigation of losses. For example, if the market loses 30% in a given year, a 10% buffer means the annuity holder would on lose 20%.

FINSUM: These are essentially a more aggressive type of annuity that offers higher payouts and more risk than traditional fixed annuities. These are a good option for those who have the freedom to try to achieve more upside, or those who are afraid of inflation.