Life Insurance/Annuity Sales in 2009

Darla Mercado reports in today’s edition of Investment News that while fixed annuity sales fell for 2009, down 2% from 2008 sales, indexed annuities did better— up $3.5 billion year-over-year. Fixed annuity sales slid in ‘09. Based on Ms. Mercado’s reporting, fixed annuities in several distribution channels and designs (book value vs. MVA) fared poorly, due to low interest rates, according to Scott Stathis of Kehrer-LIMRA. Variable annuities are only discussed in the bank channel, where she reports that in November sales were down .1 billion from other monthly sales figures in 2009, while they rebounded a bit in December to be .1 billion higher than those previous months. Mr. Stathis reportedly attributes the somewhat depressed sales of variable annuities to higher fees and decreased benefits.

Meanwhile on the life insurance front, the MIB reported late last week that U.S. application activity for individually underwritten life insurance increased 1.2% in January year-over-year. The MIB states that January 2010 represents the sixth consecutive month where year-over-year change is positive for the U.S. Life Index, and they report that as being the longest sustained trend of U.S. increases on record. Application activity for the period December 2009 to January 2010 remained virtually flat.

From where I sit, I look at the future and not the past. From here, I see a lot of product development with some significant innovation being discussed. It would not surprise me at all if this year sees a large increase in product filings and new products coming to market. My evidence is far less scientific than was reported above, but I like what I see; people I know who were laid off are finding jobs and product development seems to be churning. I like to know what the research says about past sales, but when I think about what the future holds, I have learned to trust my desk. And 2010 is shaping up as a busy year!