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As with many financial products, annuities present several benefits to financial planners and their clients. Fundamentally, there are three features offered by annuities that make them particularly attractive to certain investors: an income stream, which is guaranteed to last as long as the contract holder lives; the ability to use an annuity as a long-term savings plan in which investments grow tax-free; and the higher level of protection against investment losses provided by annuities. Despite these unique benefits, the annuities industry has been under considerable pressure from regulators, the press, and investors themselves. Several states are set to introduce laws to increase scrutiny of annuity sales and even limit who can buy them. The SEC and NASD are also joining the fray and looking into proposing regulations to require plain-English disclosure documents and suitability checks by supervisors before a contract is issued.

Not surprisingly, this increased focus on regulation is coming at a time when the growth in annuities is set to explode. Consider:

• 76 million Baby Boomers are now beginning the transition into retirement and will need to stretch their savings over 20 or 30 years.
• Studies cited by the Wall Street Journal indicate that more than 60% of an individual’s retirement income will need to come from personal savings rather than Social Security or company-funded pensions.
• In 1985, 89% of Fortune 100 companies offered defined benefit plans. That number is now below 50%, and falling. Defined contribution plans like 401(k)s and 403(b)s are fast becoming the norm, but they lack inherent annuitization capabilities. The trend toward offering annuities as an investment option within these plans is beginning to pick up steam, however.

Corporate Insight’s latest Monitor service will give you the tools you need to stay on top of the industry players and enable you to develop best in class marketing and servicing strategies. Since 1996, we have been the leader in providing focused, methodical, and ongoing monitoring of the competitor landscape within various channels of financial services and we are pleased to bring our unique capabilities to the annuity market space.

With Annuity Monitor, you will be able to:

• Keep an eye trained on competitors’ product development efforts.
• Consistently know how competitor websites are changing and what new marketing strategies the sites are employing.
• Understand what it is like to be a customer of your competitors.
• Gain access to investor websites and materials, including statements, newsletters, marketing materials, applications, disclosure documents, etc.
• Gain access to advisor websites and materials, including educational items, sales literature, etc.
• Save time and money in setting up and running a competitive intelligence program.
• Learn best practices in a multitude of marketing and customer service components, such as statement design, website capabilities, newsletters, marketing brochures, etc.

For more information regarding Annuity Monitor or any of our financial services products, contact: Bob Burlin, Director of Business Development, at 212-832-2002 ext. 115, rburlin@corporateinsight.com, or use our online contact form.