Alliance had a big jump in operating profits due to a one-time sale of investments but low interest rates continue to bog down annuity sales.   Allianz Life’s fixed annuity premiums dropped 16% to $4.2 billion in the third quarter compared to last year. Most of Allianz’s fixed annuity business is fixed-index annuities that are [...]

This year (2012) has been a tough one for many of the leading annuity carriers.  From all-time low interest rates, new regulations, and higher costs of doing business, most annuity carriers would like to refer to 2012 as a “rebuilding year”.  But even though some carriers were forced to sell off their annuity divisions, others [...]

I remember a good friend of ours that resides in Dallas, packing up the family and heading to Atlanta loaded down with a back seat full of Twinkies. Larry later had a triple bypass but the Wonder Bread and Ding Dong maker lived on in the hearts and stomachs of countrymen until organized labor decided [...]

Three areas to focus on if an early retirement is something you are looking for.   This is definitely bucking the trend of thinking that you have to work until you are 75 to retire.   1. Disciplined Saving and Investing One way you can build up a sizable nest egg is to practice disciplined investing. [...]

I know from past year end debt ceiling debates that there are two things you are better off not watching in the making: sausages and economic estimates. With all the political pork barrel wrangling going on about how to reach a deal on the fiscal cliff and taxmageddon, it may be a great time to [...]