A New Dynamic

Variable annuity sales fell in 2009 as incentives to stay put in existing contracts choked off exchange growth.

New variable annuity sales rose 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2009, although they were down 3.8% from the previous fourth quarter. Year-over-year, new sales plummeted almost 19%, from $151.6 billion in 2008 to $123.1 billion in 2009. That's the lowest annual new sales figure since 2002, when sales reached $112.4 billion after bottoming out at just over $107 billion in 2001...

Financial Planning: A New Dynamic