This year, variable annuities are a better deal for the seller than for the investor

This year, as with many preceding years, variable annuities are a good deal for insurance companies but a lousy deal for investors. This isn’t personal. It’s about numbers. Just as managed mutual funds have to swim against the tide of their own expenses, variable annuities swim against an even faster tide of expenses.

No one wants to pay for tax deferral and then have no gains to defer...

Boston Globe: This year, variable annuities are a better deal for the seller than for the investor