Description: This is a book review of The Variable Annuity, which the author recommends for a history and current status of this market. The book comments on the effect of variable annuities on stock prices.

Description: A paper demonstrating how to obviate the need for market timing strategies in variable annuity products by judicious use of product design. The paper presents the premise behind the product design, provides numerical examples, then explores possible extensions of the concept to produce more sophisticated variable annuity plans based on guarantees of investment outcomes.

Description: This article provides some insights in how to bring risk management into product development for VA guarantees.

Description: This article is about variable annuity products in Japan. Topics covered are the history of variable annuities, product and risk management, distribution, the regulatory environment and the market outlook.

Description: This article discusses a variety of new developments in the annuity market.

Description: The article discusses a recent IRS private letter ruling granting IRC section 72(b) exclusion ratio treatment for amounts received from an innovative payout option.under a deferred variable annuity.

Description: This article outlines the IRS directive published in July 2014, which provides a safe harbor treatment for variable annuity hedging gains and losses relating to VA contracts issued before Dec. 31, 2009.

Description: A review of product and sales trends for variable, indexed and fixed annuities against the current backdrop of low interest rates and record equity market valuations

Description: In it’s insurance capital model, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has established criteria to adopt the NAIC’s stochastic approach to variable annuity risk. This approach, which replaces existing static charges, better reflects the products’ risk.

Description: This article focuses on how a risk appetite framework can help a company manage the “three-headed monster” and why a risk appetite framework is critical to effective business and risk management at both the corporate and product levels.