Published by Ian Lundahl on 16 Apr 2010
We were recently granted access to view an account display for Fidelity’s MetLife Growth and Guaranteed Income variable annuity (MGGI), released in late November 2009 and reviewed in the November 23, 2009 Annuity Monitor Update.
Published by tim.ullrich on 11 Jan 2010
Franklin Templeton updated their public and private sites about two weeks ago and our Mutual Fund Monitor clients were provided with information about it in the December 28, 2009 MFM Update. I thought our non-client readers might be interested in seeing the changes too and it’s a good way to show off what’s typically found inside one of our Mutual Fund Monitor Updates.
Here’s a preview of the preview: Franklin Templeton’s recent public and private sites changes added an investor-friendly private homepage that features account information and an updated navigational menu. Usability is also improved thanks to a new “I Am Here To” menu that provides quicklinks to key tools. Despite changes to the site’s appearance, most site content remains the same. Continue Reading »
Published by Ian Lundahl on 09 Jul 2009
June was a busy month as firms, now well past the seasonal crunch of tax season and the radical market swings from earlier this year, made changes across the board, introducing new products and marketing campaigns, and some unique new tools as well. Continue Reading »
Published by Ian Lundahl on 08 Jul 2009
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, as many as 5.3 million people in the United States are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, a figure that is increasing every year due to the growing population of elderly people. While the medical field continues to develop new drugs that increase the lifespan of humans, the financial and economic ramifications of a growing elderly population should be considered. Continue Reading »
Published by Michael Ellison on 21 May 2009
We are considering adding Raymond James to our coverage of firms and recently began the account opening process. The following phone exchange shows how one firm is adjusting:
Me: “I am interested in possibly opening an account. Are there any minimum balance requirements?”
Raymond James rep: “Ah, no. Not anymore.”
Me: “A dollar and a half now gets you in the door, huh?”
RJ: “Pretty much.”
Times are hard.
Published by Ian Lundahl on 19 May 2009
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, the Obama administration is proposing new taxes for life insurers to the tune of nearly $13 billion over the next ten years. The new taxes would restrict exemptions associated with the purchase of certain insurance products, especially corporate-owned life insurance.
Last week, many of the Nation’s top life insurers were offered access to treasury funds under TARP. Some of the firms applied to TARP several months ago and have since increased capital; therefore they may opt to reject government assistance. While not necessarily related, the timing of the potential tax proposals (falling on the heels of offered assistance) creates an interesting visage.
Having eliminated or scaled back so many benefits and riders already, it will be interesting to see whether or not the fallout from the proposed taxes would target annuity products specifically. Fixed annuity sales have skyrocketed recently as investors and retirees are seeking a conservative retirement vehicle. The proposed tax increases would most likely hurt overall insurance sales; something the insurance industry is likely to fight tooth and nail as it tries to navigate the economic crisis.
Published by Michael Ellison on 29 Apr 2009
Rich Karlgaard (publisher of Forbes magazine) had an interesting post on his blog yesterday in which he said the new economy has made leaders in the lodging industry out of firms like Residence Inns, Hyatt Places, and Holiday Inn Express. They “are mostly new and surprisingly good. In countless ways, they are better–new beds, flat-panel screens, self-serve breakfast buffets and free wireless broadband.”
Published by tim.ullrich on 09 Mar 2009
New site designs are constantly being unveiled by the firms we track in our Monitor Services - that’s nothing new. What is worth noting, though, are the recent changes we’ve seen from two fund companies. Both DWS Investments and RS Investments have embraced designs that were impossible to pull off until recent Web innovations became mainstream.
These designs are not earth-shaking, but they do take a different approach from their peers and take a chance while doing it.
Published by Michael Ellison on 04 Mar 2009
And now for the lighter side of social media:
