Index Protector 7SM offers clients growth opportunity, principal protection from stock market loss, and guaranteed retirement income.
The Market1
In 2021, fixed index annuity sales reached $63.7B, a 15% increase from 2020. Improved interest rates and product innovation around cap rates helped make these products more attractive to advisors and clients alike. FIAs remain a highly popular product for investors seeking market growth with complete principal protection and the ability to add guaranteed lifetime income through a rider. As more investors seek ways to combat inflation, FIA popularity is only expected to increase.
Why DPL Likes Index Protector 7SM
Clients can choose from 5 different point-to-point interest crediting strategies and a declared rate strategy, which can be changed after one year. Unlike the Index Protector 4SM and Index Protector 5SM, Index Protector 7SM offers two optional living benefit riders (available for an annual rider charge) designed to help generate more income for retirement. Any advisory fees taken directly form the product do not affect the income rider’s benefit to the client:
IncomeDefender® – provides a simple interest annual roll-up for a specified number of years based on the initial purchase payment. If at any point before the income rider is activated the account value exceeds the benefit base, the benefit base can be reset to the account value. Electing to rest the benefit base begins a new rollup period and may result in an increased cost.
IncomeKeeper® – provides an annual roll-up on the benefit base for a specified number of years, and credits any interest received on the account value to the benefit base. Even after the rider is activated, the income benefit will continue to increase by annual account value interest until the account value is depleted, providing an extended growth opportunity.
How to Think About Commission-Free FIAs
One advantage of utilizing FIAs is to leverage the scale of insurance carriers to deliver strong pricing in a packaged product, making it comparatively easy to implement, while also getting guaranteed downside market protection from the carrier.
Many FIAs offer optional guaranteed lifetime income riders for an additional cost. While guaranteed income options from FIAs are generally a bit lower than can be achieved through single premium immediate annuities (SPIAs), they generally have greater liquidity and flexibility.
When your client needs:
PRINCIPAL PROTECTION: With the principal protection from market risk provided by FIAs, they should be considered for clients nearing or in retirement to help mitigate sequence of returns risk.
FIXED INCOME: FIAs can be viewed as a fixed income replacement as client portfolios are de-risked from equities. They provide sequence of returns protection for those entering or in retirement, with an overall return above 6%, based on historic averages.2
GUARANTEED LIFETIME INCOME: Through the use of a living benefit, FIAs can be used to generate guaranteed lifetime income with allocation flexibility and liquidity (beyond the surrender period).3
Product information sourced directly from https://www.gaconnect.com/
12021 Annuity Sales Highest In 13 Years, LIMRA Reports (2/2022)
2Fixed Indexed Annuities as a Fixed Income Alternative for Near-Retirees, Wade Pfau. (5/2019)
3FIAs may be subject to surrender charges, market value adjustment, and taxation for early withdrawals
Fixed indexed annuities are contracts purchased from a life insurance company that are designed for long-term retirement goals.
While the interest rate credited to an indexed account is linked to the performance of an underlying index, premium payments made to a fixed index annuity are never directly invested in the stock market.
All guarantees are based on the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.
The purchase of an annuity within a retirement plan that already provides tax deferral under sections of the Internal Revenue Code results in no additional tax benefits. An annuity should be used to fund a qualified plan based upon the annuity’s features other than tax deferral. All annuity features, risks, limitations, and costs should be considered prior to recommending the purchase of an annuity within a tax-qualified retirement plan.