In 2017, total annuity sales were $203.5 billion, a decline of 8% from prior year, according to data released March 20 from the LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute (LIMRA SRI).
Overall in 2017, companies continued to face economic and regulatory challenges as prolonged low interest rates and anticipation of the Department of Labor (DOL) fiduciary rule damped manufacturers’ appetite for business. Yet the announced delay to implement the DOL rule until July 2019 and rising interest rates propelled a rebound in sales in the fourth quarter.
Variable annuity (VA) sales were $95.6 billion in 2017, down 9% from prior year. This marks the first time in 20 years that annual VA sales fell below $100 billion. The three top sellers of variable annuities were: Jackson National Life, TIAA and AXA US, representing a 42% market share. The top 10 companies held 78% market share in 2017.
Total fixed annuity sales were $107.9 billion, falling 8% from 2016 levels. Despite this decline, annual fixed annuity sales surpassed $100 billion for the third consecutive year. Based on LIMRA SRI research, it is the first time this has occurred. The top three sellers of fixed annuities were: New York Life, AIG Companies and Allianz Life of North America, representing 24% market share. The top 10 companies held 53% of the market in 2017.
Indexed annuity sales fell 5% to $57.6 billion, compared with prior year. This is the first year since 2009 where annual indexed annuity sales declined. The top three sellers of indexed annuities were: Allianz Life of North America, Athene Annuity & Life and Nationwide. These companies held 29% percent market share. The top 10 companies represented 63% of the market in 2017.
To view the entire list of rankings, please visit LIMRA’s Data Bank.
For additional insights into the U.S. annuity market, we invite you to watch the latest installment of LIMRA Unplugged. In this episode LIMRA Research Director Alison Salka talks with Todd Giesing, LIMRA SRI annuity research director, about 2017 annuity market results, the impact of DOL on the annuity market and what LIMRA SRI expects in 2018.
Only Jackson, to my knowledge, showed a slight increase in sales over 2016. The rest were down…and some were way down compared to 2016.
Yes. It was down.
I wish there was a way to get real historical new money numbers without the churning of existing annuities. I would assume that 2017 being down 8% is that a substantial amount of the churning of 1 annuity to another annuity dropped off heavily. When carriers report their production, it is new money to them, but no one is reporting in those #s how much went out the back door in 1035 or rollovers to another carrier, sometimes with the same agent of record on both contracts
I don't put a lot of STOCK in this article, no pun intended. My annuity sales didn't fall, I'm sure some of this number has to do with RIA's increasing popularity.