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Sales Tip: How Are Annuity Rates Set?

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Sales Tip

How Are Annuity Rates Determined?

 

Our Guiding Principles on Setting Renewal Rates

 

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For annuity carriers, rate setting is a function of overall business objectives. That can include product design considerations, such as how complex or simple the design is and what rate-setting levers are available within the product.

 

Rate setting is also impacted by the competitive landscape, as well as profitability targets.

 

A carrier’s responsiveness to changing market conditions also impacts overall rate setting. For example, one carrier may be quick to react to market conditions and change rates often and quickly. Another may be willing to ride out deteriorating market conditions and not change rates as quickly, but may also not increase rates as quickly when market conditions improve.

 

New-money credited rates are based on current investment yields. Renewal rates are based on the carrier’s investments when the contract was originally issued, adjusted for any changes due to reinvestment of coupons or maturities.

 

Another big driver of credited rates on index annuities is option costs. Option costs are affected by market volatility and short-term risk-free interest rates. Changing option costs impact the various index strategies differently. A point-to-point account with a cap will have pretty stable option costs and not be impacted much by volatility. On the other hand, an uncapped or participation rate strategy will be very sensitive to changes in volatility. Monthly cap option costs move opposite to volatility and will be cheaper in more volatile environments, but short-term interest rates have driven up monthly cap costs over the past couple of years.

 

At EquiTrust, we have a few core tenants when it comes to setting renewal rates. We do not offer “introductory rates.” We strive to provide the same value to the client each year – which means if market conditions and option costs remain relatively consistent, the client should expect consistent renewal rates. During periods of improving market conditions, renewal rates have increased in some cases.

 

At EquiTrust, we take very seriously our reputation for renewal rate integrity. So much so that we provide the entire renewal rate history for each annuity and life product!

 

Take a Look

• Go to the Agent Gateway website – Agents.EquiTrust.com 

• Select Products in the navigation bar

• In the drop-down box, select Interest Rates

• On the resulting page, click the Renewal tab

• Select a Product, enter an Issue Date, then Get Renewal Rates

 

Renewal-Rate History - Product Flyers

ChoiceFour (Traditional) Annuity

MarketValue Index Annuity

 

Questions? Call Sales Support
at 
866-598-3694 or visit
the Agent Website at

Agents.EquiTrust.com

 
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EquiTrust does not offer investment advice to any individual or agent and this material should not be construed as investment advice. Products underwritten and issued by EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, West Des Moines, Iowa. Products distributed by EquiTrust Insurance Marketing Services; in California doing business as EQT Insurance Marketing Services.

 
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IC20-ECN-1077

FOR PRODUCER USE ONLY

EquiTrust

7100 Westown Pkwy Suite 200
West Des Moines, IA 50266

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