ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER FINRA Troubled by Recommendations of Unsuitable Annuities Over-Concentration in Annuities The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) polices advisor recommendations of investment products including annuities. The agency recently reported a disturbing trend of advisor recommendations of variable annuities in particular as unsuitable products for certain consumers. The agency also […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Be Wary of Variable Annuities Don’t Be Blindsided In Your Search For Higher Returns In our current low-interest rate environment, insurance agents and retirement planners push variable annuities as a way to get more bang for your buck when it comes to retirement savings. Be very careful.  These […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER A Closer Look At Variable Annuities and Seniors Variable annuities are complex annuity contracts with securities and insurance features. Returns on variable annuities fluctuate with the market making these complicated contracts especially dangerous for seniors. The complexity and confusion surrounding the terms of variable annuities can lead to […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER  A Closer Look At Variable Annuities Variable annuities are hybrid investments with securities and insurance features. Unlike fixed annuities, returns on variable annuities fluctuate with the market. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) both regulate sales of variable annuities.  The complexity and […]

Problems with Variable Annuities Are Variable Annuities Right for You? Retirement planning discussions these days often touch on annuities. Whether it’s a salesman’s pitch or a co-worker’s tip, you’ve likely heard of variable annuities. For decades, variable annuities were the darling of those who peddled retirement plans. No portfolio was […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Commissions and Kickbacks in the Annuity Market An oft-quoted truism in the financial industry is that some products are “sold, not bought.” This is especially true of annuities, a type of product that often seems to provide more of a benefit to the ¬¬company than to the consumer. […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Lowering Expectations for Variable Annuities Our Santa Clara annuity fraud attorneys have long considered annuities to be over-hyped products. Brokers earn large commissions for selling them, and are too often willing to massage or obscure the truth in order to make a sale. Among annuities, the variable and […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER FINRA Ban’s a Broker for Improper Variable Annuity Sales FINRA, the financial Industry Regulatory Authority, is meant to help keep investors safe in the market for financial products. While many of their high-profile actions involve fines and corrections against major companies, they are also empowered to take actions […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Understanding the details of Variable Annuities Variable annuities, considered by some financial advisors to be among the most complicated and least understood product of its kinds, have come under increased scrutiny in 2016, as FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, has declared its intention to investigate them more […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Reviewing the Variable Annuity Annuities are financial products that are often fraught with complications, miscommunications, and disappointment for policyholders. When seniors or retirees initially buy the product, they are generally expecting that the annuity will be both a sound investment and a means of providing stress-free guaranteed income […]