06.23.26

'Annuity Providers Are Still Strong'

by: Allison Bell

Nationwide Annuity president Kush Kotecha says annuities remain a valuable retirement tool regardless of market conditions, arguing that investors continue to seek certainty and guaranteed income amid volatile interest rates and uneven stock and bond performance. He emphasizes that annuities should be viewed broadly, offering benefits such as income guarantees, tax deferral, inflation protection and death benefits, rather than being compared only to CDs or bond investments. His comments come as LIMRA data shows overall U.S. annuity sales fell 2% year over year to $105 billion in Q1 2026, with fixed annuities down 9% and variable annuities up 15%. Despite criticism over insurer investments and risk exposure, Kotecha remains optimistic. "Annuity providers are still strong and stable," he said. "S&P Global said the U.S. life insurance sector is one of the most stable and well-capitalized sectors the firm tracks."

Read the full article on Think Advisor