Susan Rupe

1 week ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

Volatility is a word that has been thrown about a lot lately when describing the state of the stock market and the general economy. But what does market volatility have to do with fixed indexed annuities? A recent webinar by the National Association for Fixed Annuities explained the connection. Volatility impacts FIA participation rates – the percentage of an index's gain credited to the FIA – said Josh Levine, director of insurance sales at Bank of America.

1 week ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

When asked about S&P’s economic outlook for the U.S. economy, Carmi Margalit replied, “It ain’t great.”Margalit is S&P Global Ratings’ managing director and life insurance lead. He was one of the presenters on a recent S&P Global Market Intelligence webinar on the insurance industry outlook for the second half of the year. “We are definitely seeing a slowdown in the growth in the U.S. economy,” Margalit said.

2 weeks ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

Medicaid remains in the crosshairs as House Republicans consider a proposal to impose per capita caps on funding for the program that provides health care for low-income Americans, including children and nursing home residents. According to reports from a closed-door meeting this week, GOP lawmakers on the Energy and Commerce Committee are pushing to cap Medicaid spending for those who obtained coverage during the expansion of the program.

2 weeks ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

Congress returns to Washington from its spring recess to face a jam-packed agenda, with extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act its top priority. That was the word from Geoff Manville, partner with Mercer’s law and policy group, during a recent webinar. Manville said “a lot of legislative oxygen will be consumed” by congressional Republicans’ push to pass a fast-track budget reconciliation resolution.

2 weeks ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

By Susan Rupe (Editor’s note: This article is one of a series in honor of April as Financial Literacy Month.) Money is the one tool we all use, and anyone can sharpen their skills with it. Those are the words that Stephanie Batten lives by as she helps others hone their financial literacy skills. Batten is a retired wealth advisor in Wilson, N.C., who now uses her experience to help others understand how to make the most of their money. “After 26-plus years selling insurance and working...