Variable Life Insurance and Annuities: Understanding the Balance of Risk and Reward
For investors seeking a combination of market growth, long-term financial security, and tax advantages, variable insurance products can offer an intriguing solution. These products, which include variable life insurance and variable annuities, allow policyholders to invest in market-based subaccounts while providing benefits such as tax deferral, lifetime income options, and death benefits. Variable Life Insurance: Growth and Protection in One […]
Private Placements: A Guide for Sophisticated Investors
For investors accustomed to publicly traded assets, private placements offer an alternative path to diversification and potential high returns. Unlike stocks and bonds available on major exchanges, private placements involve direct investment in companies, real estate projects, or private debt markets, typically before they are accessible to the general public. Because of their complexity and risk, these investments […]
Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI): What It Means for Investors and Registered Representatives
When the SEC introduced Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) in 2020, it marked a significant shift in the standards governing financial advice. Designed to enhance investor protection, Reg BI raises the bar for broker-dealers, requiring them to act in their clients’ best interests when making investment recommendations. Before Reg BI, broker-dealers operated under a “suitability” […]