Study Says Variable Annuity Works Well in Retirement Portfolio

That was the finding of a study by Ibbotson Associates that examined the risk of a declining income and a potential income shortfall, according to a news release.

Ibbotson conducted a series of simulations focusing on three investment scenarios:

• a diversified asset allocation variable annuity with a GMWB,
• a diversified traditional non-annuity portfolio, such as mutual funds, and
• a combination of a variable annuity with a GMWB and traditional non-annuity products.

According to the Ibbotson announcement, empirical results using historical returns and Monte Carlo simulations showed the combined portfolios had higher average total income return and total income withdrawals as well as lower negative income return over a 30-year retirement period than did the traditional portfolio.

The guaranteed income protection in the GMWB allows the investor to allocate assets to a more aggressive variable annuity, leaving the overall portfolio with a higher equity allocation.

A GMWB rider for life gives investors the ability to withdraw a fixed yearly percentage of the benefit base until death. The benefit base can rise annually when the market has performed well, but will not fall, Ibbotson said.

“Americans are becoming increasingly dependent on their own savings to finance longer retirement horizons, and they need advice, tools, and products to help them and their advisors develop portfolios that mitigate both market risk and retirement income shortfall risk,” said Peng Chen, president and chief investment officer of Ibbotson Associates, in the announcement. “This study is a continuation of our work to provide guidance on how best to combine traditional investment vehicles with annuities to enhance and help secure income over an investor’s life span.”

The research paper, “Retirement Portfolio and Variable Annuity with Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit,’ was sponsored by Nationwide Financial Services and can be viewed here.