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      <title>Latest News Current Issue</title>
      <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/index.html</link>
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      <copyright>Copyright 2008 Retirement Income Reporter. All rights Reserved.</copyright>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:27:45 EST</pubDate>
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      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[DTCC Offers New Licensing &amp; Appointments Tool]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[LNA Access allows distributors to manage appointments in one application directly online. This tool almost entirely removes the need for manual intervention by the carrier. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187843-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[New York Life Appoints Retirement Income Chief]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Chris Blunt will run Retirement Income Security (RIS), a new business unit that consolidates  income annuities, investment annuities, long-term care insurance, and mutual funds.  ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187844-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Securian Launches Its First SPIA ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[IncomeToday! allows a one-time lump-sum withdrawal for any purpose during the life of the contract, in addition to the standard features of a single premium immediate annuity.  ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187845-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Moody's Adjusts Prudential's Outlook to Negative]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The insurer's outlook could move to stable if investment losses diminish after the third quarter and the firm sustains healthy capital levels, the ratings agency said. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187846-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Led by New York Life Products, Fixed Annuity Sales Rise 54% in Third Quarter ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[About $13.5 billion of the sales were in book value products, $6.9 billion in indexed, $4.2 billion in market value adjusted (MVA) and $2.4 billion in fixed immediate annuities. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187847-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Envestnet Offers Enhanced Wealth Reporting Tools]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA['The wealth manager is now equipped to effectively manage family office investments through a single, unified platform," said Andrew Rose, senior vice president for Envestnet.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187718-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Genworth Renames Its Reverse Mortgage Unit]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Liberty Reverse Mortgage will be renamed Genworth Financial Home Equity, completing the integration of one of the nation's leading reverse mortgage companies into a leading insurer. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187719-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Boomers' Golden Years Don't Glitter As Brightly  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Rather than looking forward to globe-trotting or golf, pre-retirees worldwide now worry about meeting daily expenses during retirement, a new survey by The Hartford shows.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187720-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[At Age 85, AXA's VA Owners Can Swap GMIBs for GLWBs    ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[ "Previously at age 85, our clients had to choose between exercising their GMIB or discontinuing the guarantee," said Claude Methot, AXA Equitable's chief product officer.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187721-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Insurers Queue Up For Bailout Money]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Phoenix Companies could become the latest insurer to plead for federal bailout money. The Hartford, Conn.-based insurer announced  plans to buy a savings association or S&amp;L. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187722-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[DFA Capital and Teradata Launch Risk Management Software]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The ADVISE Enterprise Risk Intelligence software allows risk managers and actuaries to analyze thousands of risk scenarios. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187513-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Genworth Suspends Dividend After Third-Quarter Loss]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[ Moody's downgraded Genworth's commercial debt rating on November 10th and lowered the rating on its insurance units to 'A' from 'AA'.  ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187514-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[At Blue Frog Solutions, Transition from Levine to Smith Is Completed ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Dan Smith became interim CEO in July, after Blue Frog founder and former CEO Brad Levine sold a controlling interest to a private equity firm. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187515-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[SEC Reviewing 4,000 Comments on Indexed Annuity Rule, Official Says]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Traditional fixed annuities and so-called synthetic annuities will not be affected by proposed Rule 151, a senior SEC official told attendees of a legal conference.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187516-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Tell Us What You Think About the 'Crisis"]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[By December 1, tell us what you believe either should or will happen in our industry in 2009.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187517-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Protective Offers L-Share Variable Annuity ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The new contract has a combined mortality and expense risk and administrative charge of 1.50% and a three-year surrender period.  ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187314-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Target Date Funds Get Too Conservative Too Soon--Securian]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The target date funds found in many retirement plans won't necessarily generate enough retirement savings, a Securian white paper claims.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187315-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Nationwide Loses $346.4 Million In Third Quarter ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Net outflows fell 50% on lower withdrawals in the private sector and fixed annuities, partly offset by lower variable annuity deposits. Retirement plan profits fell 7.2% but life insurance profits rose 11%.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187316-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Don't Panic About AIG Annuities, Pennsylvania Regulators Say ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Regulators are monitoring the suitability of annuity sales for exchange activity that exploits the recent turmoil in financial markets.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187317-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Hartford to Lower Estimate of Capital Position  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The drop in the S&amp;P 500 in October has forced Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., to adjust its projected year-end capital margin. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187318-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Fitch Downgrades The Phoenix Companies]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Phoenix's rating was dropped to A from A+ and the Rating Outlook remains Negative as "a result of investment impairments and unrealized losses."]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187123-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Morgan Stanley to Distribute John Hancock Retirement Plans]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Morgan Stanley's 8,500 advisors will offer John Hancock 401(k) plans, including the JH Signature line and plans with Guaranteed Income for Life.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187124-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Many Near-Retirees Will Take Social Security at Age 62]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[About 73% of those intending to draw benefits at age 62 had no formal retirement income plan. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187125-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[The Hartford Will Cut Jobs, Adjust VA Pricing]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[After a $2.63 billion loss, Hartford Financial Services Group will reduce its workforce and adjust the prices and terms of its VAs. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187126-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA["Fiddling" With U.S. Retirement Policy Not Enough—Legislator ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[George Miller (D-Calif.) calls for a re-examination and possible overhaul of defined contribution plans, Pensions &amp; Investments reported.  ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/187127-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Are Insurers Lining Up for Federal Handouts?]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[MetLife, Prudential and New York Life are said to be considering making requests for some of the $700 billion federal bailout money, American Banker reported.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186882-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Sun Life Unveils Enhanced Living Benefits  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Income ON Demand and Retirement Escalator living benefits were upgraded to the Income ON Demand II Suite and Retirement Income Escalator II.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186839-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Led By Fixed Annuities, Jackson National Posts Record Sales ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[A 165% increase in sales of traditional fixed annuities helped Jackson National garner $11.2 billion in sales and deposits through September 30.  ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186840-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Morningstar Launches Retirement Payout Funds]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Morningstar Managed Portfolios Retirement Income Series portfolios aim to support annual cash flows of 4%, 5% and 6% of the client's initial assets. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186841-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[More Insurers Suffer Analyst, Ratings Downgrades  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Goldman Sachs tags Prudential and MetLife with a 'sell' rating, while Fitch downgrades strength of Security Benefit Life and Genworth Financial. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186842-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Variable Annuities Are Risky Business—Fitch Ratings  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[In a new report, "2008 Financial Turmoil Increases Variable Annuity Risk," Fitch questions insurer optimism about their hedging programs.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186843-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Manulife Expects $250 Million Loss for Third Quarter ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The company expects its regulatory capital ratio to be within its targeted operating range of 180% to 200% for the third quarter, however. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186627-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Social Security Recipients To Get A Raise in 2009]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The average single retiree's benefit check will rise by $63 and the average couple's by $103 a month. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186628-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Lincoln Financial Group Improves Its Retirement Program]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Lincoln Director and Lincoln American Legacy Retirement will merge under the name Lincoln Director, offering more than 80 investment options. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186629-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[OppenheimerFunds Touts Its 401(k) Assistance ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[A new white paper focuses on the value of OppenheimerFunds' Tru(k)ourse, an enhancement to the firm's Pinnacle and Record(k)eeper Pro platforms.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186630-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Pacific Life Launches New VA Living Benefits ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Flexible Lifetime Income Plus (FLI Plus) and Automatic Income Builder are part of The Power of Choice, a suite of benefits designed to safeguard investments or income. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186631-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Canadians Seek To Delay Withdrawals From Retirement Accounts]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Some Canadian retirees want to delay withdrawals—which might force the liquidation of depressed assets—until share prices recover. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186448-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Americans Hang Retirement Hopes on Next Administration  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Asked what the new president should do, 57% said they wanted to see Social Security fully funded so they receive their guaranteed benefits.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186449-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Allianz Life Launches Bonus EIA With Bonus GLWB]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[For each year during the accumulation period when no withdrawal is taken, the guaranteed income base rises by 12% of the original premium.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186450-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Jackson National Beefs Up Its Variable Annuity Options]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[LifeGuard Freedom DB, available only with the LifeGuard Freedom GMWB income option, lets investors generate lifetime income and provide for their heirs. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186452-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Rumors of MetLife-Hartford Merger Dispelled]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Wall Street Journal reported that MetLife approached Hartford Financial Services Group about a possible merger, but that the talks have ended. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186453-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[NAVA Members Expect Consumers to Grow More Cautious]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Ninety-nine percent of those surveyed at annual conference believed that most retirement-minded Americans will react to the financial crisis by moving money into "safer" investments.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186348-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[AIG Insurance Subsidiaries Are Secure, NAIC Tells Congress ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA["AIG's problems came from its parent company and from its non-insurance operations, which are not regulated by New York or any other state," said New York State's insurance superintendent.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186330-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Allianz SE Invests $2.5 Billion in The Hartford  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Allianz intends to purchase $750 million of preferred shares convertible to common stock, and $1.75 billion of 10% junior subordinated debentures.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186290-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Sun Life's New Index Tracks Longer Work Lives]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The finding that 48% of the U.S. workforce is expected to work past age 67 persists across all income, gender and age demographics, the 'Unretirement Index' shows. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186260-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[New York Life's Ads Emphasize Stability in Troubled Times ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The new national campaign is also meant to 'anchor the branding and express the idea that life insurance is a selfless gift."  ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186261-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Insurance Technologies And Blue Frog Announce Partnership]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The two companies will co-launch a web services infrastructure in support of Insurance Technologies' VisibleChoice multi-carrier annuity sales platform. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186262-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[NAFA Goes To Washington To Fight 151A]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The National Association of Fixed Annuities met with U.S. Representatives from Wisconsin to seek support for withdrawal of the proposed SEC rule. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186263-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[NAIC Bans Flimsy Senior Credentials]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[A model regulation prohibits the use of misleading senior certifications and designations in the sale of life insurance and annuities.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186264-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[T. Rowe Price Offers Online Income Help]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The tool, which incorporates Monte Carlo methodology, allows users to also calculate the way specific factors will affect their level of retirement income.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186027-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[S&amp;P Launches Index of Target Date Funds  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The S&amp;P Target Date Index Series consists of nine multi-asset class indices, each correlating to a particular target retirement date.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186028-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Manulife Enhances Canada's First GMWB]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[IncomePlus will offer investors a five percent increase in their annual guaranteed income for each year they don't take a withdrawal from their variable annuity contract.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186029-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Bank of America Exec Addresses RIIA Annual Meeting]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The bank became more retirement-oriented when it hired Jeffrey Carney from Fidelity to be president of Retirement and Global Wealth and Investment Management.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186030-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[AIG's Ad Seeks to Calm Customers and Partners  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA["Our insurance companies remain strong and well-capitalized," the ad said. "The financial issues of the AIG parent company do not affect [their] ability to pay claims and back up each policy." ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186031-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Citigroup Buys Wachovia, the Bank Channel's Top Annuity Seller  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Citigroup will pay $2.16 billion in stock and assume up to $42 billion in losses from a pool of $312 billion in loans held by Wachovia. The FDIC will absorb losses beyond that.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/186068-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Down 5.5% for the Year, VA Assets Grow Slightly in Second Quarter 2008   ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Combined net assets in VAs fell about 5.5%, to about $1.406 trillion from the end of 2007 to June 30, 2008, but rose slightly in the second quarter.   ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185815-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Phoenix Enhances Living Benefit Riders]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Phoenix Companies has enhanced its Phoenix Flexible Withdrawal Protector GMWB rider and launched a new combination benefit rider called the Phoenix Retirement Protector. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185753-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Pension Managers Becoming More Risk-Averse]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Most CFOs in Canada and the United States plan on reducing risk in their defined benefit (DB) plans rather than seek greater return on assets.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185754-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Many Baby Boomer Executives Unprepared For Retirement]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[MullinTBG named five common mistakes executive Baby Boomers should avoid if they wish to maintain their current standard of living in retirement.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185755-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Economy Is Worst They've Seen, Say Americans Over Age 60 ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[But older Americans haven't rushed to withdraw retirement funds, according to a new poll from the MetLife Mature Market Institute. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185756-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[AIG Considers Sale of Annuity-Issuing Subsidiaries]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[AIG, which sold $10.8 billion worth of fixed and variable annuities in the second quarter of 2008, may sell its annuities units to raise cash. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185757-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Canadians Fretful About Retirement  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Nearly 30% of Canadians nearing retirement are not confident they have saved enough to maintain their standard of living once they leave the workforce. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185511-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Prudential To Acquire MullinTBG]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Prudential Insurance Company of America has agreed to acquire MullinTBG Insurance Agency Services, a leading provider of benefit solutions and deferred compensation programs. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185512-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[MassMutual Adds VA Investment Options]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[MassMutual has enhanced its variable annuity product portfolio by adding investment choices and shortening the contingent deferred sales charge. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185513-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Wachovia Offering Phone Consultations on  Retirement  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Wachovia Retirement Services will offer free retirement consultation services by phone to any of the employees of the 6,400 companies for which Wachovia is the 401(k) provider.  ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185514-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Pelletier Named President of Prudential Annuities]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc. has promoted Stephen Pelletier to president of Prudential Annuities to succeed David R. Odenath, who went to Legg Mason Inc.  ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185515-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Bank Annuity Commissions  Up 13% in First Half 2008 ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Bank annuity commissions and fees rose 13.2% to $539.6 million in the first half of 2008 from $476.9 million in first half of 2007.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185348-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[National Life Launches Interactive Retirement Website]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Experienceretirement.com helps visitors answer two questions: "Are you saving enough for retirement?" and "How long will your savings last?"]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185308-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Zero Savings Rate in America? What About That $17.6 Trillion? ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Americans, who on average sport a close-to-zero savings rate, had aggregated tax-deferred retirement savings of $17.6 trillion in 2007.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185309-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[AGF Offers Canadians Principal-Protected, Income-Producing Notes With Upside Potential]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[AGF Management Limited has launched retirement deposit notes that offer investors reliable, inflation-adjusted income with exposure to equities. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185310-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Genworth Sees Opportunity in UK Retirement Market]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Genworth has formed a retirement income and wealth management team in Europe, and sees opportunity in the UK fee-based adviser market.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185311-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Is Age 70½ Too Early for RMDs? ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[A federal rule that requires those aged 70½ and older to take RMDs from their IRAs and 401(k) accounts every year might be outmoded, one senator says.  ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185312-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[A New Personal Finance Book from Moshe Milevsky  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[In 'Are You a Stock or a Bond?', the finance professor and author explains how to 'Create Your Own Pension Plan for a Secure Financial Future.'  ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185156-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Moody's: VA Hedging Programs Performing Well]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The majority of variable annuity writers' hedging programs have performed well in recent quarters, according to Moody's Investors Service.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185088-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Young Job-Changers Are Cashing Out of 401(k) Plans  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[A survey of 1,200 adults aged 20 to 40 found that 56% of them cashed out their workplace saving plans when they switched jobs.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185089-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Penn Mutual Bolsters Its VA Offerings]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The new Growth &amp; Income Advantage offers a double-your money, 10-year roll-up and the Purchasing Power Protector keeps income on pace with inflation.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185090-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Sun Life Financial Sweetens Its Bonus VA ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Sun Life Financial has increased its Masters Extra premium bonus to 6% from 5%, regardless of payment size or issue date of the contract.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185091-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[At SEC, A Fresh IDEA Replaces EDGAR ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The new system, called IDEA (Interactive Data Electronic Applications), replaces the clunky EDGAR database developed during the 1980s. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185092-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Fixed Annuity Sales Reach a Six-Year High—Beacon Research]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[With an estimated $24.6 billion in premiums, U.S. sales of fixed annuities soared to their highest levels since 2003 in the second quarter of 2008.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/185008-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Labor Department Seeks Better 401(k) Investment Advice]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Labor Department has proposed two rules that aim to make investment advice more accessible for 401(k) plan participants and IRA owners.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184968-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[NAIFA Opposes SEC Move to Classify Indexed Annuities as Securities]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors said it will oppose the Securities and Exchange Commission's proposed Rule 151A.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184969-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[GAO Cautions Against Proposed PBGC Investment Strategy]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The U.S. Government Accounting Office said the new strategy "allocates significant portions of the portfolio to volatile or illiquid assets." ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184970-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Bank Fixed Annuity Sales Rise 26% in Second Quarter ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Reported second quarter sales of about $7 billion were 25.8% higher than in the prior quarter and 81.1% higher than sales in the second quarter of 2007. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184971-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[NAVA Appoints Catherine J. Weatherford President and CEO]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[NAVA, Inc., the Association for Insured Retirement Solutions, announced that it has appointed Catherine J. Weatherford president and chief executive officer, effective September 3.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184957-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[UK Variable Annuity Launches Hit Snag]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Two UK insurers, Prudential plc and Standard Life, have delayed their planned variable annuity products launches, for undisclosed reasons.   ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184830-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Firms See 401(k) Plans As Necessities, Not Luxuries]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Companies are either initiating matching contributions or increasing them in an effort to recruit and retain top-grade workers.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184831-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Many Americans Unaware They Lack Sufficient Savings]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[More than 40% of the American households that are likely to be financially unprepared for retirement don't know it, says the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184832-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Plan Contributions Hold Steady Despite Market Turmoil  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[In the first half of 2008, Americans continued to add to their retirement plans despite the ongoing market turmoil, Fidelity has found.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184833-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Wall Street Goes Shopping in the Frozen Pension Aisle?   ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Financial firms seek legislation that would let them buy and manage the estimated $500 billion currently in "frozen" pension plans.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184834-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[USAA Launches Target Date Funds]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The new funds cost 47% less than the comparable Lipper category expense ratio average and are designed to simplify the investment process.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184579-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[SEC, Labor Department Work To Protect Retirement Savings]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The U.S. Labor Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission will continue their partnership to protect the $5.8 trillion of retirement assets held by American workers.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184580-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Congressman Proposes New Tax-Free Savings Accounts]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Worker Savings Account Act, H.R. 6799, would create an account that works similar to an IRA, with an annual contribution limit of $5,000, indexed to inflation. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184581-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[New York Region Executives Active in 401(k) Plans]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Senior executives in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are taking a more hands-on approach to managing employee 401(k) plans, a new survey shows.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184582-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[More Time Needed to Comment on Index Annuity Rule—Old Mutual ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[An attorney for Old Mutual Financial Network has asked the SEC to extend by 120 days the comment period on SEC proposed Rule 151A, which would classify index annuities as securities.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184583-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Madison Avenue Securities to Use FundQuest Platform ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[ "The platform enables us to expand the breadth, depth, and sophistication of our advisory tools and investment offerings,' said Suzanne Bond, MAS vice president and chief compliance officer. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184375-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[RISE Launches Income Planning Tool for Middle Class]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Mature Simplicity delivers "interactive, actionable, product-neutral advice and solutions which clients can trust,' according to a RISE release.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184376-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Advisers Willing to Buy Income Solutions--Curian Survey  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Only 10% of advisers said believe that 80% or more of their clients will have enough money to meet their expected living standards after they retire. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184377-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Advantage Compendium Publishes GLWB Study]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA["The GLWB revolution may permit one to both eat their retirement cake and have it to pass to their heirs," said Jack Marrion, the study's author.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184378-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[NAFA To Oppose SEC Proposed Rule 151A]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The fixed annuity trade group will hire a Washington public relations firm and a law firm and propose a "complete withdrawal" of Rule 151A. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184379-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Group Urges Emergency Increase To Social Security Benefits]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The emergency increase would help ease the burden of rising food and energy costs for retirees, says RetireSafe, a Virginia-based group.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.retirementincomereporter.com/news/184117-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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