Who's Preying on your Grandparents?

[Eagle43]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/15/bu...html?th&emc=th

An article depicting the awful schemes of locking in old people to annuities, asset protection seminars, living trusts, etc. Annuity commissions have up to 12 percent commissions, and require holders to keep them up to 15 years; which a lot of these old folks will never make, with high surrender charges if one dies early or needs the money.

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Increasingly aggressive marketing has made annuities one of the hottest investments around. Money invested in variable annuities totaled $994 billion at the end of 2003, up from $771 billion in 1998, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Although total annuity sales fell slightly in 2003, they have almost doubled since 1997.

The growing ranks of the nation's retirees are a main focus of annuity sales agents. Next week, the Senior Market Expo opens at the San Diego Convention Center. "Now in its fifth year, Senior Market Expo is the only place you'll find the powerful strategies and ideas you need to boost your sales of life insurance, annuities, long-term care insurance and more," its Web site says. "This sales-centric event focuses on giving you - the senior market adviser - sales and marketing skills to earn more money selling to seniors."

Annuity sales can be highly lucrative. Commissions can reach 12 percent of the money invested, far greater than fees typically generated on stocks and other investments. Mr. Ragazzo, the deputy attorney general of California, said his office had found that some companies selling annuities sponsored trips to Hawaii and Europe for top agents. "Some of these guys are former used-car salesmen bringing in $600,000 a year," he said.
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Tell Grandma and Grandpa. Most of all, be wary!