Reston, VA, August 27, 2001 - The National Association for Variable Annuities (NAVA) announced today that the combined net assets of U.S. variable annuities rose 3.0 percent to $910 billion at the end of the second quarter relative to the end of the first quarter of 2001.  Net assets decreased by 6.5 percent as compared to the end of 2000.

Table 1. Variable Annuity Net Assets

(Dollars in Millions)                              6/30/01            3/31/01          12/31/00          

Total Net Assets                                   909,955          883,416           972,729
^{Source: VARDS, an Info-One Company}

The mix by investment objective showed that $563.7 billion, or 61.9 percent of assets, was held in equity accounts.  This is a decrease of 9.5 percent as compared with year-end 2000 when $622.9 billion, or 64 percent, was held in equity accounts. 

Table 2. Variable Annuity Assets by Investment Objective

(As a percent of total assets)                                   6/30/01                12/31/00          
Equity                                                                     61.9%                    64.0%
Fixed Accounts                                                         20.5                       20.1
Balanced                                                                   8.4                         8.3
Bonds                                                                       5.4                         4.5
Money Market                                                            3.8                         3.1
^{Source: VARDS, an Info-One Company}

Total variable annuity premium flow, or total sales, for second quarter was $29.3 billion, a 20 percent decrease from second quarter 2000.  As for consecutive quarterly trends, the second quarter experienced a 3 percent increase in sales over the first quarter 2001 - the first rise in a year.  The mix in premiums for the second quarter showed 56 percent of the flow was in qualified plans and 44 percent in non-qualified.  Mid-year total premium flow of $57.7 billion is 42 percent of last year's $138.0 billion in total sales volume.

Table 3. Variable Annuity Premium Flows

                                                        Quarter Ended                     Six Months Ended
(Dollars in Millions)                  6/30/01            6/30/00            6/30/01            6/30/00
Total Premium Flows                 29,293             36,597             57,747             73,108
^{Source: VARDS, an Info-One Company}

NAVA and Info-One's VARDS Data Collection Service are in the process of collecting standardized, industry net flow data covering variable annuity contracts.  It is anticipated that subsequent quarterly announcements will include this survey data.

NAVA is a non-profit trade association located in suburban Washington D.C.  NAVA provides a variety of services to the industry including educational forums, research, and conferences aimed at furthering the development of fixed and variable annuities, income annuities and variable life insurance.  NAVA also maintains and supports an educational website for consumers at www.RetireOnYourTerms.com.

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, Info-One provides technology tools, unique product design models and other services to the financial services industry.  As a result of the acquisition of VARDS in July 2000, and enhanced data collection processes, Info-One leads the industry with the most comprehensive database of insurance and annuity products available.  Visit www.info-one.com.