Retirement & Annuity Industry Research
IRI posts several research and education-oriented publications to the membership each year. These include annual scheduled reports like the IRI Retirement Fact Book and State of the Insured Retirement Industry, quarterly reports of annuity market data, topical research on consumers, advisors and annuities, and sponsored research created in partnership with IRI member firms.
You can view all IRI’s recent research reports below or use the filter to look at research by category and publication dates.
Operational and Philosophical Barriers to Annuity Production
Based on a survey of 800 financial professionals who work directly with investors and do little or no annuity business, this report explores their sentiments about annuities, the barriers they perceive to be significant factors limiting their interest in annuities, and the improvements they believe would lead to them doing more annuity business in the future.
IRI Fact Book 2024
The 2024 IRI Retirement Fact Book is the definitive guide to the retirement income industry, covering the basics of retirement, annuity products and markets, legal and regulatory issues, and consumer and advisor research.
Financial Professional Survey
IRI’s second quarter 2024 survey of financial professionals explores their current views on top client issues and the use of fixed indexed annuities and registered indexed annuities to achieve client goals.
State of the Insured Retirement Industry: 2023 Review & 2024 Outlook
IRI’s annual report on annuity market data, operations and technology, and regulatory and legislative trends in 2023, and notable themes emerging in 2024.
Annuity Basics: Optimizing Tax-Deferred Investing and Retirement Income Using Variable Annuities
This report shows how tax-deferred investments in variable annuities can produce higher retirement income at the same risk level as other investments, especially when investing in tax-inefficient asset classes, while protecting against longevity risk.
2024 Wholesaler Racial Diversity Survey
IRI collected data on wholesalers from CEW member companies to establish baselines on diversity in the wholesaler workforces of the life & annuity industry.
IRI Member Survey – Insurer Supervision of Third Parties under the NAIC Model Regulation #275
IRI conducted a survey of its members to gather information on how insurers satisfy these obligations when contracting with a third party, such as a broker-dealer, to perform these required supervisory functions.
The Retirement Saving and Income Handbook – 2024
The Handbook is a basic guide to commonly available annuities and non-annuity alternatives. It provides basic information about the structure, benefits, and limitations of each solution, combined with visual representations of the mechanics of each solution and a robust glossary of key terminology.
Research Brief: The Impact of Financial Guidance on Retirement Readiness
Based on consumer research with 800 retired Americans, the brief explores the impact financial professionals can have on retirement readiness, financial security and confidence, and investing strategies.