The Hartford Breakup: What It Means for Woodbury Reps
by John Sullivan and featured in AdvisorOne March 22, 2012 “It’s part of a trend of large insurance companies parting ways with their broker-dealers,” a research director with FA Insight said One day after announcing its exit from the life insurance and annuity businesses and the potential sale of Woodbury Financial Services, The Hartford remains mostly mum on the details moving forward. Industry recruiters and watchers, however, have plenty to say about what they believe to be the reasons behind the move and its potential impact on the advisor space. “It’s part of a trend of large insurance companies parting ways with their broker-dealers,” said Dan Inveen, director of research with Tacoma, Wash.-based FA Insight. “It’s tougher to earn money off of annuity-based products, primarily due to lower interest rates. But regardless of the interest rate environment, it’s...