“I have no idea whether or not we are in a bubble, nor does anyone else. But here is how you can protect your portfolio when the market does correct, and it will.”There has been a lot of talk these days centering on the stock market bubble and the bursting of it. First, let me say our firm, LCM Capital Management, is not and never has been in the prognostication business. If you have read any of our previous Benzinga blogs, you would know that no one within our industry should be either since they are just ...

Equitable Holdings Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Results November 4, 2025 Growth in assets driving increased earnings power Equitable Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Non-GAAP Financial Measures This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "seeks," "aims," "plans," "assumes," "estimates," "projects," "should," "would," "could," "may," "will," "shall" ...

Retirement is a big life change. But it’s not just about leaving the workforce; it’s also a chance to rethink what you hold onto. “We often have more than we need. And sometimes there [are] things we can’t get rid of or won’t get rid of [that] begin to weigh us down,” Kevin Lum, certified financial planner, said in a YouTube video. According to Lum, this is where retirement can be a valuable gift. Learn More: 7 Things You Should Own in Retirement, According to Kevin Lum Consider This: 5 Clever Ways Reti ...

Summary of Corebridge Financial (CRBD) 2025 Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Corebridge Financial (CRBD) - **Industry**: Life Insurance and Retirement Solutions - **Key Executives**: Kevin Hogan (CEO), Elias Hebbeyeb (CFO) Key Points and Arguments Company Performance and Strategy - Corebridge has successfully executed its strategies since its IPO three years ago, achieving a 12-14% Return on Equity (ROE) in 2024, as initially targeted [3][4] - The company has maintained a payout ratio of 60-65% and a Risk-Based Capital (RBC) ratio of 400%, while growing its business [4] - Annual sales volume has increased by approximately 30% since the IPO [5] - Corebridge has returned $6 billion to shareholders since the IPO, demonstrating strong capital management [5] Variable Annuity Transaction - Corebridge exited its entire variable annuity business, which had been in decline for eight years, through a transaction with Venerable, generating $2.1 billion in proceeds [8][10] - The transaction was seen as a significant value creation opportunity, with a multiple of around seven times earnings [10] - Proceeds from the transaction will primarily be used for shareholder buybacks and further organic growth investments [11] Expense Management - The CoreBridge Forward program has successfully reduced annual expenses by $400 million through outsourcing, IT modernization, and improved procurement practices [15][16][17] - The company aims to continue driving down unit costs through further automation and digitization [18] Market Trends and Growth Opportunities - The aging population in the U.S. is a significant driver for the annuity market, with 4 million people turning 65 annually [22][23] - There is a growing awareness among individuals about the need for self-managed retirement planning, contributing to increased demand for annuities [23] - The adviser community is becoming more professionalized, further supporting the growth of fixed income investments [24] Competitive Environment - Corebridge is currently achieving targeted margins despite increased competition in the annuity space [27] - The company has a diverse product range and strong relationships with distribution partners, allowing it to navigate competitive cycles effectively [28][29] Group Retirement Business - There is a gradual shift from spread-based to fee-based income in the group retirement business, with fee income now representing a significant portion of earnings [34][36] - Corebridge is investing in its adviser base and digital tools to enhance productivity and efficiency [37] Pension Risk Transfer Market - The pipeline for U.S. pension risk transfer remains strong, despite some slowdowns due to external volatility [43][44] - Corebridge focuses on full plan terminations, which are more economically attractive [45] Life Insurance Business - Corebridge has outperformed the market in life insurance, driven by investments in automated underwriting and a focus on middle-market products [51] - The company has a competitive advantage due to its digital capabilities and disciplined risk management [52] Collaboration with Nippon Life - Corebridge is exploring mutual commercial opportunities with Nippon Life, focusing on product development, investments, and digital technologies [53][54] Capital Deployment and M&A - Corebridge is focused on shareholder value creation through dividends and buybacks, with no immediate M&A opportunities identified [59][60] Additional Important Insights - The company has simplified its structure by divesting international subsidiaries and focusing on U.S. retirement and life insurance [6] - Corebridge's automated underwriting process allows 80% of transactions to be processed without human intervention, enhancing efficiency [52] - The company is actively exploring in-plan annuity opportunities, recognizing the potential for growth in this area [40][42]

Financial Performance - GAAP earnings reached $168 million, translating to $234 per share[8,9,10,11] - Adjusted Operating Earnings, a non-GAAP measure, amounted to $350 million, or $487 per share[11] - Free cash flow stood at $290 million[11] - The company returned $216 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases[11] Capital & Liquidity - Jackson National Life Insurance Company (JNLIC) estimated risk-based capital (RBC) ratio was 566%[11] - Holding company cash and highly liquid securities exceeded $700 million[15] Sales & Flows - Retail annuity sales increased by 9% compared to the first quarter of 2025[12,13] - Fixed and fixed index annuity sales totaled $470 million[30] Investment Portfolio - The investment portfolio totaled $49 billion under U S GAAP[62] - The statutory investment portfolio totaled $48 billion[67]

Financial Performance - Non-GAAP operating earnings per share were $1.10, but adjusted for notable items, the figure rises to $1.41[8] - Assets Under Management/Administration (AUM/A) reached $1.1 trillion, an 8% increase year-over-year and 5% year-to-date[8] - The company returned $318 million to shareholders, resulting in a payout ratio of 74%, exceeding the target range of 60-70%[8] - The company is on track to generate $1.6-1.7 billion of organic cash in 2025, with approximately 50% originating from asset and wealth management[8] Strategic Initiatives - The Individual Life transaction closed on July 31st, generating approximately $2 billion in value and reducing mortality exposure by 75%[8] - The company expects $1 billion of incremental dividends to Holdings in the second half of 2025 from the Individual Life transaction[8] - Private Markets AUM increased by 20% year-over-year, reaching $77 billion[8,11] - The company ceded approximately $30 billion of annuity liabilities to its Bermuda entity[21] Segment Results - Retirement saw net inflows of $1.9 billion, supported by RILA and BlackRock LifePath Paycheck[8] - Wealth Management advisory net inflows amounted to $2.0 billion[8] - Asset Management experienced active net outflows of $4.8 billion, primarily in April[8]

Financial Performance - Non-GAAP operating earnings per share were $1.30, or $1.35 after adjusting for notable items[8] - Non-GAAP operating earnings were $421 million, or $434 million adjusted for notable items, a decrease of 3% year-over-year on a per share basis[16] - The company returned $335 million to shareholders, representing an 80% payout ratio[8] Business Segment Highlights - Asset Management operating earnings increased by 19% year-over-year[8] - Retirement saw net inflows of $1.6 billion, driven by strong RILA and Institutional sales[8] - Wealth Management advisory net inflows reached $2.0 billion, supported by 8% year-over-year growth in advisor productivity[8] - AB active net inflows were $2.7 billion, with Private Markets AUM up 20% year-over-year to $75 billion[8] - Protection Solutions experienced an operating loss of $17 million due to excess Individual Life mortality[8] Capital Management and Transactions - The company purchased approximately $760 million of AB Holding units through a tender offer, increasing ownership to approximately 69% effective April 1[8] - The Individual Life transaction with RGA is on track to close mid-2025, freeing over $2 billion of capital[8] - Post-close of the Individual Life transaction, the company plans to execute $500 million of additional share repurchases, above the 60-70% payout ratio target[14] Balance Sheet and Liquidity - The company had $1.1 billion in cash at Holdings after AB and Series B preferred equity tender offers, with a combined NAIC RBC ratio of approximately 425% as of year-end 2024[8]