2011 Retirement Income Products and Solutions Study: Planned for launch in the spring, this 12th annual study in DSG's annual research series will map the retirement income products and solutions "universe." It will focus primarily on variable and fixed annuities, guaranteed living benefits, mutual fund alternatives, and the ever expanding universe of retirement income solutions. The study will emphasize recent market developments, product designs, marketing and distribution efforts, as well as key future trends. Findings will be supplemented and enhanced by interviews with financial industry leaders, including executives from the mutual fund industry, who are actively developing their own retirement income marketing effort. This year's study will be expanded to examine how companies are reacting to the still uncertain markets, and whether optimism is being restored at the corporate, advisor and consumer levels.

Now Underway — Exploring New Health-Related Products and Solutions for Retirees: Previous studies have indicated that age 65 year old couples will need the present value of approximately $260 thousand dollars to pay for out of pocket healthcare and long term care expenses over their retirement years. This amount is, of course, in addition to what the couple will need to provide a predictable income stream to handle everyday living expenses. To better understand this retirement healthcare predicament, DSG has teamed up with Matt Greenwald and Associates to explore how financial advisors and consumers are approaching the situation and to identify new product concepts that may address specific needs of the retiree. This syndicated study, has just launched as of June. The project consists of both a qualitative (focus groups with advisors and consumers) and a quantitative module (online consumer survey). Specifically this study examines what underlying healthcare areas are of most concern to consumers, how financial advisors are currently providing healthcare product and advice solutions within the context of retirement planning, and to assemble relevant new product concepts.

2010 Retirement Income Products and Solutions Study - In the New Economic Climate: This annual research series maps the retirement income products' "universe," including guaranteed living benefits, new mutual fund solutions and the emerging concepts that lie on the retirement income drawing boards of the major financial services companies across the country. Included is a comprehensive overview of retirement income market activity and results during the economic turmoil of 2008 and 2009. The study looks at sales results, major and minor product designs, marketing and distribution strategies, as well as key future trends. Findings from over 40 surveyed companies are supplemented and enhanced by 17 interviews with industry leaders whose companies have a more developed retirement income market effort. Find out what is working for these executives and what keeps them awake at nights.