It certainly looks as if there will be a big market for variable annuities.

Despite the potential returns, variable annuities are not for everyone.

But variable annuities are hurting the insurance companies in other ways.

Or invest in funds similar to these through variable annuities.

Variable annuities have features of both life insurance and investment products.

By contrast, the average total expense for variable annuities is 2.10 percent.

Yet according to the trade group, most variable annuities customers earn less than $75,000 a year.

Many financial experts say variable annuities work best for people with high incomes.

"With a variable annuity, I can get someone to invest a little more aggressively."

But there are situations in which variable annuities can make a lot of sense for certain investors.

It also manages money in variable annuities and private accounts.

For one thing, few of the offerings are likely to provide a pure play in variable annuities.

Lower costs may help keep the fire burning, but even without such tactics, variable annuities have a strong following.

Unfortunately, variable annuities are proving to be most popular with just that group.

That is a way to obtain the main features of a variable annuity at lower cost and with little added risk, in his view.

The number of companies selling variable annuities directly to the public has increased sharply.

Variable annuities let them participate in the stock market without risking everything.

Many people looking to make their money grow find it difficult to tell the difference between a variable annuity and a mutual fund.

Most are strong players in variable annuities, which has been the fastest-growing life insurance product.

Variable annuities present something of a puzzle to thoughtful investors.

Variable annuities are the fastest selling product in the insurance industry.

Variable annuities also include one or more insurance elements, which are not present in other investment alternatives.

Variable annuities are a combination of insurance and mutual funds.

When you buy a fund's variable annuity, the money is invested in mutual funds.

"To date, there's been no finding of widespread abuse within the variable annuity industry."