Harnessing AI for fixed indexed annuities: A new era of opportunities

Artificial intelligence-enabled indexes have the potential to revolutionize the way we think about investing in indexed annuities.

Leveraging AI and machine learning indexes offers dynamic, adaptive and data-driven investment strategies that differ from traditional indexes in key ways, such as asset selection, weighting, rebalancing, adaptability and data analysis.

While traditional indexes still have a place in fixed indexed annuities, AI-enabled indexes make an excellent complement. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits and demystify the use of AI in an index.

Understanding the advantages and limitations of AI-enabled indexes

The power of AI lies in its ability to process vast amounts of information to make data-driven decisions. Because it can analyze data at lightning speed, AI offers significant advantages over traditional human analysis. It can sift through years of a company’s financials, for example, much faster than an analyst could, allowing quicker and more accurate decision-making.

AI can interpret news and market dynamics and analyze other factors to make real-time investment decisions with the latest information, solidifying it as an invaluable tool for managing investments.

Additionally, AI eliminates factors like emotion that can greatly affect investment decisions, often leading to suboptimal results. This helps ensure a greater likelihood of investment choices that are based on data and objective analysis.

While the power of AI is unquestionable when it comes to analyzing vast amounts of data to make data-driven decisions on a monthly, weekly or daily basis — like whether to shift in and out of global equities, gold, bonds or exchange-traded funds — AI does have limitations. It may not always be able to interpret nuances of human behavior or unprecedented events and their impact on the markets. In light of that, it’s important to view AI as a tool that can assist in investment decision-making rather than as a replacement for humans. By combining human expertise and AI-powered analysis, we can achieve better investment outcomes that reflect the best of both worlds. And as more carriers begin using AI-enabled indexes, we drive innovation and make our industry more efficient.

The role of AI-enabled indexes in navigating financial uncertainty

Back in the heyday of variable annuities, everyone talked about “rider wars” and which company was going to have the best living benefit or income benefit. Today, it’s a battle of the indexes. As a way to adapt to changes in the economy, changes in interest rates and the volatility of the markets, indexed annuities have evolved since the early days of using only standard S&P indexes. Now investors have access to an array of indexes with different methodologies, criteria and volatility controls, opening a wide range of investment strategies that previously were inaccessible.

“As we continue to face financial uncertainties, AI will undoubtedly play an increasingly important role in helping investors succeed in complex markets.”

AI-powered indexes represent the next step in this evolution.

AI indexes have the ability to quickly adapt to ongoing market changes and optimize returns, potentially outperforming traditional, rules-based indexes set by human analysts. During the pandemic, AI-enabled indexes proved their worth by quickly adapting investment strategies, minimizing losses and capitalizing on opportunities that human analysts might have missed. For instance, one AI index invested in Moderna after interpreting a press release about its COVID-19 vaccine development and invested in Campbell Soup Company based on buying behavior during historical events such as the pandemic.

With a rules-based index, the index is constructed and maintained in accordance with a set of rules, whereas an AI index is designed to learn from and adapt to market changes. It’s not limited by fixed rules or predetermined parameters, which allows it to pivot and optimize returns more efficiently.

As we continue to face financial uncertainties, AI will undoubtedly play an increasingly important role in helping investors succeed in complex markets.

Overcoming the ‘black box’ misconception: Transparency in AI-enabled indexes

While we can tout the benefits of using artificial intelligence, a major misconception about AI is that it’s a “black box.” The good news is that carriers like Ibexis are making an AI index more of a “glass box,” providing transparency by enabling producers to understand why AI is making certain decisions to reallocate.

This eliminates the fear of the unknown and empowers producers and their clients to capitalize on the opportunities AI affords.

The power of partnership: Exploring the potential of AI in financial services

To be on the cutting edge of the AI revolution in insurance and financial services, partnering with established carriers and index partners that have demonstrated a strong commitment to innovation and technology is essential. These partners make ideal collaborators for exploring the potential of AI in fixed indexed annuities, as they have the expertise to handle the complexities of the technology and develop new investment strategies that fully leverage its capabilities.

Additionally, as AI continues to improve itself through machine learning, it will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of the index market. By being transparent, carriers like Ibexis hope to stimulate awareness of and interest in indexes that can provide investors with even greater opportunities for diversification, optimized returns and risk management, now and into the future.

The future of AI for better portfolio allocation and smoother returns

Leveraging AI’s analytical capabilities to make better portfolio allocation decisions in an index and help investors make more predictable decisions over time potentially leads to smoother returns and improved risk management.

AI can play a crucial role in providing smoother returns in indexed annuities by determining and predicting appropriate volatility targets for indexes. With the industry trending toward increased volatility targets — ranging from 7% to 12% on some products — AI’s ability to process and analyze historical data can help set more accurate targets that better reflect market conditions and investor expectations.

AI also can be employed to develop and manage a dynamic allocation strategy within the indexed annuity. By continually analyzing multiple asset classes, such as stocks, bonds and commodities, it can determine the optimal allocation mix that maximizes returns while managing risk.

Jim Simons — a pioneer in using AI and machine learning to make more informed trading decisions in real time, generating market-beating returns and growing a multibillion-dollar company as a result — serves as a powerful example of the vast impact AI can have on the financial industry. While not everyone can expect the same level of success, Simons’ achievements demonstrate the incredible potential of AI.

Carriers like Ibexis and others, and their index partners, have extensive resources and proven track records of success, which makes them well positioned to drive the future of AI-powered indexes and shape the investment landscape for years to come.

Seizing opportunities presented by AI-enabled indexes

As the financial industry continues to evolve, we’ll likely continue to see a variety of indexes enter the market and a growing interest in AI-enabled indexes. This competition is healthy, driving innovation and encouraging the development of more advanced investment strategies. That said, even with an increasing reliance on AI, humans will continue to play a crucial role in setting up the structure of AI indexes, ensuring the technology is guided by expert knowledge and experience.

The age of AI is here, and we must embrace it. The future of our industry is dependent on those willing to seize this new opportunity. It’s why we have to stay informed about industry trends and recognize the importance of collaboration between human expertise and AI capabilities. This combination acts as an advanced and sophisticated tool in our toolbelt. It’s one we can use to better navigate the complexities of the financial world and make more-informed decisions that help clients achieve their financial goals.