71.   In addition, Rea said, the sample does not include sales of variable annuities.

72.   In addition, the cost to manage your money every year is higher for variable annuities than taxable mutual funds and other investments.

73.   In a variable annuity, neither the interest rate nor principal is guaranteed in most cases.

74.   Instead, Equitable is pushing a new line of products -- variable life insurance and variable annuities tailored to well-off members of the aging baby boom generation.

75.   Instead, they have been pouring money into investments like mutual funds and variable annuities, which they hope will take them comfortably through their golden years.

76.   Insurance and investment executives say their firms make every effort to explain variable annuities and sell them only to people who will benefit.

77.   Insurers also are bracing for competition from the mutual fund industry, and many see Fidelity threatening their sales of such products as variable annuities.

78.   Instead, they are pouring money into investments like mutual funds and variable annuities that they hope will take them comfortably through their golden years.

79.   Is the tax advantage worth more than the slightly lower return and higher costs associated with variable annuities?

80.   Insurance agents often recommend whole life insurance and variable annuities, which offer both investment returns and death benefits.