Apollo Global Management is setting the table to make a major move in the indexed and fixed annuity market. Apollo owns Athene Annuities (an up and coming annuity company), recently purchased Presidential Life and now has purchased Aviva USA. These moves should allow them expand on the limited number of states they currently offer annuity products in.
It looks like Apollo is setting the state to become more aggressive with product offerings and innovative products in the fixed annuity segment. While the overall annuity market in the US has slowed down over recent quarters, the fixed indexed and fixed markets continue to grow. A slew of companies have jumped on the band wagon and now offer fixed, indexed or Deferred Income annuities but they have not been able to meet the innovation or guarantees of the Guggenheim companies products. (Security Benefit and Equitrust products)
Hopefully, Apollo will be introducing new products in order to provide some solid alternative to Security Benefit and Equitrust. Time will tell.