--- title: Control Volatility! - Insurance Agency Marketing Services description: Many of you remember the uncapped crediting strategies of the mid 1990’s with 80-95% participation on the S&P- the results were phenomenal-and unsupportable. As always, our industry learned as it went along and began to offer 6-7% caps with 100% participation; the rate and option costs at the time supported it and clients loved it-sales… image: https://blog.iamsinc.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/stocks-on-computer-e1445013988638.jpg --- CALL US: 800.255.5055 [Login](http://www.iamsinc.com/wp-login.php) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/iamsinc/) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/IAMSINC) [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/organization/2128303/) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/IAMSinc) [![Insurance Agency Marketing Services](https://blog.iamsinc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Iamsinc-September2017-Theme/Images/IAMS-Logo_240x52.png?width=240&height=52&name=IAMS-Logo_240x52.png)](http://www.iamsinc.com/) - [Home](https://www.iamsinc.com/) - [Why IAMS](https://www.iamsinc.com/why-iams/) - [Partner With Us](https://www.iamsinc.com/licensing/) - [Agent Kit](https://www.iamsinc.com/agent-kit/) - [About](https://www.iamsinc.com/about/) - [Meet Our Team](https://www.iamsinc.com/meet-our-team/) - [Careers](https://secure.careerlink.com/postings/6694-insurance-agency-marketing-services-inc/) - [Products](https://www.iamsinc.com/products/) - [Annuity](https://www.iamsinc.com/annuity/) - [Life](https://www.iamsinc.com/life/) - [Single Premium Life](https://www.iamsinc.com/single-premium-life/) - [Senior Health Care](https://www.iamsinc.com/senior-health-care/) - [Forms Search](https://www.iamsinc.com/forms-search/) - [e-App Solutions](https://www.iamsinc.com/e-app-solutions/) - [Firelight Registration](https://www.iamsinc.com/firelight-registration/) - [Firelight](https://www.iamsinc.com/e-app-solutions/) - [iGo e-App Solution](https://www.iamsinc.com/e-app-solutions/) - [Connect4Medicare](https://www.iamsinc.com/e-app-solutions/) - [Training](https://www.iamsinc.com/training/) - [Producer Academy](https://www.iamsinc.com/life-annuity-academy/) - [Product Training Confirmation](https://www.iamsinc.com/product-training-confirmation/) - [Monthly Webinars](https://www.iamsinc.com/webinars/) - [Support](https://www.iamsinc.com/iamsupport/) - [Production Builders](https://www.iamsinc.com/incentives/) - [Creative Solutions](https://www.iamsinc.com/creative-solutions/) - [Sales Resources Library](https://www.iamsinc.com/sales-resources-library/) - [E&O Insurance](https://www.iamsinc.com/eo-insurance/) - [AssessBest](https://www.iamsinc.com/assessbest/) - [Marketing Corner](https://www.iamsinc.com/marketing-corner/) - [Contact](https://www.iamsinc.com/contact/) [![Insurance Agency Marketing Services](https://blog.iamsinc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Iamsinc-September2017-Theme/Images/IAMS-Logo_100x20.png?width=96&height=20&name=IAMS-Logo_100x20.png)](http://www.iamsinc.com/) - [Home](https://www.iamsinc.com/) - [Why IAMS](https://www.iamsinc.com/why-iams/) - [Partner With Us](https://www.iamsinc.com/licensing/) - [Agent Kit](https://www.iamsinc.com/agent-kit/) - [About](https://www.iamsinc.com/about/) - [Meet Our Team](https://www.iamsinc.com/meet-our-team/) - [Careers](https://secure.careerlink.com/postings/6694-insurance-agency-marketing-services-inc/) - [Products](https://www.iamsinc.com/products/) - [Annuity](https://www.iamsinc.com/annuity/) - [Life](https://www.iamsinc.com/life/) - [Single Premium Life](https://www.iamsinc.com/single-premium-life/) - [Senior Health Care](https://www.iamsinc.com/senior-health-care/) - [Forms Search](https://www.iamsinc.com/forms-search/) - [e-App Solutions](https://www.iamsinc.com/e-app-solutions/) - [Firelight Registration](https://www.iamsinc.com/firelight-registration/) - [Firelight](https://www.iamsinc.com/e-app-solutions/) - [iGo e-App Solution](https://www.iamsinc.com/e-app-solutions/) - [Connect4Medicare](https://www.iamsinc.com/e-app-solutions/) - [Training](https://www.iamsinc.com/training/) - [Producer Academy](https://www.iamsinc.com/life-annuity-academy/) - [Product Training Confirmation](https://www.iamsinc.com/product-training-confirmation/) - [Monthly Webinars](https://www.iamsinc.com/webinars/) - [Support](https://www.iamsinc.com/iamsupport/) - [Production Builders](https://www.iamsinc.com/incentives/) - [Creative Solutions](https://www.iamsinc.com/creative-solutions/) - [Sales Resources Library](https://www.iamsinc.com/sales-resources-library/) - [E&O Insurance](https://www.iamsinc.com/eo-insurance/) - [AssessBest](https://www.iamsinc.com/assessbest/) - [Marketing Corner](https://www.iamsinc.com/marketing-corner/) - [Contact](https://www.iamsinc.com/contact/) # Control Volatility! ![](https://blog.iamsinc.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/stocks-on-computer-e1445013988638.jpg) Many of you remember the uncapped crediting strategies of the mid 1990’s with 80-95% participation on the S&P- the results were phenomenal-and unsupportable. As always, our industry learned as it went along and began to offer 6-7% caps with 100% participation; the rate and option costs at the time supported it and clients loved it-sales were good. Today, as rates have deteriorated and option costs have risen, the supportable caps have become less attractive and companies have answered the bell with the latest generation of crediting strategies that charge reasonable spreads on “Volatility Controlled Indexes.” These “VCI’s”, incorporate strict rules, based strategies to limit losses and savings are passed on to the end user (your client) in lower spread costs. The trade off, ‘cause you know there is one, is that the volatility controls that protect the bottom side results, also limit the upside results, leaving your client less likely to have those breakthrough upside years that they might have enjoyed with monthly pt to pt cap during the best years. Two of our most popular VCI’s are the ML Strategic Balance Index on the American General Builder product and the S&P 8% volatility control available on the New Athene Performance Elite. It is notable that neither of these products offer income riders, a trend in separating the best income opportunities from the best accumulation potential that you will see more of in the coming months. Want to see which of many options will fit? Give us a call for your next illustration, you will be pleasantly surprised! #### Author:Webmaster [Next Performance Pays](https://blog.iamsinc.com/performance-pays) [Previous Social Media Marketing](https://blog.iamsinc.com/social-media-marketing) ### Related Posts [![When Portfolios Drop, Protection Pops—Lead with Safety They Can See](https://blog.iamsinc.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/iStock-2206991365.jpg)](https://blog.iamsinc.com/when-portfolios-drop-protection-pops-lead-with-safety-they-can-see) [When Portfolios Drop, Protection Pops—Lead with Safety They Can See](https://blog.iamsinc.com/when-portfolios-drop-protection-pops-lead-with-safety-they-can-see) April 10, 2025 [![Maximizing Client Value: Cross-Selling to Medicare Clients](https://blog.iamsinc.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/MC-medicarekit.jpg)](https://blog.iamsinc.com/maximizing-client-value-cross-selling-to-medicare-clients) [Maximizing Client Value: Cross-Selling to Medicare Clients](https://blog.iamsinc.com/maximizing-client-value-cross-selling-to-medicare-clients) October 24, 2024 [![Strategies for Addressing Annuity Concerns](https://blog.iamsinc.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/iStock-1463814322.jpg)](https://blog.iamsinc.com/addressing-annuity-concerns) [Strategies for Addressing Annuity Concerns](https://blog.iamsinc.com/addressing-annuity-concerns) April 12, 2024 [![Refocusing for 2020](https://blog.iamsinc.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Ibbotson-2.jpg)](https://blog.iamsinc.com/refocusing-for-2020) [Refocusing for 2020](https://blog.iamsinc.com/refocusing-for-2020) October 25, 2019 ### Recent Posts ### Insurance Agency Marketing Services, Inc. 505 North 210th Street, Elkhorn, NE 68022 (800) 255-5055 (402) 330-7296 [contact@iamsinc.com](mailto:contact@iamsinc.com) ### Marketing Corner ### Our Location ### Follow us Find us on: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/iamsinc/) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/IAMSINC) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/IAMSinc) [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/insurance-agency-marketing/) Search: ©2025 Insurance Agency Marketing Services, Inc. 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