With a deferred annuity, you pay now and hope to accumulate assets through either a variable product that invests in equity mutual funds or a fixed product that offers bond-like returns.
The increase in margins is supported by increase in premiums due to the implementation of the new variable annuity products and increase in fee income due to increases in average assets under management resulting from improvements in equity markets and increased deposit activity as equity market improvements created an environment where investors were willing to re-enter the capital markets.