The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a final rule Thursday that redefines indexed annuities as securities rather than as insurance products that are subject to state regulation. The rule, which was strongly opposed by several major Iowa-based issuers of these fixed annuity products, will mean that agents selling the products will need to be registered with the SEC and will be subject to securities regulations. The rule will apply to annuity contracts sold after Jan. 11, 2011. Approximately one-third of all equity indexed annuities in the United States are sold by insurers with major annuity operations in Iowa, among them Aviva USA, which is the No. 1 seller of equity indexed annuities, with $1.2 billion in annual sales.

The third annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, “Fuel the Truth,” will take place on Jan. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Polk County Convention Complex. Learn more about this free event and register at www.iowarfa.org.

Registration is under way for winter courses at Iowa State University’s College for Seniors Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Classes are available for people aged 50 and older. The session begins Jan. 14, with classes held at ISU’s Alumni Center. Catalogs, course listings and registration information are available at www.isualum.org/collegeforseniors. Additional information is available by calling (515) 294-3830 or sending e-mail to collegeforseniors@iastate.edu.

Wisconsin Public Radio’s Michael Feldman will broadcast his “Whad’Ya Know?” radio show at 10 a.m. May 16 at Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines. Tickets go on sale Saturday. Call Hoyt Sherman at 243-1888 for pricing information, or order tickets on the Web at www.ticketmaster.com. Special membership ticket packages are available by calling Iowa Public Radio at (800) 861-8000 or pledging online at www.iowapublicradio.org.