Indexed annuities are hot. In a survey by Wink’s Sales & Market Report — a researcher serving the life insurance and annuities industries — annuity carriers reported first-quarter sales of $11.3 billion for these kissing cousins of traditional variable annuities. That was up nearly 5% vs. the same period last year. It was the best Q1 in the history of indexed annuities, according to LookToWink.com.