Pros and Cons: Annuities in Retirement Savings Plans

Across the country, people are saving for retirement. It is true that many people lag behind when it comes to setting aside funds for the future, but despite this lag – where the typical couple aged 56-61 has only $17,00 set aside – there are many options available. Employer-sponsored plans, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), and …

A Review of Tax-Deferred Annuities Part II

In our previous article on tax-deferred annuities, we discussed the three primary sources of retirement income as well as potential drawbacks of relying on Social Security benefits to cover expenses in retirement. We then introduced tax-deferred annuities, also known as TDAs, and brief information on how these accounts work. Today, we’ll wrap up our review …

A Review of Tax-Deferred Annuities

As we work over the course of our careers, many of us have an eye on retirement. Saving money toward retirement makes smart financial sense, yet on average, American workers are not setting aside enough funds for their lives after they retire. There are many retirement plans available to workers, from employer-sponsored 401(k) plans to …

How to Maximize Earning Power for Retirement

Earning power, or earning ability, is one of the most valuable assets a person can possess.  Amazingly, if a family’s average income is $100,000 for their entire working career, a 30-year-old couple will earn 6.5 million by the age of 65.  So, how can the average worker maximize their earning power to maximize their retirement …

How to Choose the Best Annuity for Retirement

READ THE FULL PRESENTATION: Lesson in Annuities After choosing to invest in an annuity for a continued source of retirement income, the decision then becomes the type of annuity to choose.  Many people are left with more questions than answers. What are the differences between a variable annuity vs a fixed annuity?   What is …

Choosing the Best Annuity for Your Retirement

When planning for retirement, an annuity investment may be the ideal solution for anyone who wants to plan for a steady stream of income until their death.  With many people living well into their 90s or even 100s, the chances of outliving retirement savings are a very real concern for many retirees.  Annuities solve that …

Lesson in Indexed Annuities Part 5

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 In our last blog article, we covered indexing methods in detail, focusing on three of the most common ways that insurance companies calculate the way interest is credited to the annuity account. We also touched on contract riders and how they can provide increased flexibility to the …

Lesson in Indexed Annuities Part 4

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Our last blog post in the series on indexed annuities covered many common terms that are found in the annuity contracts. We’ve touched on the indexing methods insurance companies use to determine how interest is credited to the annuity account, and in today’s article we will go much deeper. …

Lesson in Indexed Annuities Part 3

In previous blog posts in our continuing series on indexed annuities, we’ve spoken about what an indexed annuity is, how it works, and some of the advantages of this retirement planning account over other financial strategies. Our last article covered some of the major features of indexed annuities and how interest formulas are used to …

Lesson in Indexed Annuities Part 2

In the first installment of our blog series on indexed annuities, we introduced the concept of these financial instruments. Our first lesson revolved around how they work, how account holders may choose to invest in them, and the different types of indexed annuities available to those planning for retirement. In this part of our series, …