We were recently asked why we believe that an annuity can help with your retirement strategy. Three reasons come readily to mind.  The first reason is that they can be used as asset protection. Fixed annuities, for example, are safer for your money than volatile investment options. The second reason is the possibility of a guaranteed (backed by the claims-paying ability of the carrier) income stream. An annuity can offer a consistent source of income, which can be valuable in ensuring that retirees have enough money to cover essential living expenses. A third reason is longevity protection; by placing at

An annuity is a financial product designed to provide a regular, guaranteed income stream (backed by the claims-paying ability of the carrier) over a specified period or for the rest of a person’s life. Essentially, it’s a contract between you and an insurance company in which you make a lump-sum payment called a premium. In return, you receive a series of regular disbursements (payments) that begin either immediately or at some point in the future.  There are three participants involved in an annuity contract (aside from the issuing insurance company), these are: The owner, the person who buys the annuity

Annuities are one way to leverage a sudden influx of cash that may or may not have been expected, such as a bonus, inheritance, or sale of a small asset you had never factored into your financial profile. The reason they can be leveraged is because, unlike traditional tax-advantaged retirement or ‘qualified’ accounts, annuities have no contribution or income limits. However, they still allow your money to potentially grow tax-deferred until you begin receiving distributions. Call us if you’d like to understand how moving these types of funds into an annuity might positively impact your retirement strategy. We’re always here

We’ve been asked what a variable annuity and a fixed annuity are. What are the differences between them? Essentially:  A variable annuity’s value is based on the performance of a portfolio of sub-accounts; it offers the opportunity for higher returns and greater income than a fixed annuity, but there’s also a risk that the account will fall in value if there’s a market downturn.  A fixed annuity, meanwhile, pays a specifically set, guaranteed interest rate on the account owner’s contributions. While you are guaranteed to receive income from it, a fixed annuity’s rate of return may be disappointing in comparison

According to LIMRA, annuity sales are on the rise yet again this year, after also breaking records last year. Investors building their retirement strategy looking to mitigate some risk have chosen to lock-in annuities–How smart is this choice? Well, there’s definitely a reason they’ve been selling recently. Reach out to us to learn more about this product, and what it may be able to do for your retirement strategy. We’re always here to help. 

The average age at which one buys an annuity is their early 60s, with the majority of annuities purchased by individuals between ages 55–70. According to Oxford Economics, the U.S. population aged 65 and up is expected to grow by more than 8.3 million from 2022 to 2027, and so the number of individuals buying an annuity is similarly expected to grow.  Why? While there are multiple reasons, the two most essential are how important it is to have a product with protection features, and how important it is to have a product that can provide a stream of income

We are always reading articles reminding us that social security is often not enough to support our needs in retirement. No one should be financially caught off-guard when they retire, which is why it may be of interest to you to think about a Fixed Index Annuity as an option. An FIA can offer a steady, guaranteed (backed by the claims-paying ability of the carrier) lifetime income stream, while protecting your principal from the uncertainty of market volatility. It might be a broader way for you to save for your retirement. Call us, we’re happy to explain all the features

This recent article (click here to read) is about what key features to consider when choosing a fixed index annuity during a time of market unease. It helps us to understand details like how FIAs can help act as a source of guaranteed income, even when the markets are declining.  Reading the article provides tips on some important questions to ask, and what to consider when deciding whether or not an annuity is right for you. Call us if you’d like to discuss this further. We’re always here to help.

We all remember our school days of worrying about the grades we would receive. What does it mean when an insurance company gets graded? Insurance companies are rated with a letter grade to indicate their ability to meet their continuing obligations. An A+ rating means that they are considered superior. You will usually also see that they are a leading provider of retirement solutions: Fixed and variable annuities Life insurance for individuals Those are the carriers you can count on, just like you can count on us. Contact us, we’re always here to help.

A fixed indexed annuity is a type of annuity contract between you and an insurance company. It generally promises to provide returns that are based on a link to the performance of a market index. You usually make one initial lump sum payment to the insurance company. That payment is then allocated to one or more indexed investment options that you select. The insurance company then credits your account with a return that is based on those indexed investment options’ returns.  If the indexed investment option declines due to market losses, you are never credited with the losses, which means