Annuity

As many of us know, October is the renewal month for many bank certificates of deposit. Some common selling points for bank CDs are low risk and steady earning potential. But today’s low interest rate environment throws some real curveballs for retirement savers.

In fact, CD rates have remained low for some time now. And what interest rates might be in the future still remains unclear. With the diminished prospects for wealth accumulation, many people seek an alternative to bank CDs and their low yields.

When used properly, annuities are often tapped as transfer-of-risk strategies. Many Americans rely upon them for lifelong income security, dependable asset protection, or other financial assurances. Nevertheless, annuities of the fixed variety – particularly fixed index annuities (FIAs) and multi-year guarantee annuities (MYGAs) – can also offer value as tax-efficient savings vehicles.

If you are looking for alternatives to CDs, here’s a quick look at fixed index annuities and multi-year guarantee annuities – and how they can differ from today’s low-yield bank CDs as retirement-savings solutions. Read More

Record numbers of Americans are retiring. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there will be over 80 million retirees by 2040. Life expectancies are on the rise – people are living longer. And a large proportion of Americans worry about market risk. They get anxious over how the stock market performs or fear potential losses.

Because of these and other reasons, some Americans have been adopting annuities as transfer-of-risk strategies. They want the guarantees associated with these contracts – particularly the assurance of lifelong income, for many annuity buyers. For those of us worried about outliving our money or other income-related risks in retirement, this raises an important question: “Should an annuity be part of my income strategy?”

It’s indisputable that many Americans desire guarantees in their financial plan, and this number continues to grow. But that doesn’t mean annuities are right for everybody. If you are wondering whether an annuity is for you, here’s a quick look at some situations you may want to consider. Read More

In previous blog posts, we’ve discussed financial products offered by insurance carriers, such as annuities. But what if an insurance company fails? What then happens to your money in the annuity or financial solution issued by that insurance carrier?

In the context of “Safe Money” – or money you can’t afford to lose – it’s worthwhile to discuss bank failures as well as insurance company failures. After all, bank options and annuities are two ways of preserving your wealth from the effects of market downturns. They’re means of keeping your hard-earned money safe.

Ultimately, it begins with two components: security and guarantees. It’s important to clarify exactly what anyone in the financial industry means when they use the term “guarantee.” In the case of insurance companies or banks, it refers to financial reserves they hold in cash or cash-equivalent securities. These reserve holdings are allocated toward ensuring a promise or guarantee.

For banks, the guarantee means you’ll always be able to get your money back and not suffer a loss. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is tasked with insuring savings accounts against future bank failures. But the FDIC and its involvement come with many misnomers, some of which the American public is largely unaware. And they amount to strong differences from the guarantee offered by an insurance company, too. Read More

Today’s financial landscape is muddled. Determining the best investment options for your needs can be a hassle. Sound decision-making involves being financially educated. And for people looking at annuities, it helps to understand the basics.

What is an annuity? Simply put, an annuity is a contract between you and the insurance carrier providing it. The goal of an annuity is to provide you with a steady income stream in your retirement. It can also be a means of protection – keeping your retirement money safe and intact when market-based investments take a hit. In an annuity contract, you make a lump-sum payment or a series of payments. The annuity gives you certain contractual guarantees. Read More

Are you looking at annuities for an income security option? There’s certainly no shortage of financial advice on them out there. Especially bad financial advice.

And as financial guru Suze Orman notes, it’s a different world. Employers no longer look out for you in your working days – and then offer a pension throughout retirement. Now they ask you to help fund your retirement. Or you may be tasked with funding your retirement entirely on your own.

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