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Income For Life

Discover why people love safer growth of their money and the option for lifetime income

Mike Riedmiller

There is a lot of talk and debate about the pros and cons of annuities and whether they are good to have in your retirement plan. All investments have their strengths and weaknesses. This, unfortunately, is something you don’t always hear about from people in the financial services industry or the so-called gurus you see in the media. First, let’s look at the three main types of annuities: Variable Annuities – Variable annuities usually have higher fees (2% – 4%). Your money is still “at...

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How the War Over Your Money Can Hurt You

Matt Jackson

There is a war going on for your money, and you probably don’t even know it. Licensed stockbrokers, Wall Street, and big banks offering risky securities are fighting against insurance companies and banks offering principal-guaranteed products. These groups are as opposed to each other as Coke and Pepsi. So, why the fighting? Why don’t stockbrokers tell you about the advantages of some of these principal-guaranteed products, like fixed indexed annuities (FIAs)? I believe it’s because of the reoccurring fees generated by the amount of money...

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Use Your Assets to Boost Your Cash Flow

Jon Sanchez

Most of us have assets that are of some value. It may be something as large as your home or as small as the tools in your garage. If you took an inventory of your assets and created a plan so each asset produced a steady flow of cash, you could have more income than you know what to do with! There are several tremendous ways to turn your existing assets into a cash flow machine. However, get ready to put in the hard work...

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How do I protect my retirement?

Granger Hughes

Many people today are faced with the harsh reality that they may wake up one day and their 401(k), or other retirement plan, may be cut in half. We put our lifetime and hard-earned savings onto the proverbial blackjack table. In reality, many people who play blackjack wouldn’t dare take their entire stack of chips and bet it on one hand; however, we do it every day with our retirement. Is this because we don’t know better, or have we been hardwired to think this...

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Why Some People Like Annuities

Nick Davis

Annuities are considered an enormous and confusing topic. If you’ve searched “annuities” on the internet, you know that everyone has something to say about the topic. With the wild stock market swings in recent years, most people are looking for alternatives. As of right now, annuities are the best answer for a lot of people. At the same time, annuities are widely misused, which results in heated conversations about the product. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you live, everyone wants to grow...

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4 Essentials Every Retirement Plan Should Consider

John Gill

A mere six years after one of the most devastating recessions (2008) in U.S. history, which destroyed many Americans’ retirement plans, I frequently saw new clients who had forgotten about the losses their portfolios took during the early 2000s. I believe it’s important not to forget what a 20, 30, or 40 percent loss feels like in your portfolio. Why? Because another market loss can easily occur during your retirement years. When you enter retirement and begin withdrawing income to live on and not simply...

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The 4% Income Rule – It’s Time for a Change

Steve Feeken

The common rule of thumb many advisors use, for determining the adequate amount of income to withdraw from your retirement savings, is known as the 4% rule. It simply states that if you withdraw 4% income per year from a diversified portfolio and adjust periodically for inflation, you should have enough income to last your lifetime. This theory claims that market growth should outpace the income withdrawn and also offset periods of market decline to sustain your portfolio. Becoming popular in the early 1990s as...

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Don’t Run Out of Money in Retirement

Dolph Janis

Have you ever awoken at night and started worrying about running out of money when you’re in or entering retirement? Does the fear of losing what you have saved for retirement due to changing markets concern you? If so, you’re not alone.  A large number of baby boomers have this feeling on a daily basis. I have been working with clients for over 11 years, and these concerns are brought up in just about every meeting or conversation I have with clients. When looking at...

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The Importance of a Solid Plan for Income During Retirement

Brian Jones

For most of us, it’s very important to have an income or some type of cash flow during retirement, especially if you want to enjoy your retirement years. But how do you plan for this income and where does it come from? For most of us, Social Security is the first source that comes to mind. Yes, I do believe Social Security will be around in some form or fashion for most of us as one of our retirement income sources. If you are one...

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Using Annuities to Combat Social Security Loss

Gary Mattson

If you have planned for retirement, then hopefully, you’ll be ready to enjoy a lifestyle with steady income that gives you enough every month to pay for your recurring bills, along with having the funds to enjoy travel, assist grandkids with education, delve into a hobby or start a new one, or anything else on your “bucket list”. As you’re enjoying the prospects of helping grandchildren and family members learn from your financial success, tragedy happens. A loved one passes, leaving you alone and worried,...

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