Mike Riedmiller |
November 16, 2018 |
Annuity Basics
“Stocks take the stairs up and the elevator down.” The volatility and risks that the stock market can bring is no secret. A number of different things can trigger a rapidly declining stock market, from negative economic news and political turmoil to world events and misinformation. Market risk may not mean as much to someone younger and regularly contributing to their retirement account. A declining stock market can even be an opportunity to contribute more money at lower stock prices. However, as someone nears...
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Mike Riedmiller |
August 13, 2018 |
Annuity Basics, Annuity123
There is a lot of interest in annuities and how they can be part of a solid retirement plan, which shouldn’t be a surprise, given the volatility we can experience from the stock market at any given time. People are earning low interest rates from their savings and CDs, there are more questions than ever about the future of Social Security, and many employers no longer offer pensions. It’s no wonder annuities are a growing financial product for many. While annuities are a good choice...
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Mike Riedmiller |
April 2, 2018 |
Annuity Basics
Annuities can offer a number of attractive features for people who are currently working, approaching retirement, or already retired. Each year, Americans purchase billions of dollars of new annuities; they can be a big part of a solid retirement plan. People choose to add an annuity to their investment portfolio for several reasons, including: 1. Potential upside growth of their money. 2. Lifetime income, either immediately or in the future. 3. Tax-deferred growth. There are many additional benefits that annuities can offer when structured...
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Knowel McGraw |
March 1, 2018 |
Annuity Basics
At Vivid Financial Group, we focus on the cash flow, because that’s what many retirees live on: monthly cash flow, not growth. Since 1990, I have worked with families to help them retire. The No. 1 question the retiree needs to be answered is how much income they can generate safely and reliably every month. Unfortunately, growth gets all the headlines, but unless that growth gets locked in, many folks will give it all back during a downturn and never get a chance to spend it. When you...
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Jeff Jones |
January 16, 2018 |
Annuity Basics
I’m amazed at the number of people who understand so little about annuities. For 25 years, I have quizzed prospects and clients of their knowledge and perceptions of annuities. Some people claim, “Annuities are evil and should be banned,” while others have named their firstborn after these popular products. Life insurance is designed to protect a client’s financial dependents in the event of said client’s premature death, thus helping to protect loved ones from financial loss. Annuities are the upside-down version of life insurance and...
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Mike Riedmiller |
January 3, 2018 |
Annuity Basics, Index Annuities, Retirement Planning, Your Retirement
The stock market achieved some all-time highs at thee end of 2017. This is very interesting since some people were calling for the stock market to crash this past year due to a number of factors. Of course, this crash did not happen. This has left many retirees and people approaching retirement with some important questions: 1. Is now the time to take some of my money out of the stock market? 2. Should I invest (risk) more money? 3. Should I adjust any of...
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John Conley |
October 6, 2017 |
Annuity Basics, Annuity Beneficiaries, Annuity Bias, Annuity Commissions, Annuity Taxes, Fixed Annuities
Now that the Powerball winner has come forward to claim her prize of $758 million (before taxes), you can’t turn on the television or radio without hearing the word “annuity.” The winner of the lottery had a very important choice to make: to take an after-tax lump sum or pay the taxes and receive income for life. This got me thinking about the number of people who don’t understand exactly what an annuity is and how it can be beneficial when used in the following...
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Mike Riedmiller |
September 15, 2017 |
Annuity Basics, Income For Life, Index Annuities, Retirement Planning, Your Retirement
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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Ryan Schaner |
July 31, 2017 |
Retirement Planning, Your Retirement
Do you currently own or are you considering purchasing a financial solution? Do you know if that solution will accomplish what your true purpose is for that money? Before you can determine what type of solution you should put in place, you need to start with a plan. With a plan you’ll have a better understanding of your household’s needs, including how much income you need every month and how much you need in retirement. Once you’ve figured this out, you’re ready for the next...
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Jim Fox |
July 26, 2017 |
Retirement Planning
Since the ‘70s, we have heard about the shrinking of the middle class, but is it true? There are some statistics that prove the middle class is shrinking but much slower than most people realize. Before we can figure it out, we need to know who exactly makes up the middle class, and that’s not as simple as you may think. Most people would say someone making $50,000 to $100,000 would be middle class, but if you lived in New York City or San Diego,...
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