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Annuity Basics

What Should I Believe About Annuities?

Jason Weckel

Jason Weckel | April 17, 2015 |

Of the entire spectrum of financial tools and products that have been available to investors over the last several decades, virtually none of them have been so polarizing as annuities. In theory, they are attractive options for retirees looking for a consistent income stream often times supplementing a pension or Social Security. Yet there is no shortage of articles both on the Internet and in print advising would-be annuity owners about the many pitfalls of these instruments. Some commentators offer cautious, thoughtful insight into the...

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Value and Variable Annuities

Chris Letendre

Chris Letendre | March 31, 2015 | ,

Everyone always asks me, “Chris, what do you think of variable annuities?” And every time they do, my first thought to myself is, “how much time do you have?” I have over 20 years of experience on this subject, and there are so many things I would like everyone to know and learn. But the reality is: For most people, what I know about variable annuities is too complex for the average investor to want to learn. I believe the insurance companies that offer variable...

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Fixed Annuities vs. Variable Annuities

Randy Floyd

Randy Floyd | March 25, 2015 | , , , , ,

For most people, the word “annuity” might as well be a four-letter word. When I talk about them in my practice, I find that there is a very negative connotation associated with them. Yet most people’s understanding of annuities is very limited at best. So, I wanted to take some time to explain what they are and go over some of the different kinds of annuities. I think most people will realize that they are not quite the monster they have been made out to...

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What If You Live Too Long?

Paul Hubbard

Paul Hubbard | March 16, 2015 | , ,

One of the burning questions pre-retirees and retirees have on their minds is, “Is my retirement nest egg large enough to last?” This is due to fact that, with the advancements of modern medical technology and the concentration of health and fitness, retirees nowadays are simply living longer. Many have done a splendid job saving over the years in their IRAs and 401ks to ensure a pleasant and peaceful retirement. While this is great news on one hand, it also creates challenges on the other...

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When is the Right Time to Buy an Annuity?

Randy Floyd

Randy Floyd | February 25, 2015 | , , , ,

This is a question I get asked a lot in my practice. However, this question is asked for many different reasons. There are several issues this question refers to, and each of them should be answered specifically in accordance with their real, underlying question. At what age should I purchase an annuity? This is a broad question, and will be answered in more detail as we work through some of the others. Generally speaking, most people under the age of 40 should not purchase an...

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Variable & Hybrid Annuities – Are They Good or Bad?

Jeff Juniper

Jeff Juniper | February 19, 2015 | , , , , , ,

Annuities have been around for almost 2000 years and the public’s understanding of how they work is at an all-time low. “I Hate Annuities and So Should You” is what one investment firm says in their full page ads from coast to coast. Why do they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on those ads? The answer is to attract attention because there is so much confusion about how these products work. What they don’t tell you in those ads is that there are good...

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How to Never Lose Your Money: A Guide to Fixed Indexed Annuities

Barbara Halperin

Barbara Halperin | February 17, 2015 | , , ,

Believe it or not, Tony Robbins, motivational guru, has joined the ranks of advisors offering fixed indexed annuities to the American public. He realizes that people in the United States today find value in the benefits that a fixed indexed annuity provides. What other investment can protect you from market risk while simultaneously producing tremendous streams of income guaranteed to last you for life, and also the lifetime of your spouse? There is no other product offered today that can do what a fixed indexed...

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Five Common Annuity Misconceptions

Mark Goldfinger

Mark Goldfinger | February 6, 2015 | , , ,

More misconceptions and myths swirl around annuities than any other financial product. Some of the confusion may be due to the fact that annuities have greatly improved over the past 10 years, offering more options and benefits than ever before. One of the most flexible types of annuities is a fixed indexed annuity (FIA). An FIA is a financial product sold by insurance companies. The insurance company guarantees to protect your principal and give you the potential for growth linked to an index, such as...

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Who Is Suggesting Your Annuity?

Cody Lewis

Cody Lewis | February 4, 2015 | ,

I don’t think I have received more questions or have seen as much confusion as I have concerning annuities and life insurance. For today’s discussion, we are going to focus on annuities – how they’re sold, how they’re bought, and what is important when buying not just annuities, but any financial product or service. The only product that may be more confusing to understand and explain than annuities is life insurance. They are similar in many ways, but most notably that they are both insurance...

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A Look Inside Wall Street

Erick Jon Arnett

Erick Jon Arnett | January 14, 2015 | , , ,

So consider this source: I am an independent advisor, and I have been in the industry for 15 years. I have worked for big banks, small banks, a retail brokerage, fledgling hedge fund managers, registered investment advisory firms, and now I am completely independent and objective. I have seen it all and have had exposure to almost every tool or investment product that exists out there. I don’t say this to brag by any means. There are probably far smarter and better experts (as they...

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