Todd D. Heckman |
March 24, 2014 |
Annuity Basics
Although “retirement income planning” has become a piece of common jargon in the financial industry, it’s not actually a great description of what’s really going on, or what you need. When people retire, their earned income typically plummets from something they are accustomed to live on, to something closer to zero. So they do need to replace that income in some fashion. For most people, Social Security does at least part of the job. Many people also have a pension from recent or past employment,...
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Carl Ostenson |
March 17, 2014 |
401k and IRA Blogs, Annuity Basics
Question: Is it possible to move your current 401k plan into a self directed IRA, before you retire? Answer: Usually YES, but you have to be 59 ½ or older. It’s called a 401k In-Service Distribution. You may have a good reason why you would want to move your 401k somewhere else: More investment options Lower fees Lock in some gains and put the money someplace safer Some kind of annuity for future income Whatever your reason is, a 401k In-Service Distribution allows you to...
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Anton Hendler |
March 13, 2014 |
Annuity Basics
The more one reads about the fact that most Americans approaching retirement are way under provided for, and the fact that one’s retirement lifespan will be significantly longer than previous generations, the more concerned one becomes about what folk out there are doing about providing for retirement, and what vehicles they are using to make the most out of what they have. We think that it can generally be agreed upon that Social Security can only cover a small portion of one’s retirement income needs,...
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Richard Ericson |
March 12, 2014 |
Annuity Basics
Benjamin Franklin once said, “Nothing in life is certain except death and taxes.” Although this statement is completely true and affects everyone on the planet, it’s staggering to know the number of people who don’t plan at all for either one. They must think that they are immortal and that, somehow, our government will suddenly lower their salaries to those of us laymen who actually work for a living. Take a look around you. How recent was the last funeral you attended? Look closer at...
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Richard Ericson |
March 10, 2014 |
Annuity Basics
Annuities are designed to protect your retirement assets from negative financial surprises during your retirement years allowing you to maintain financial independence throughout your retirement. Annuities allow you to transfer specific financial risks to your retirement such as market downturns and the large unknown of how long your (and your spouse’s) retirement will last. They allow you to shift specific risk areas of your financial plan onto the large shoulders of Life Insurance companies. If utilized properly, you’ll be able to fill your financial gaps...
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Carl Ostenson |
March 6, 2014 |
Annuity Basics
There are typically two phases to receiving a personal pension. Phase 1 is the “Waiting & Growing” phase. This is when you are still working and the longer you work and the longer you wait, the more income you get when you finally retire. Phase 2 is the “Getting or Collecting” phase. This is when you actually retire and start getting the income that you waited for. There are a few really nice benefits with a personal pension: You get steady income every month It...
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Anton Hendler |
March 4, 2014 |
Annuity Basics
With the recent uncertainty around bitcoin in general and Mt.Gox (the biggest bitcoin exchange) in particular, we felt this was an apt time to reiterate a few of the points we have made in recent months regarding Fixed Index Annuities (FIAs). For those not familiar, bitcoin is a virtual currency that can be used as payment for certain transactions and is traded on various exchanges. According to their site bitcoin “uses peer-to-peer technology to operate with no central authority or banks; managing transactions and the...
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Richard Ericson |
March 3, 2014 |
Annuity Basics
What TIME is it? How much TIME do you have until you retire? When is the best TIME to retire? One of my rules is, “on TIME or sooner.” My young son has inherited this trait too. I don’t know if that is positive or negative, but it’s about TIME! The simple definition of time: The regulation of occurrence, pace, or coordination to achieve a desired effect, as in music, the theater, athletics, or mechanics. Think about common references to time regarding your investments. When...
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Rob Brinkman |
March 1, 2014 |
Annuity Basics
If you are planning to retire, or nearing retirement, then this video is for you. The S&P500 went down 37% in 2008 and it’s been up 5 years straight. Ironically (and scary), this same trend happened from 2003-2007 before having another huge meltdown. Have you ever noticed Is there risk inherent in that scenario? Even if the same cycle doesn’t appear (which it most certainly will NOT), it is inevitable that we will have another recession at some point. Everything goes in cycles, including recessions,...
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Anton Hendler |
February 22, 2014 |
Annuity Basics, Fixed Annuities, Index Annuities
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, so the saying goes. So it is that with an article of this nature, it depends on who is writing it and that persons perspective as no two people will share the same opinion. So let us nail our colors firmly to the mast, so to speak, and share with you that we promote Fixed Index Annuities (FIAs) to our clients and are firm believers in their place in any Retirement strategy. Now that we have our...
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