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Fixed Annuities

Four Reasons to Own an Annuity

John Conley

John Conley | October 6, 2017 | , , , , ,

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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Safety and Guarantees of Variable Annuities vs. Fixed Indexed Annuities

Nick Guida

Nick Guida | April 6, 2017 | ,

Ever wonder why so many people include annuities in their financial plans? It’s because they’re looking for safety and guarantees. The most popular annuities today are Variable Annuities and Fixed Indexed Annuities. One of them offers safety from market loss and guarantees on your real money; the other does not. Variable Annuities do not offer any downside protection from market loss to the investments within the annuity. If you have a Variable Annuity, this may come as a shock to you, so please read on....

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Why Some People Like Annuities

Nick Davis

Nick Davis | November 4, 2016 | , , , ,

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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Finding an answer to the CD interest crisis fixed annuity vs. CD’s

Henry Monahan

Henry Monahan | May 18, 2016 | ,

A co-worker once told me the CD didn’t stand for certificate of deposit anymore, it stood for certificate of disappointment. For the past 7 years, the United States has been in a historically low interest rate environment. For many retirees, who are accustomed to supplementing their income with their certificate of deposit interest, the lower interest rates made it necessary to look elsewhere for safe income while protecting principal. As of April 22, 2016, the most competitive 5-year CD rates were around 2.1% to 2.2%....

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The Importance of a Solid Plan for Income During Retirement

Brian Jones

Brian Jones | February 26, 2016 | , , , , ,

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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6 Things to Consider When Buying an Annuity

Bryan Bentley

Bryan Bentley | February 11, 2016 | , , , , , ,

So, you are considering purchasing an annuity to help protect your retirement savings or to solve a concern that may not be easily addressed with other investment vehicles. Here are a few things to consider when making a decision about buying an annuity. 1. Surrender Charge Period Expressed in terms of years, the surrender charge defines how long your money must remain in the annuity before you have unrestricted access to it. With most annuities, a portion of your money is available penalty-free during the...

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How to Get the Most Income Out of an Annuity

Tim Fitzwilliams

Tim Fitzwilliams | December 5, 2015 | , , , , , ,

As a consumer planning for the future, it’s important to understand what an annuity is, how it works, and how much income you’ll receive for the rest of your life. An annuity is a vehicle that is designed to provide income for the rest of your life. The three most common types of annuities used when planning an income include: fixed, variable and indexed. To keep things very simple: Fixed = A set interest rate. Variable = Based on the stock market and has market...

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What Annuity Is Right For The Client?

Robbin Broome

Robbin Broome | September 22, 2015 | , , , ,

During the last two decades, seniors have experienced a roller coaster financial market. Products are constantly changing, and I am always informing clients about some policy variation. Volatility seems to be the wave of the future. With all this said, what should you look for in an annuity? After all, it is your financial future in question. Individuals need to ask themselves a few questions before purchasing any product in today’s environment. For instance: What are my goals for my money? Am I going to...

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The Truth About Annuities

Rick Graham

Rick Graham | August 28, 2015 | , , ,

The truth about annuities is that there is not so much a good or bad annuity as much as a good or bad fit for your personal situation. There are many different types of annuities and dozens of insurance companies offering them. There are literally hundreds of different annuity product options. It can be very challenging to understand and compare products. To begin with, an annuity is a contract issued by an insurance company to meet specific financial goals, wants, or needs. It’s a contract...

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Changing the Perception of Fixed Annuities

Mike Gann

Mike Gann | July 22, 2015 | ,

Why do annuities that can have twice the rate of return or a bank CD or money market receive such negative press? Sadly, there are multiple reasons for this ridiculous reality. For decades, employees retiring with pension plans have had to choose their annuity pension pay-out options available to them. In many cases, the retiring employee chooses the highest monthly income option, which is a life only option. As a result, if the now retired employee passes away earlier than the mortality table average, then...

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