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Why Are There So Many Annuity Internet Pop Up Ads?

Stan The Annuity Man

Question: Every time I try to do some internet research on annuities, I am inundated by a ton of annuity pop up ads.  Are these good resources?  What’s the catch?  Some of the returns and video claims seem too good to be true. from Kevin in Alva, Oklahoma Answer: This is a great question, and what you have discovered is that there is absolutely no oversight or enforcement on what is said, advertised, or promised concerning annuities.  It’s the wild wild-west out there.  This is...

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Which Is Better For Future Income….Longevity Annuities or Income Riders?

Stan The Annuity Man

Question: I’m looking to set up a guaranteed lifetime income stream to start sometime in the future.  Which is better, longevity annuities or income riders? from Tom in Portland, Oregon Answer: Excellent “head scratcher” Tom, and this is one of the most important questions currently in the world of annuities.  What you are talking about is target date or income later planning.  You want to plan a lifetime income stream to turn on in the future, and would like to be able to know to...

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What Is The True Value Of An Immediate Annuity?

Stan The Annuity Man

Question: I need an additional income stream for me and my wife and am looking at a Single Premium Immediate Annuity as a possible solution.  How do I figure out the return?  What is the true value? Fred from San Antonio, Texas Answer: Thanks for the question Fred.  This is a topic that is becoming more and more prominent of an issue as baby boomers retire and need more guaranteed income.  As a short history lesson, Immediate Annuities (also called – Single Premium Immediate Annuities)...

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Should I Buy An Immediate Annuity Or An Indexed Annuity?

Stan The Annuity Man

Question: I need to supplement my income stream right now and have been shown an immediate annuity by one agent and an indexed annuity by another agent.  The products seem very different.  Which is the best one to buy? Ernie from Billings, Montana Answer: Thanks for the question Ernie.  Immediate annuities (i.e. Single Premium Immediate Annuities) and indexed annuities are drastically different strategies, so I’m a little surprised that you were shown both for income needed to start right now.  Since that is what you...

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What’s The Truth About Bonuses On Indexed Annuities?

Stan The Annuity Man

Question: Every agent I meet with is pushing a bonus as the main reason to buy the indexed annuity they are recommending.  They make it sound like it’s free money, but I’m skeptical.  What’s the truth about these upfront bonuses? Robert from Muncie, Indiana Answer: Phenomenal question Robert, and so important in the current over hyped annuity environment and the unregulated wild wild west of annuity internet promoters.  Upfront bonuses really became popular around 5 years ago as an obvious way for insurance companies to...

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Should I Take A Lump Sum Or The Annuity Payments?

Stan The Annuity Man

Question: I’m leaving my current job and have been given a couple of options concerning my retirement plan there.  Should I take the lump sum and move on, or should I take the annuity payment? Eric G. from Fullerton, California Answer: Great question Eric, and one that does not have a perfect “one size fits all” answer.  First of all, when you leave an employer, sometimes they offer you a lump sum option that you can transfer to a personal IRA to manage however you...

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What Is A Secondary Market Annuity?

Stan The Annuity Man

Question: What is a secondary market annuity?  Also, where and how can I buy them if I’m interested? from Jess in Brookfield, Wisconsin Answer: Excellent question about a very small (but growing) niche market within the annuity world.  As you know, there’s a secondary market for just about every product on the planet, and that includes annuities.  If you are shopping for higher yield and higher payments, then this might be a product type that you want to explore because yields can be 2% higher...

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What Is The Difference Between A Traditional Fixed Annuity & A “MYGA”?

Stan The Annuity Man

Question: I’ve been trying to do some research on fixed rate products, and want to know the difference between a Traditional Fixed Annuity and a MYGA annuity.  What is the difference, if any? from Robert in Chicago, Illinois Answer: Good question Robert, and yes there are distinct differences between Traditional Fixed Annuities and MYGA (Multi Year Guarantee Annuities) annuities or sometimes called fixed rate annuities.  Let take a closer look at both from an excerpt from my book, The Annuity Stanifesto. Traditional Fixed Annuity Traditional...

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Is There An Annuity That Works Like A CD?

Stan The Annuity Man

Question: Every agent I meet with tries to sell me a variable annuity or indexed annuity.  All I really want is a fixed rate guarantee.  Is there an annuity that actually works like a CD? from Bill in Matthews, North Carolina Answer: Yes Bill, there is an annuity structure that functions like a CD.  That type of annuity in the industry is referred to as a MYGA.  MYGA stands for Multi Year Guarantee Annuity, but it is also appropriately referred to as a Fixed Rate Annuity. ...

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Annuity Realityville Is A Place Far Away From Wall Street

Stan The Annuity Man

Annuities are the curse word of the financial industry.  Because of decades of bad selling practices, annuities have earned their bad reputation as “too good go be true” products that aren’t what they were pitched to be by the typically aggressive annuity agent. This negative stigma is unfortunate because annuities have their appropriate place in a lot of portfolios if you fully understand how they work, and how they should be allocated to compliment your current holdings.  The past is the past, so let’s take...

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