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Variable Annuities

High Income Tax Strategies with Low-Cost Variable Annuities

Jeremy Reif

Jeremy Reif | June 3, 2016 | ,

In the technologically advanced age that we live in, why does every major insurance company have their advisor base-peddling their costly products? There are other options that cost significantly less, have better investment options, more investment options, no surrender penalties, and no trade costs. Then why is it almost never brought up in conversation by financial advisors? These large insurance companies don’t want the consumer to know the direction our industry is heading — fee-based. There are several fee-based annuities available. They have been gaining...

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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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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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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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Annuities 101

Steven Aul

Steven Aul | October 28, 2014 | , , , ,

I cannot count the times that I have sat down with a couple and asked what they would like to have in their retirement portfolio, and they tell me they want to have guaranteed income they cannot outlive, maintain their principal with little or no risk, and be able to participate in the market when it increases. They get excited when I reveal that there are tools that meet these requests, but when I mention the word “annuity,” they grow horns. I believe this negative...

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The Five Steps to Making Investment Decisions

Mel Brandon

Mel Brandon | October 8, 2014 | , , , ,

Which came first? Throughout the ages, the question of the chicken or the egg has led to many discussions and even more questions. This article is not about chickens or eggs, but it is about the order that we should think about financial matters. On first introduction, we are often asked, “What do you think of a specific investment, insurance product, or style of investing?” There is only one correct answer to this type of question: “It depends.” The intent is not to be vague...

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Which Type of Annuity Fits Your Goals?

John CasaSanta

John CasaSanta | June 27, 2014 | , , , ,

We often hear the expression that an educated consumer is the best consumer. I believe this holds true, whether someone is purchasing an appliance or an annuity. When visiting a client for the first time, after a discussion of goals and objectives, I like to explain the four types of annuities. Immediate Annuity – This is similar to a personal pension and the most traditional form of an annuity. When you implement an immediate annuity, you will receive a set amount of money for a...

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