Annuities: Don’t Buy The Hype! |
October 28, 2013 |
Annuity Basics, Member Posts
Written By: Bakul Modi in North Carolina Annuities and Annuity Agents have a bad reputation. In some cases it is well deserved. There are agents who do a poor job of explaining the features, limitations and costs associated with annuities. Let’s examine some of the reasons why you shouldn’t buy annuities: Lack of Liquidity: True – Annuities have this limitation. If you wish to withdraw your funds prior to age 59.5, you will likely be subject to early withdrawal penalties, taxes and fees. Keep in...
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John L. Olsen |
October 25, 2013 |
Annuity Beneficiaries, Annuity Taxes, Deferred Annuities, John L. Olsen, Member Posts
If you own, or are considering buying, a deferred annuity and are thinking of having a trust own or be the beneficiary of that annuity, you need to be aware of the tax consequences. In this article, we’ll examine those consequences. But before we start, we need to be clear on two things: First, the author is not an attorney and is not giving you tax or legal advice. You should consult your legal advisor for that. Second, the tax treatment describe here applies only...
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Stan The Annuity Man |
October 24, 2013 |
Annuity Basics, Annuity Definition, Ask Stan The Annuity Man, Fixed Annuities, Member Posts, MYGA
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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Anton Hendler |
October 21, 2013 |
Member Posts
So the latest ‘shutdown’ has happened and fortunately has finally gone away. What does mean to us and how will it or potential future shutdowns affect your investments and your retirement plan going forward? We have had calls from concerned clients wanting to know if their ‘money’ is safe. The short answer, in our opinion, is that it depends on the following: Where your investments are held What you think will happen to the markets Firstly, most of our clients are invested in Fixed Index...
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Stan The Annuity Man |
October 17, 2013 |
Annuity Basics, Ask Stan The Annuity Man, Fixed Annuities, Member Posts, MYGA
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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Stan The Annuity Man |
October 16, 2013 |
Annuity Basics, Annuity Bias, Miscellaneous Annuity Info
Have you ever considered why an industry that offers dependable transfer-of-risk focused solutions to those interested in protecting their retirement assets can generate so much hate? The industry being referenced is of course the Annuity Industry, which somehow has many people bashing it….many of which are not even exactly sure why after getting past the “annuity hater talking points” described further in this article. So why is the annuity industry receiving such flack? Is it justified? Who is spreading the sour milk? First, this article...
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Rob Brinkman |
October 14, 2013 |
Member Posts, Miscellaneous Annuity Info, Rob Brinkman
A recent study conducted by the Society of Actuaries and the Stanford Center on Longevity attempts to equip employers and plan sponsors with information on RIGs (Retirement Income Generators). An R.I.G. is an annuity, which they conclude produces higher income than traditional investment income. In this educational video, Rob Brinkman provides history backgrounds and overviews of both Defined Benefit plans and a Defined Contribution plans. Further, he will help you understand the study’s conclusion and explains why the study is titled: the Next Evolution in...
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Rob Brinkman |
October 11, 2013 |
Annuity Basics, Annuity Beneficiaries, Member Posts
Written By: Lyndol Anderson in Abilene, TX For persons interested in setting up an annuity, knowledge of the difference between an owner driven contract and an annuitant driven contract is very important. It is sometimes very hard to distinguish but the differences between the two can have an undesired effect upon control of the contract and the distribution of the account value. The core discrepancy between the two styles of annuity contracts comes into play when there is a death of the owner and/or annuitant....
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Stan The Annuity Man |
October 10, 2013 |
Annuity Basics, Annuity Definition, Ask Stan The Annuity Man, Member Posts
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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Rob Brinkman |
October 7, 2013 |
Annuity Basics, Annuity Definition, Annuity Videos, Fixed Annuities, Index Annuities, Member Posts, Rob Brinkman, Variable Annuities
Have you been sold or “pitched” an annuity and you have no idea if it is the right kind of annuity for your specific needs? As you hopefully know, there are numerous types of annuities that are designed to address a specific risk or groups of risks that many retirees face. A set of pros and cons for one annuity type is often completely different when analyzing benefits and features of other types. Education is key, and the video below does a great job in...
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