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Second Opinions: Are you Confident in Your Financial Plan?

Mark Melkowski

Mark Melkowski | March 28, 2016 | , ,

When my son was 10 years old, he needed heart surgery. We understood the risks to his health and the dangers associated with the procedure. So, we decided to look for a second opinion. Luckily, our doctor was very helpful and referred us to a doctor well versed in these types of surgeries. For some reason, few of us ask for second opinions on our financial situations. Most of the time, this occurs because we are friends with our financial advisor and/or we don’t want...

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The 4% Income Rule – It’s Time for a Change

Steve Feeken

Steve Feeken | March 18, 2016 | , ,

The common rule of thumb many advisors use, for determining the adequate amount of income to withdraw from your retirement savings, is known as the 4% rule. It simply states that if you withdraw 4% income per year from a diversified portfolio and adjust periodically for inflation, you should have enough income to last your lifetime. This theory claims that market growth should outpace the income withdrawn and also offset periods of market decline to sustain your portfolio. Becoming popular in the early 1990s as...

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Don’t Run Out of Money in Retirement

Dolph Janis

Dolph Janis | March 8, 2016 | , ,

Have you ever awoken at night and started worrying about running out of money when you’re in or entering retirement? Does the fear of losing what you have saved for retirement due to changing markets concern you? If so, you’re not alone.  A large number of baby boomers have this feeling on a daily basis. I have been working with clients for over 11 years, and these concerns are brought up in just about every meeting or conversation I have with clients. When looking at...

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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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AXA Equitable’s Accumulator “Buyout Offer,” Should You Accept or Not?

Jeremy Reif

Jeremy Reif | February 18, 2016 | ,

AXA Equitable was one of the pioneers of the Guaranteed Minimum Benefits (death or income) or Earning Enhancement benefits. During their heyday, the “Accumulator” was one of the top products available to consumers. Similar products were offered through; Hartford, Transamerica, American Scandia, Prudential, Jackson National, John Hancock, and MetLife to name a few. Of the companies listed, all have changed their current offerings for a wide variety of reasons. John Hancock left this annuity space, Hartford offered a buyout of their own and sold their...

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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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Fixed Indexed Annuities: The Next Generation

Gary Scheer

Gary Scheer | December 15, 2015 |

If you are 55 years of age or older, chances are you regularly receive invitations to seminars and lectures on such topics as “How to Secure Your Finances in Retirement”, “How to Maximize Your Social Security Benefits”, “How to Create a Guaranteed Income for Life”, “How to Enjoy Stock Market Returns with No Downside Market Risks”, and more. Quite often, these presentations focus on the benefits of including fixed indexed annuities, also known as indexed annuities, as a “safe money” strategy for one’s retirement income...

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Using Annuities to Combat Social Security Loss

Gary Mattson

Gary Mattson | December 8, 2015 | , , ,

If you have planned for retirement, then hopefully, you’ll be ready to enjoy a lifestyle with steady income that gives you enough every month to pay for your recurring bills, along with having the funds to enjoy travel, assist grandkids with education, delve into a hobby or start a new one, or anything else on your “bucket list”. As you’re enjoying the prospects of helping grandchildren and family members learn from your financial success, tragedy happens. A loved one passes, leaving you alone and worried,...

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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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