Keith L. Collins |
August 11, 2014 |
Fixed Annuities, Index Annuities
Fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) are a valuable tool for retirement savings. They provide peace of mind by offering guarantees and safety of the principal amount. What’s more, they offer growth opportunity to help retirement savings keep up with the pace of inflation. FIAs are distinct from other types of annuities in that the crediting methods differ. Regular fixed annuities credit interest at a rate that is linked to the T-bills rate. Fixed indexed annuities, on the other hand, credit interest using formulas based on changes...
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Keith L. Collins |
May 13, 2014 |
Deferred Annuities, Fixed Annuities, Index Annuities
A survey by Financial Research Corporation showed that more than 36% of investors ask about the guarantees of Fixed Income Annuities. It is a fact that the collapse of several high profile corporations in the previous decade has severely shaken investors’ confidence over financial market investments. Most investors are now concerned about the safety of their investments. Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIAs) can be a great answer to a lot of worries of conservative investors. They offer protection from market volatility, interest rate, and inflation risks....
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Keith L. Collins |
April 4, 2014 |
Annuity Basics, Retirement Planning
The roller coaster ride of the stock market in the past five years has resulted in plenty of discussions regarding how to take advantage of the market highs while also protecting our savings against the market lows. However, with our obsession with stock market performance, we may be overlooking the one silent killer that can slyly erode the purchasing power of our retirement savings. Yes, I am talking about inflation. There are two big threats to our retirement savings. One is the risk of outliving...
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Keith L. Collins |
March 11, 2014 |
Annuity Fees, Fixed Annuities, Income Riders, Index Annuities
A Fixed Indexed Annuity (FIA) is a retirement savings tool that complements other pension plans like 401(k)s, social security benefits, and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Many insurance and indexed annuity companies that offer FIAs have come up with an annuity product feature that offers guaranteed lifetime payments to your account. This feature is called a Guaranteed Lifetime Income Rider (GLIR). Once you procure this annuity, you can receive guaranteed regular monthly income for the rest of your life. What is a Guaranteed Lifetime Income Rider?...
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Keith L. Collins |
February 11, 2014 |
Annuity Basics, Fixed Annuities, GMDB, Index Annuities, Surrender Charges
With a multitude of factors involved, indexed-annuity products can be rather complex for many people. While many specialists offer great advice, they rarely tell them about the pitfalls they can face with indexed-annuity products. That is why I intend to educate you with information about the top 5 pitfalls you may face when selecting indexed-annuity products. 1 – Investing in a Single Index As the name suggests, indexed annuity products allow you to link your account to a particular index. More often than not, many...
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Keith L. Collins |
December 12, 2013 |
Annuity Basics, Annuity123, Fixed Annuities, Member Posts
For most retirees living on a fixed income, every penny counts. Unfortunately for them, every penny counts to the Internal Revenue Service too. There’s no arguing that taxes on social security are incredibly high. As a matter of fact, according to current tax law, up to 85 percent of a person’s Social Security income is taxable when their total ‘threshold income’ exceeds a set limit. What is threshold income? Threshold income is the government’s formula for determining how much of a person’s Social Security is...
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