How about a little good news this week?
Since we are well into the holiday season, I figured it was a good time to share some positive information with all members of Annuity Straight Talk.
Again, I’d like to direct your attention to the WealthVest blog for a report from the Conference Board on leading [...]
Continue Reading →Since I always direct people to search for facts that support financial products and strategies, I recommend all members of Straight Talk take a look at this report published by the Wharton Financial Institutions center regarding fixed index annuities.
Fixed Index annuities have not always been at the top of my list but credible information to suggest I jumped [...]
Continue Reading →It’s a frightening reality that many people don’t have the necessary assets for a comfortable retirement. Maintaining a certain lifestyle not to mention being able to cover future medical costs is a serious concern for many people.
Brett Arends of the Wall Street Journal wrote last week of the widespread funding concerns of retirement plans [...]
Continue Reading →I recently came across this article in the September edition of The Atlantic titled The Great Stock Myth that should give everyone something to think about.
We are all taught to believe the the stock market should offer a premium return in exchange for the associated level of risk. That has mostly been true for [...]
Continue Reading →What are your major concerns when considering how to distribute those hard-earned retirement assets? Robert Powell, editor of Retirement Weekly covers the topic well in a piece on MarketWatch.com.
Each goal comes with an associated risk so planning with that in mind leads to fewer surprises when they are least wanted. Individual objectives can be [...]
Continue Reading →The AP released this article here (EDIT: Sorry, the link seems to have died) last week that does a good job of touching on the basic benefits and drawbacks of using annuities for retirement income planning.
The subject of the article is a couple from Wisconsin who own several annuities and are happy with the [...]
Continue Reading →Annuities are not good or bad but instead suitable or unsuitable for an individual or situation. I apologize if you've read that in too many places on this site. It is a point that can't be stressed too much because of the polarizing opinions you'll find while looking for annuity info on the internet. Last [...]
Continue Reading →An actuarial statement regarding annuities and longevity risk has just come across the the PR Newswire.
Longevity risk is of course the risk a person has of outliving retirement assets. This statement talks about how you can do more with less when using income annuities in retirement. Apparantly it takes 50% more assets to equal the [...]
Continue Reading →InvestmentNews.com released another beneficial report on the use of variable annuities with a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit. You can read it here.
These are very popular products and according to the report, Ibbotson Associates Inc. conducted a study to test variable annuities against traditional retirement income strategies..
Like what you see here? Then [...]
Continue Reading →And yet another backdated article with current relevance… This came out in Forbes last May and the lesson will be important as long as retirees explore all the ways to maximize cash flow from retirement assets.
As also mentioned on this site, the Forbes articles talks about how immediate annuities create the highest level of [...]
Continue Reading →The Minnesota Department of Commerce has fined an insurance company for selling annuities with exorbitant surrender charges.
High surrender charges are never in the best interests of a client and the annuity product itself must be proven suitable for a specific individual’s needs.
Like what you see here? Then Sign Up For More!
Continue Reading →Welcome to Annuity Straight Talk. We understand Annuities and unfortunately, some are Good, some are Bad, and some are down right Ugly. Here you will find advice and tools free of charge to make an informed decision, unbiased by any particular company or product. You need these tools and techniques to pick the best annuity [...]
Continue Reading →How Bad Products are Sold to Good People: There is a clever way to spin information in an annuity contract to make it appear safer, more lucrative and less restrictive than it really is. We need to dive in to this subject so that you can see first- hand just how difficult it can be [...]
Continue Reading →Certificates of Deposit or CDs are a great place to put money, right? Well, the answer depends on if you are the bank or the customer.
As a customer you give the bank your money and agree to leave it there, at the risk of a penalty, for a certain period of time, usually anywhere [...]
Continue Reading →Straight Talk on Fixed Index Annuities
Few products generate as much confusion and controversy as fixed index annuities, both pro and con. We’re often asked if these products are any good.
Want the Straight Talk? Money managers dislike fixed index annuities because they lose management assets and many insurance agents simply don’t do a [...]
Useful Resources
Recent Posts
- Low Rates Expected Until 2014
Arguably the most damaging effect of low interest rates is the impact it has on people approaching retirement and looking for more safety. Traditional safe havens such as CDs pay very little interest in relation to the time commitment required. And I’ll admit that selling annuities in this climate is challenging to say the least.
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- Calculating Yields in the Secondary Market
Nearly every time we send out an email with new secondary market annuity offers, several inquiries come back with people asking how the return is calculated.
Let’s see an example that everyone can relate to…
Assume a purchase price of $282,951 where monthly income payments of $1500 begin one month from today and continue for [...]
- On Cashing Out In Retirement
The tools used to maximize pre-retirement asset accumulation are not the tools of retirement income generation. Maximizing retirement income is just outside the scope of expertise for most traditional advisors and individuals because of the biggest unknown: life expectancy.
An individual seeking to maintain full control over their money, and setting their own withdrawal rate, [...]
- The $440 Billion Pension Gap
This distressing article highlights the issues pensions face meeting their promises to retirees. According to the article, 14% of the nations workforce still participates in some sort of employer sponsored, defined benefit plan. Yet, "The third quarter 2011 was the second worst in history for pension liabilities," due primarily to unrealistic assumptions and enduring low [...]
- Low Rates Expected Until 2014
Visitor Feedback
"I did get the “Variable Annuities With Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit. Get the Facts before you Invest”.
It is a fantastic report, very well written and much easier to understand than any similar report I’ve seen. Job well done. Thanks."
Jim K.
Thank for your adroit analysis of annuities. Finally, a decision making tool that is designed for those who are trying to make prudent financial decisions regarding retirement.
Ron P. DeFuniak Springs, Fl
Subject: Brilliant Article, Bryan
Thank you for your clear headed analysis of the GLWB. I was just informed about this route to consider... and I just came circling back to what the underlying foundation was, and if it seemed to good to be true (as you pointed out) and if the upside was very good. I'm just beginning this process of investigation and really appreciate your candid, honest and informed article
Karen, Ezine Articles Comment
Subject: The Annuity Report:
BRIAN, I READ IT IN IT'S ENTIRETY, IT IS GREAT, I AM SO GLAD TO HAVE THIS REPORT, THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH. HOWEVER, I HAVE SAVED IT IN FILE TO READ AGAIN. IT'S LIKE READING THE BIBLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU MUST READ IT OVER AND OVER.
Paul D. Houston, TX
Subject: Retirement Analysis:
In a word, your advice and profile looks... "SOLID" to me and in sync with my current situation and long-term goals. I am excited to find someone with your background whom I feel is giving me the straight scoop (for MY benefit)
Don S. Dallas, TX
