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Christine Benz: Avoiding Blind Spots in Your Retirement Portfolio Planning (TAM Classic)

Table of Contents

Christine Benz: Avoiding Blind Spots in Your Retirement Portfolio Planning (TAM Classic)

Stan Haithcock

February 13, 2024

Christine Benz: Avoiding Blind Spots in Your Retirement Portfolio Planning (TAM Classic)

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Christine Benz discuss:

Why Christine is so passionate about financial education and retirement portfolio planning.
Why decumulation is not bad (and when it is a good thing).
Retirement blindspots to be aware of.
Staying mindful of additional, variable costs in your spending plan.
Bucket approach investing and portfolios.

Key Takeaways:

Your portfolio doesn't know whether your withdrawals are coming from income or from selling appreciated securities, what matters is that you are not taking out too much.
People tend to overestimate our ability and desire to continue working and, often, retire earlier than they originally expected to.
There is power in diversification in your income portfolios.
The products under the annuity umbrella are incredibly varied. The type of annuity that is best for you depends on what your needs are.

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"If you're looking for something that will zig when your stocks zag, you probably want to ensure that your portfolio includes that cash and treasury bonds." — Christine Benz

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Connect with Christine Benz:

Website: Morningstar | Empowering Investor Success

Podcast: The Long View

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-benz-b83b523/

Twitter: Christine Benz (@christine_benz) on X

Book: Morningstar’s 30 Minute Money Solutions: Morningstar's 30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances

Book: Morningstar Guide to Mutual Funds: Morningstar Guide to Mutual Funds: Five-Star Strategies for Success

Christine’s Article Archive: http://www.morningstar.com/articles/author/30-christine-benz.aspx

Fun With Annuities Podcast is hosted by America’s Annuity Agent®, Stan Haithcock, The Annuity Man®. Hear brutal annuity facts with no sales pitches from the top independent agent in the country, licensed in all 50 states. Author of 7 books, Stan dives deep on all annuity types and strategies. It’s fun, learning the contractual truths on how annuities actually work and if they’ll fit your personal retirement lifestyle.

Listen in on how you can be livin’ the reality, not the dream. Listen and subscribe on Libsyn, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, and Spotify.

Stan The Annuity Man: Happy Birthday To QLACs

Stan The Annuity Man: Happy Birthday To QLACs

With QLACs, SPIAs, and DIAs, there's no annual phase. There's no market attachment; it’s a straight transfer risk. You're saying to the issuing QLAC company, here's the money, and you are on the hook to pay me, or me and my wife, or me and my husband forever as long as one of us is breathing, but you don't get to keep a penny.

High Rates for How Long: by Terry Savage

High Rates for How Long: by Terry Savage

Do you have “chicken money” – money that you want to protect from risk? If so, it should be in short-term CDs, or money market accounts, or short term Treasury Bills – IOUs from the Federal government. Those are the safe places to stash your cash.

Annuity Vs. 401k: Do 401k Plans Offer Annuities?

Annuity Vs. 401k: Do 401k Plans Offer Annuities?

So what are we talking about today? Stan The Annuity Man, America's annuity agent licensed in all 50 states, including yours. We're talking about 401ks and annuities. Which one's better? Does your 401K offer an annuity? Should your 401K offer an annuity? If your 401k doesn't offer an annuity, what do you do? You know what? I'm going to cover all of those topics, all of those questions in detail.

Don’t Be the Sucker at the Annuity Table: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Don’t Be the Sucker at the Annuity Table: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Today's topic is don't be the sucker at the table. Don't be the sucker at the annuity table. And I keep telling people this, but they keep calling me with these crazy sales pitches they're getting. And in Vegas, at the poker tables, and I always walk by like in Caesars, they have an open area where you can watch the poker being played at numerous tables. And I always look at that, and I always try to spot the sucker at the table.

Stan The Annuity Man: New Realities of Annuity Recommendations

Stan The Annuity Man: New Realities of Annuity Recommendations

"My grandfather always told me, ‘If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.’ That is our business model." — Stan The Annuity Man.

059: FIA Insider Wears Mask to Protect Identity and Share Industry Secrets

059: FIA Insider Wears Mask to Protect Identity and Share Industry Secrets

I know every week, I'm out here gushing how awesome the celebrity co-host is, but THIS guy is a "can't fricken' believe he agreed to do this" kinda score.

Gary Baker: The Growth of Group and Fee-Based Annuities

Gary Baker: The Growth of Group and Fee-Based Annuities

Financial advisors should know all the tools available, and then, depending upon the client’s specific situation, feel comfortable and put in the right spot that's in their best interest and the right thing to do.

How Annuities Can Help Achieve Your Retirement Goals

How Annuities Can Help Achieve Your Retirement Goals

Today's topic is a good one. That's the reason you clicked it, right? How annuities can help you achieve your retirement goals. Easy for me to say. Now, for all you haters who clicked it and said, "That's not happening with me, man. That's not going to happen." It's already happening, player.

Jamie Hopkins: Retirement Planning And The Why That Makes You Cry (TAM Classic)

Jamie Hopkins: Retirement Planning And The Why That Makes You Cry (TAM Classic)

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How to Talk Annuities With a Spouse

How to Talk Annuities With a Spouse

Today's topic is interesting: talking to your spouse or partner about annuities and telling them about contractual guarantees. For most people, when you hear the word annuity, it either equals hate or a curse word. I mean, they've heard nothing but bad things about annuities.

How Early Should I Buy Annuities?

How Early Should I Buy Annuities?

What we're going to talk about today is a call I get a lot from people who are too young to buy an annuity or who might be really old and not need an annuity. But we're going to talk about age. Is it too early to buy? How do you determine that? Can you time it?

What Is the Primary Reason for Buying an Annuity?

What Is the Primary Reason for Buying an Annuity?

What is the most common use of an annuity? Well, to answer that question properly, as Stan The Annuity Man, I have to do a little bit of a history lesson. Annuities were put on the planet in Roman times as a pension-type gift for the dutiful Roman soldiers and their families.

Get Your Annuity Income Ducks in a Row: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Get Your Annuity Income Ducks in a Row: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Chapter two of your life or retirement, whatever that means to you, is when you just need money hitting the bank account to go live your life. You can go however long that's going to be. Chapter two is going to be about you. It's going to be about lifestyle; it's going to be about reclaiming your health.

Marcia Mantell: Cookin' Up Your Retirement Plan

Marcia Mantell: Cookin' Up Your Retirement Plan

The key to financial success in retirement, in my humble opinion, is not what products you have or how great your investment strategy is. It's knowing how much you spend.

How Do Annuities Solve for Inflation?

How Do Annuities Solve for Inflation?

Hi there. Stan The Annuity Man, America's annuity agent licensed in all 50 states. I am so glad you joined me today because today's topic is key. A lot of people ask me this, "Stan The Annuity Man, how do annuities help solve for inflation?"

What Happens When an Annuity Owner Dies Before Annuitization?

What Happens When an Annuity Owner Dies Before Annuitization?

So, what happens when an annuity owner dies before annuitization? It's a sad thought. Hi, I'm Stan the Annuity Man. Typically I'm bouncing off the walls, I'm happy, but we're talking about death, so I'm just going to bring it down a little bit.

Your Retirement Plan Is Not an Annuity Game: Shootin’ It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Your Retirement Plan Is Not an Annuity Game: Shootin’ It Straight With Stan

Today's topic is a good one. Listen up, lean in, get comfortable, and grab a coffee because what we will talk about is your retirement plan is not an annuity game. There are a lot of people in the annuity industry who are just looking for nails, and they're the hammer.

What Happens at the End of a MYGA Term?

What Happens at the End of a MYGA Term?

Hi, my name is Stan The Annuity Man, America's annuity agent licensed in all 50 states. That's yours as well. Yes, I do sell annuities when they're appropriate and suitable, and I do encourage you to go to my site and get all of my books.

How Much Do You Really Need to Retire?

How Much Do You Really Need to Retire?

Today's topic is how much do you need to retire? In this case, we're talking about money, but I will cover other things because that's what I do. I can free form this, but how much money do you need to retire? I'm going to tell you how to do that. It's very simple.

Andy Panko: Financial Planning Demystified and Unemotional (TAM Classic)

Andy Panko: Financial Planning Demystified and Unemotional (TAM Classic)

Most people can do accumulation well; it’s the decumulation where things get a little more tactical and complicated.

Annuities vs Market Volatility

Annuities vs Market Volatility

Hi there, Stan The Annuity Man, America's annuity agent, licensed in all 50 states. Boy, today's topic is a good one. My director and all the smart people in the room were like, "Stan, don't yell. Please don't yell for this topic."

How Much Do You Need to Start an Annuity?

How Much Do You Need to Start an Annuity?

How much do you need to start an annuity? Promise me one thing. Do not ask anyone that but me, because that is a salesperson's dream. And you know, The Annuity Man is where annuities are bought, not sold.

Annuities Will Do What You Contractually Need: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Annuities Will Do What You Contractually Need: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Today's topic is a very good one and one that I want to stick in the back of your head, your cerebellum, whatever that is. I want it to be what they say in the music industry, an earworm, meaning it's just stuck in there.

Don’t Buy Annuity Hypothetical Annuity Returns: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Don’t Buy Annuity Hypothetical Annuity Returns: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Today's topic is a good one that will inform the masses and upset some people trying to sell annuities, and it's titled 'Do Not Buy Annuity Hypothetical Returns.'

Terry Savage: The Savage Truth For Your Money in 2024

Terry Savage: The Savage Truth For Your Money in 2024

There is one annuity that you might have that will keep up with inflation and it’s called Social Security.

Lifetime Income Annuity: Single Or Joint Life

Lifetime Income Annuity: Single Or Joint Life

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The Truth About Hybrid Annuities

The Truth About Hybrid Annuities

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Every American Already Owns an Annuity

Every American Already Owns an Annuity

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Unlocking Annuity Guarantees for a Worry-Free Retirement

Unlocking Annuity Guarantees for a Worry-Free Retirement

Today's topic is unlocking annuity guarantees for a worry-free retirement. We all want a worry-free retirement. In my opinion, the way to get a worry-free retirement is to have a lifetime income and enough money to live on without worry. That's what annuities can do for you.

How The Economy Affects Annuity Rates

How The Economy Affects Annuity Rates

The question is, how does the economy affect annuity rates? That's a basic question with a very detailed answer because annuities are not all the same. I know that "I hate all annuities" ads are out there.

Belt & Suspenders Annuity Strategies: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Belt & Suspenders Annuity Strategies: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

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Lock and Load Annuity Income Guarantees

Lock and Load Annuity Income Guarantees

Today's topic is lock and load for income guarantees because when you buy an annuity, you're buying a contract and locking in that guarantee. You're loading it for the future, so you're locking and loading that contractual guarantee. I want you to think about that.

Swallow the Seminar Food, Not the Annuity Pitch: Shootin’ It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Swallow the Seminar Food, Not the Annuity Pitch: Shootin’ It Straight With Stan

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Chuck Jaffe: Top Money & Life Topics for 2024

Chuck Jaffe: Top Money & Life Topics for 2024

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How Annuities Address Social Security and Inflation

How Annuities Address Social Security and Inflation

Hi there, Stan The Annuity Man, America's annuity agent licensed in all 50 states, talking about one word and one word only today. Inflation! Inflation Stan The Annuity Man, let's talk about inflation! Let's talk about how annuities and Social Security can address inflation.

Increase Your Annuity Income Floor as You Age: Shootin’ It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Increase Your Annuity Income Floor as You Age: Shootin’ It Straight With Stan

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Left Wing, Right Wing...Need Both to Fly

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Stan The Annuity Man: The Annuity Man Predictions for 2024

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Best Pension Annuity Deals

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What Is a Deferred Income Annuity?

What Is a Deferred Income Annuity?

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Retirement Income Strategies: How Annuities Fit

Retirement Income Strategies: How Annuities Fit

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Tom Hegna: Don't Worry, Retire Happy! (TAM Classic)

Tom Hegna: Don't Worry, Retire Happy! (TAM Classic)

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Does an Annuity Count as Income?

Does an Annuity Count as Income?

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Independent Retirement Annuity: Your Pension Plan

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Financial Advice for Seniors About Annuities

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Moshe Milevsky: Learning from History with Annuities

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What Is a Pension Annuity and How Does It Work?

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Why People HATE Stan The Annuity Man

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Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

The Older You Are, the Higher the Annuity Payment: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

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Life With Installment Refund Annuity Option

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401(k) Annuity: How Does It Work?

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What Percentage of Your Portfolio Should Be in Annuities?

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Annuity Contractual Guarantees Are NOT Complicated: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Annuity Contractual Guarantees Are NOT Complicated: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

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5 Dumbest Annuity Questions According to The Annuity Man Part 2

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Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Date the Annuity Rate…Marry Lifetime Income: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

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John Lenz: The State of The Annuity Union

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Long-Term Care Annuity: How Do LTC Riders Work?

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Annuity Inside a Roth IRA

Annuity Inside a Roth IRA

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Why Do Financial Advisors Hate Annuities?

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Annuity Beneficiary

Annuity Beneficiary

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All Annuities Are…: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

All Annuities Are…: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

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Jack Lenenberg: Long Term Care & Rising Interest Rates

A standalone, traditional long-term care insurance works just like health, auto, or homeowner insurance. You own a policy, and if you need long-term care, the company will pay the benefits, and you will stop paying premiums.

Long-Term Care Annuity Pros and Cons

Long-Term Care Annuity Pros and Cons

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How To Set Up Your Own Pension

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Is It a Good Time to Buy an Annuity?: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Is It a Good Time to Buy an Annuity?: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Today's topic is a good one and a question that I always get, so let's address that now. Is it a good time to buy an annuity? Now, that's a loaded sales question. Most salespeople are an automatic yes, "Yes, it's a great time to buy an annuity. My annuity, the one I like." But it's bigger than that.

Guaranteed Lifetime Income Products

Guaranteed Lifetime Income Products

Hi, I'm Stan The Annuity Man, America's annuity agent. You own an annuity for what it will do, not what it might do. You own it for the contractual guarantees only. Never buy an annuity for the hypothetical, theoretical, back tested, projected, agent hopeful return scenarios, meaning juice numbers, because that never happens.

Ventilator Annuity Lifetime Income: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Ventilator Annuity Lifetime Income: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Welcome to Shooting it Straight with Stan. I am your host Stan The Annuity Man, America's annuity agent, licensed in all 50 states. Today's topic is a good one. It's the reason you clicked because you read it and you went what? Ventilator annuity lifetime income.

Stan The Annuity Man: The Only Thing Complex About Annuities Are the Sales Pitches

Stan The Annuity Man: The Only Thing Complex About Annuities Are the Sales Pitches

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Can You Buy an Annuity Inside an IRA?

Can You Buy an Annuity Inside an IRA?

Today, we will discuss whether you can buy an annuity inside your IRA. Many people are out there who, when they hear that, just go crazy and say, "You should never buy an annuity inside of an IRA." That's just complete and utter garbage. And you can take this blog and shoot it to your financial advisor if they're the ones who said that.

Annuity in Financial Management

Annuity in Financial Management

Hi there. Stan The Annuity Man. Americas annuity agent licensed in all 50 states, talking about annuities or annuities in financial management, annuities in your financial plan, and annuities in your financial portfolio. Does it fit? Why does my master of the universe, stockbroker, wealth architect person almost do a projectile vomit when you bring up an annuity?

Are All Annuities Tax Deferred?

Are All Annuities Tax Deferred?

The question of the day is, are all annuities tax-deferred? Short answer: no. But we need more than that, right? You need more than just the no. You need to know the details of all that. So, hang in there with me, and I'm going to go through all of that in detail so you can fully understand what tax-deferred means.

Joint and Survivor Annuity

Joint and Survivor Annuity

Joint and survivor annuity, what does that mean? That means that you have a spouse you love that's put up with your crap for a long, long time, and you want to create a lifetime income stream that will pay each of you as long as you are breathing.

Bill Black: Life Insurance Facts You Need to Know Now

Bill Black: Life Insurance Facts You Need to Know Now

Bill Black is the President of W.H. Black and Company and has been in the pension administration business for over 40 years. He is also responsible for the marketing efforts of PensionSpecialist.net – a full-service pension administration company that helps advisors nationally with the sale and administration of qualified pension plans.

What Does Life Annuity With Period Certain Mean?

What Does Life Annuity With Period Certain Mean?

What are we here for? We're here to talk about Immediate Annuities, life with a period certain. What does life with a period certain mean? It sounds crazy and kind of complicated. It's really not. I'm going to explain it and dig a bit deeper.

Annuity Alternatives: How to Know Which Retirement Track Is Right for You

Annuity Alternatives: How to Know Which Retirement Track Is Right for You

How do you know which retirement track, decision, or product is right for you? What are the annuity alternatives for that? And let's stop right there. Annuities aren't for everyone. Even though every single person watching this video who's a US citizen with a Social Security number already owns the best inflation annuity on the planet called Social Security.

Start Acting Annuity Rich (Wear a Suit!): Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Start Acting Annuity Rich (Wear a Suit!): Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Today's topic is a really good one, and I want you to listen because I'm talking to most of you out there, and it's called Start Acting Annuity Rich. Now, all of you out there, "Well, Stan, I'm not rich. I'm not rich. I'm just telling you I'm not rich." I'm telling you, you are compared to the vast majority of Americans.

Long-Term Care Annuity Pros and Cons

Long-Term Care Annuity Pros and Cons

Hey, Stan The Annuity Man, America's annuity agent here with you to talk about a subject that I know you're sitting there going, "Oh, I don't even want to talk about this," but I'm glad you did. I'm glad you clicked on this blog. Today, we will talk about long-term care annuity pros and cons.

Traditional or Reverse MYGA Ladder Strategies: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Traditional or Reverse MYGA Ladder Strategies: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Welcome to Shooting it Straight with Stan. I'm your host Stan The Annuity Man, America's annuity agent licensed in all 50 states. Today's topic is 'Traditional or Reverse MYGA Ladder Strategies', so traditional laddering strategies with MYGAs or reverse MYGA strategies. I'm going to explain both.

What Is a Non-Qualified Annuity?

What Is a Non-Qualified Annuity?

What is a non-qualified annuity? It's an excellent question. When I do annuity edutainment, as you're reading right now, I'm going to break it down into English that we all understand because I'm from the South, and we speak very plain English here even though we talk with a little twang. Nothing wrong with that.

Why Do Some People Hate Annuities?

Why Do Some People Hate Annuities?

Man, am I glad you clicked that button to read this because you're trying to figure out why people are always saying they hate annuities? Why do some people hate annuities? Annuities are the financial curse word. That's for sure.

Stan The Annuity Man: The Psychology of Buying Annuities

Stan The Annuity Man: The Psychology of Buying Annuities

The biggest psychological hurdle to buying an annuity is the fear of missing out. You need to overcome the fear of missing out on market returns and replace it with the fear of missing out on your chapter two, where you should live the life you have earned.

What Are Annuities Commonly Used For?

What Are Annuities Commonly Used For?

So, you're doing annuity research? That's pretty cool. I mean, you must be leaning in to see, "Hey, does this make sense for me?" The question is, "What are annuities commonly used for?" People try to use them for many things, but they buy most annuity types primarily for their unique benefit proposition.

Who-Should-NOT-Buy-an-Annuity?

Who Should NOT Buy an Annuity?

Today's topic is a beauty. I can't wait to do this one. Who Should NOT Buy an Annuity? Think about that. Stan The Annuity Man, America's annuity agent. I sell more annuities than anyone on the planet, and I'm going to tell you who shouldn't buy an annuity. And you're going, "What? An agent not trying to make a commission?"

Single-Premium-Immediate-Annuity-Definition

Single Premium Immediate Annuity Definition

We're going to cover a lot today. We'll cover what a Single Premium Immediate Annuity is, what it solves for, the brief history of Immediate Annuities, and the limitations and benefits because we have to cover them. After all, all annuities have them. Then we're going to talk about where it fits and how do you quote it. Once again, hang in there because I'll give away the book for free at the end of the blog.

Annuity-Income-Increases-for-Inflation:-Shootin'-It-Straight-With-Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Annuity Income Increases for Inflation: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Welcome to Shooting it Straight with Stan. I'm your host Stan The Annuity Man, America's Annuity Agent licensed in all 50 states. Today's topic is a hot one. It got your attention, and you want to hope and believe it's true, and the topic is Annuity Income Increases for Inflation. Does that exist, Stan The Annuity Man?

Kerry-Pechter:-Annuities-For-Dummies-with-Kerry-Pechter

Kerry Pechter: Annuities For Dummies

Annuities are a bunch of products that have as much that are unalike as they are alike. Each one is a tool for particular kinds of people in particular kinds of life for different kinds of risk management.

Can You Change the Beneficiary on an Annuity?

Can You Change the Beneficiary on an Annuity?

The question you're asking today, which is a good one, is can you change the beneficiaries of an annuity? I'm going to cover all types, but the short answer, which is what you want, is yes, you can. You can change the beneficiaries on the annuity. If your kid pisses you off, sorry for my French, you can take them off that annuity as a beneficiary.

Do You Need to Be Sold or Told?: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Do You Need to Be Sold or Told?: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Today's topic is, Do You Need to Be Sold or Told? One of the funny things about the annuity industry is that you'll hear people who think they're smart and the verbal jump ropers. A verbal jump roper is a person that any topic you bring up to them, they're the expert on. They just get in the jumper. They just start jumping in.

Are Annuities a Rip-Off?

Are Annuities a Rip-Off?

Boy, you must be angry. You pulled this one up. Are annuities a rip-off? "Come on, Stan, tell me the truth. Are annuities a rip-off? Are they ripping me off?" No, annuities are contracts. The rip-off comes on the sales pitch part, which we'll discuss, but annuities are not a rip-off. Annuities are transfer of risk contracts, period.

Retirement Withdrawal Strategies: MYGA

Retirement Withdrawal Strategies: MYGA

Today's topic is retirement withdrawal strategies. We're talking about MYGAs, Multi-Year Guarantee Annuities. We will go through how you can use MYGAs for your retirement withdrawal strategies. That's kind of hard to say. Retirement withdrawal strategies. How about that?

Automate Your Income: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Shootin’ It Straight with Stan®

Automate Your Income: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Today's topic is from a friend of mine, Michael Finke, smart guy in the room, the Mount Rushmore of smart guys. His face is on Mount Rushmore, Mount Annuitymore, Michael Finke. He's been on the podcast with me before, Fun With Annuities podcast. He is an intellect. He is a person that when he speaks in the annuity industry, as the old Paine Webber ad said, people listen.

Adam Van Wie: Fee-Only Planning Done Right

Adam Van Wie: Fee-Only Planning Done Right

The difference between “Fee-Only” and “Fee-Based” financial planning is like night and day or apples and oranges. With your non-annuity assets, you need to ensure you are using “Fee-Only” because that advisor’s interests align with yours. That’s the pure definition of what a fiduciary should be.

Understanding the Benefits of Annuities for Your Future

Understanding the Benefits of Annuities for Your Future

Hi there. Stan The Annuity Man, America’s Annuity Agent licensed in all 50 states. Today’s topic is understanding the benefits of annuities for your future. I will probably throw in some negative stuff as well because there’s no perfect product out there, but annuities do provide what you need in retirement. You need to put it in the back of your head that annuities might be a solution for you, whether you’re in retirement already or going in that direction.

Is Social Security an Annuity?

Is Social Security an Annuity?

Hey, Stan The Annuity Man, America's annuity agent. Yes, I am licensed in all 50 states, and that means I'm licensed in your state. So, the question of the day is, Social Security, those payments you love or getting ready to love if they're coming down the road, is that an annuity? Short answer, yes. The long answer, which I'm getting ready to go into, will be very intense, informative, and you're going to walk away going, "Do I really hate all annuities? Do I? No, I can't because I love my Social Security."

Best Way to Use an Annuity at Retirement

Best Way to Use an Annuity at Retirement

I'm Stan, The Annuity Man, America's annuity agent. Have you ever asked yourself, "Do I even need an annuity?" That's a great question. You might or you might not, but I'm going to cover today what's the best type of annuity for retirement. Let's get to that question and find out if an annuity fits your specific situation or not.

Larry Kotlikoff: "Maxifi" Your Retirement Planning

Larry Kotlikoff: "Maxifi" Your Retirement Planning

Larry Kotlikoff is one of the most fascinating guests I’ve ever had on my Fun With Annuities podcast. Because I’m a perpetual marketer and brander, I was astonished by the value of the software products that Larry has developed and offers to both consumers and financial advisors.

Stan The Annuity Man: Simple Explanations of Every Annuity Type

Stan The Annuity Man: Simple Explanations of Every Annuity Type

There’s a lot of annuity products out there. Not all of them are great. Not all of them are perfect, but all of them are contractual. So you have to look at the contractual guarantees of the policy. I always tell people don’t buy the dream, because you’re gonna own the contractual reality.

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Branislav Nikolic: Looking Forward With Fixed Index Annuities

I have always said that the annuity industry has earned a bad reputation, and it continues to create an unneeded black mark with how many current Indexed Annuity products are sold. For the record, I am a huge fan of the Indexed Annuity strategy. It was created in 1995 to offer potential "better than CD" returns while offering full principal protection. FIAs (Fixed Index Annuities) are not market return products but are pushed that way by too many agents showing overblown and misleading back-tested return scenarios to convince retirees to buy.

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Owen Schrum: Game Planning for Your Retirement

As you may know, my parents were college basketball coaches at one time. My sister won 3 state championships as a great player in high school, and I played Division 1 college basketball as well and set shooting accuracy records that will never be broken. Growing up, there were always discussions around game plans and how to beat the upcoming opponent or team.

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Marty Parlato: Factually Ranting on Investing Now

Martin “Marty” Parlato is a star. He is controversial. He is smart. And he seems to be always right about the markets. As a warning, he is not politically correct or woke. This is not a soft-landing spot or a warm-fuzzy-feeling podcast guest. This is how you would like politicians and market pundits to talk. Brutal. Factual. Not mincing words. The only proof that the world is not fair is that Jim Cramer is the lead mouthpiece for CNBC, not Marty Parlato. He’s that good.