Tom Hegna: Talking The Annuity Talk & Walking The Annuity Walk

About Fun With Annuities Episode #122

National speaking superstar and retirement guru, Tom Hegna, joined me on Fun With Annuities again to discuss all things annuity and how the current market and rate environment are influencing annuities.  As usual, Tom was motivational, educational, and entertaining.  I only know of one other person that can pull that off in the annuity world, and he wears a baseball hat!....and is 6’6” tall.  Wonder who that is?

Because Tom is a scratch golfer, I thought his statement that “there are no mulligans in retirement” was a factual drive down the middle of the baby boomer fairway.  He’s so right about this.  In the Chapter 2 portion of your life, it’s not about chasing markets or growth.  It’s all about your lifestyle and living the life you have worked hard to achieve and enjoy.

Tom & I also dug in on the sensitive issue of cognitive decline and that most of us will have to deal with this if we live long enough.  The contractually guaranteed aspect of annuities is the perfect “set it and forget it” strategy for people in retirement.  Tom drinks the annuity Kool-Aid because he has over ten annuities that provide a guaranteed lifetime income stream for him and his wife.  All he has to worry about is his almost perfect golf swing!

Tom Hegna not only talks the annuity talk but also walks the annuity walk.

I had to get Tom’s take on the current crypto meltdown and if he ever saw annuities adopting this new form of currency.  I thought his answer, along with his take on hedge funds and private equity entering the annuity space, was fascinating.  As he pointed out, “smart money” wants to be a part of the demographic tidal wave of 10,000+ baby boomers looking for contractual guarantees.  He is absolutely right.  That’s the pure definition of what’s called in the business “money in motion.”

My podcast listeners always ask when Tom Hegna will be on again because he is such a breath of fresh factual air.  He’s won of my favorite celebrity guests as well.  Enjoy!

"Retirement is about income; it’s not about assets. As a minimum in retirement, you should cover your basic living expenses with guaranteed lifetime income… " —  Tom Hegna.

Brief Bio on Co-host: Tom Hegna

Tom Hegna CLU, CHFC, CASL is an economist, author, and retirement expert. He has been an incredibly popular industry speaker for many years and is considered by many to be THE Retirement Income Expert!

As a former First Vice President at New York Life, retired Lieutenant Colonel, and economist, Tom has delivered over 5,000 seminars on his signature "Paychecks and Playchecks" retirement approach, helping Baby Boomers and seniors retire the "optimal" way. He has condensed a large chunk of his considerable knowledge into five books. (Source: tomhegna.com)

In this episode, The Annuity Man® and Tom Hegna discuss:

• There are no second chances in retirement
• Why the bond market is down right now
• Annuities should be bought and not sold
• Investing wisely into cryptocurrency

Key Takeaways:

• When it comes to retirement, there’s no dress rehearsal; there are no second chances. We need to get it right the first time. That’s why you must have at least your basic living expenses covered with a guaranteed lifetime.</li >
• Inflation is at 9%, yet we got a 30-year bond under 3%. That could mean that the bond market, the smartest market in the world, sees something really bad on the horizon.
• People don’t think about what would happen if they died or if the market stays down; somebody needs to stimulate them. However, it remains true that annuities should be bought and not sold.
• Put only 1% of your portfolio into cryptocurrency. It won’t hurt a bit if it goes to zero, it won’t hurt a bit, but if it gets huge, it’ll help a lot.

Fun With Annuities Podcast® is hosted by America’s Annuity Agent®, Stan The Annuity Man®, and a Celebrity Co-Host. Hear facts with no sales pitches from the top independent agent in the country, licensed in all 50 states. Stan and his guests dive deep into topics such as annuities, finance, retirement, and so much more. It’s fun learning the facts and seeing if they’ll fit your personal retirement lifestyle. Thanks for being here!

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