Traditional or Reverse MYGA Ladder Strategies: Shootin' It Straight With Stan (TAM Classic)
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
Release Date: 04/16/2025
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Focusing on contractual guarantees Avoiding “dart throw” annuity products Clarifying the purpose of the annuity Recognizing the value of timing and simplicity Key Takeaways: Evaluate annuities strictly as contracts based on guaranteed terms, not projections or marketing illustrations. The goal is to buy an annuity for what it will do contractually, rather than what it might do in hypothetical scenarios. Be cautious of complex market-linked annuities such as variable annuities, indexed annuities, and RILAs. These...
info_outline“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Building a reliable income floor Focusing on guarantees, not projections Using annuities to transfer longevity risk Planning for growth and inflation Key Takeaways: Retirement affordability means having a guaranteed income that consistently covers essential bills every month, providing peace of mind and financial stability for life’s second chapter. Annuities should be purchased for what they are contractually guaranteed to deliver, not for hypothetical growth or market stories. The emphasis is on certainty and...
info_outline“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Understanding how annuity commissions work Avoiding misleading “no-commission” products Focusing on contractual guarantees, not hype Shopping broadly and matching products to needs Key Takeaways: Understand how annuity commissions work Annuity commissions come from the insurance company’s reserves, not the client’s premium. Your invested amount is fully at work, meaning commissions don’t reduce your initial principal. Some fee-only or fiduciary advisors label annuities as no-commission but layer ongoing...
info_outline“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Planning for a lasting legacy to protect clients and business continuity Creating a client-first culture by prioritizing guarantees over commissions Fostering radical transparency through honesty and owning mistakes Using trust and straightforward service to stand out in a commoditized market Key Takeaways: Preparing for the future keeps client trust intact even after the founder is gone. Documented processes and succession plans ensure smooth operations. Continuity strengthens reputation and confidence. Prioritize...
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In this episode, The Annuity Man discusses: Building lifetime income as the real retirement goal Securing your income floor before adding complexity Using annuities to solve income and protection problems Locking in guarantees before longevity shifts the math Key Takeaways: Retirement planning is not about account balances but about creating income you cannot outlive. “Chapter One” is for accumulation, but “Chapter Two” only works when a reliable lifetime income replaces your paycheck. Without that income foundation, lifestyle freedom in retirement is...
info_outline“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Building an income floor before chasing growth Using annuities for risk transfer, not market upside Avoiding hype and choosing guarantees that last Key Takeaways: Retirement is about securing essential expenses with contractual guarantees, not chasing hypothetical returns. The priority is creating an income floor through sources like Social Security, pensions, and properly structured annuities. Once that foundation is set, the rest of the portfolio can pursue growth without threatening stability. Annuities are...
info_outline“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Understanding what lifetime income really guarantees Separating guarantees from projections Understanding the structure before judging the product Thinking strategically about longevity timing Key Takeaways: A lifetime income annuity pays as long as you are alive, even in extreme medical situations. It transfers longevity risk from you to the insurance company. The guarantee is contractual, not conditional on health or account value. Many products are sold with optimistic growth illustrations, but projections are not...
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In this episode, The Annuity Man discusses: RMDs as a built-in income stream Building a reliable income floor for Chapter Two Stacking income sources intentionally Choosing truth over product-driven advice Key Takeaways: Required Minimum Distributions are not just tax events but forced withdrawals that create predictable income. Like Social Security, they function as an annuity whether you planned for one or not. Seeing RMDs as income rather than irritation changes how retirement planning is approached. Retirement is reframed as Chapter Two, a season focused on...
info_outline“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Anticipating AI-driven longevity shifts Understanding how annuities are truly priced Locking in today’s assumptions before they change Choosing guarantees and carriers with intention Key Takeaways: Advances in artificial intelligence are expected to significantly extend life expectancy, especially through medical breakthroughs. Longer projected lifespans will materially affect how lifetime income products are priced in the future. Lifetime income annuities are driven primarily by life expectancy tables, not just...
info_outline“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Understanding MYGAs as CD alternatives Using tax deferral to improve long-term growth Extending deferral through strategic rollovers Evaluating liquidity and fit Key Takeaways: A Multi-Year Guarantee Annuity functions like a CD with a fixed rate and a defined term. It offers principal protection, no market exposure, and predictable growth. Terms typically range from one to ten years, depending on the carrier. Unlike CDs in non-qualified accounts, MYGA interest is not taxed annually. Taxes are deferred until...
info_outlineIn this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:
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Traditional laddering with MYGAs
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What is “reversing”?
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Traditional laddering and reversing
Key Takeaways:
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You do a traditional 3-year, 4-year. 5-year ladder if you are hoping that rates will go higher. It’s a strategy you use when you want to have money as the rates are rising so that you can attach yourself and lock yourself in with those higher rates.
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Reversing is the opposite of laddering; you lock in the MYGA for 10, 9, 7, or 10, 7, or 5 years because the rates are falling. This is also a great strategy to use with MYGAs since MYGAs are not callable, the rates are locked in.
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If you are undecided whether you should ladder or reverse, you can put half your money in one and half in the other to get a more balanced outcome. What’s important is that you should have some of your money be not callable.
"A lot of times when Powell raises interest rates, the annuity industry yawns. You can't time it; there’s no sweet spot. There's no arbitrage moment." — Stan The Annuity Man.
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