The Retirement Income Rule You Can’t Ignore: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
Release Date: 09/17/2025
Warren Buffett’s 2 Rules for Annuities: Shootin’ It Straight With Stan
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Prioritizing safety and guarantees Selling only contractual commitments Using PILL to guide purpose Key Takeaways: Annuities should focus on protecting principal and providing a reliable income. Strong insurance carrier backing ensures certainty and reduces risk. Avoiding speculative products maintains financial security for clients. Only offer annuities with contractual guarantees, not hypothetical promises. Market-based growth claims are often unrealistic and misleading. Contractual commitments provide clarity and...
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Moshe Milevsky: Learning from History with Annuities (From the Vault)
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In case you missed it, I have decided to circle back to one of my Fun With Annuities episodes that just cannot be missed. This one has annuity gold, and it is definitely a must-listen. In this episode, The Annuity Man and Moshe Milevsky discuss: The problem with annuities What’s a tontine? How income increases with tontines The gap between healthspan and lifespan Key Takeaways: The point of annuities is to generate a predictable income even when you can no longer make decisions yourself due to cognitive decline. That’s why...
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Comparing Myga Interest Rates to Spia Rates: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Distinguishing annuity types Applying the PILL strategy Interpreting annuity yields Securing contractual understanding Key Takeaways: Understanding the purpose of different annuities is crucial: MYGAs provide guaranteed interest on principal like a CD, while SPIAs deliver a lifetime income stream tailored to longevity. Each serves a distinct financial goal. The "PILL" framework—Principal protection, Income for life, Legacy, Long-term care—helps determine whether an annuity aligns with your needs and long-term...
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Annuity Zero Is Not Your Hero: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: What does “zero is your hero” mean Dirty tactics that agents use to sell annuities A more rational alternative to the CD product Zero is not your hero Key Takeaways: The phrase “zero is your hero” means that when the market goes down, you will not lose any money. In this world that we live in, you should always be getting some interest on your money. Be wary of these two dirty tactics agents use to sell annuities: back-tested numbers and upfront bonuses. Don’t base your decision on...
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Rick Ferri: Core-4 Portfolios for Simplistic Success (From the Vault)
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man and Rick Ferri discuss: Outperforming 90% of investors Developing a simple portfolio Five ways to improve your portfolio Facing the risks Key Takeaways: Investing is not as difficult as others would have you believe. The best way to invest is to keep things simple; the fewer moving parts, the better. Develop a simple portfolio that will hold four funds, two stock funds and two bond funds. The bond funds have to be some fixed income type of allocation, while on the stock side, you do a stock market index fund...
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Political Chaos Equals Contractual Opportunities: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: How chaos leads to both risks and opportunities What contributes to financial uncertainty? Maximizing lifestyle and financial security Locking in guarantees Key Takeaways: Political chaos leads to both risks and opportunities in investments, especially regarding annuities. Market volatility and potential government actions (like new cryptocurrency regulation) create financial uncertainty. Evaluate your age, health, and risk to maximize lifestyle and financial security. Locking in contractual guarantees such...
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Crypto Dice Throw or Annuity Guarantees: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Choosing guarantees over speculation Knowing your “PILL” for protection Building your income floor Balancing risk with security Key Takeaways: Crypto investments are like rolling dice, while annuities provide contractual guarantees and predictable results. Building financial security means focusing on what you can count on, not what you can guess. The four reasons for owning an annuity are Principal Protection, Income for Life, Legacy, and Long-Term Care. These act as anchors for stability when market uncertainty...
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Wade Pfau: Retirement Income Style Awareness (From the Vault)
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man and Wade Pfau discuss: Retirement Income Style Awareness (RISA) framework Wade’s different viewpoint on retirement 4% rule of thumb and its limitations The truth about retirement planning strategies Key Takeaways: Understanding one's preferred retirement income strategy via the Retirement Income Style Awareness (RISA) framework. It assesses different retirement strategies that align with the retiree’s needs and goals, such as total return investing, time segmentation or bucketing, and essential versus discretionary expenses. Go...
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Market Freestyle or Annuity Lifestyle: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Building stability through guaranteed income Balancing growth with protection Turning profits into long-term security Planning now for future calm Key Takeaways: Relying solely on volatile markets can be risky, especially with age. Creating an “income floor” through Social Security, pensions, and annuities ensures predictable income and peace of mind. The “market freestyle” approach offers growth but carries volatility. Shifting gradually toward an “annuity lifestyle” locks in income, protecting gains and...
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Do Not Throw Annuity Darts at Your Death: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Planning spousal income with precision Avoiding risky annuity strategies Building protection through legal planning Resisting sales pressure and complexity Key Takeaways: Secure your spouse’s future by designing an intentional plan, not by guessing or rushing into annuities. Reverse engineer the exact income amount they will need, and let legal mechanisms trigger it at the right time. Precision brings peace of mind. Never buy annuities based on fear of death or timing. Emotional decisions lead to...
info_outlineIn this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:
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Preserving principal
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Matching products to time horizons
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Adapting to changing rates
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Prioritizing peace of mind
Key Takeaways:
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The “never touch the principal” rule emphasizes generating retirement income from interest alone, keeping original capital intact for protection and legacy.
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CDs and treasuries are best for terms under three years, while MYGAs provide tax-deferral benefits and stronger returns for longer durations.
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High interest rates make this strategy attractive now, but if rates fall, retirees may need to pivot to options like immediate annuities for steady income.
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This approach emphasizes guaranteed returns, protection from volatility and fees, and thoughtful planning, including reviewing MYGA rates, evaluating assets, and considering a spouse’s needs.
"Never touch the principal. Those are the four words I want you to focus on." — Stan The Annuity Man
Connect with The Annuity Man:
Website: http://theannuityman.com/
Email: Stan@TheAnnuityMan.com
Book: Owner’s Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g
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