“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
Fun With Annuities® Podcast is hosted by America’s Annuity Agent, Stan 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.
info_outline
Keep Your Powder Dry Annuity Income Planning: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
04/24/2024
Keep Your Powder Dry Annuity Income Planning: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: The value of annuities for lifetime income planning Laddering strategy with annuities Placing an annuity inside a trust Key Takeaways: When it comes to planning for lifetime income, annuities can be a valuable tool. However, it's essential to approach annuities with strategies that allow for flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. By purchasing multiple annuities with different start dates, you can create a steady stream of income that aligns with your needs over time. This approach, called laddering, allows you to adjust your income as your requirements change, providing a level of flexibility that a single annuity may not offer. By placing an annuity inside a trust, you can maintain control over the asset while still benefiting from the lifetime income it provides. This strategy can be particularly useful for those who want to ensure their assets are managed according to their wishes, even if they become incapacitated. "It's a keep your powder dry strategy, meaning that you can go into this with a plan in place for future income needs in the future. You know exactly to the penny what that's going to be. But if something changes between now and then, you can get all your money back because the underlying value walk away money is with that Indexed Annuity, which is a Fixed Annuity." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30905863
info_outline
Gary Baker: The Growth of Group and Fee-Based Annuities
04/23/2024
Gary Baker: The Growth of Group and Fee-Based Annuities
In this episode, The Annuity Man and Gary Baker discuss: The Secure Act's role in making annuities more accessible within 401(k) plans Lifetime guaranteed income options within 401(k) target date funds The widespread inclusion of lifetime income options How annuities can alleviate pressure on Social Security Key Takeaways: The retirement landscape is evolving, and with the introduction of the Secure Act, annuities are becoming more accessible to a broader market through 401k plans. Employers can now offer annuities as an investment option, providing employees with the opportunity to secure guaranteed lifetime income. There are a lot of various options for integrating annuities into target date funds, including Variable, Indexed, and Fixed Annuities with income benefits. However, the adoption rate of these options remains low due to implementation challenges for small employers and the need for more education and support. Fee-based advisors are also starting to incorporate annuities into their portfolios, recognizing the demographic tidal wave of retirees seeking guarantees. Advancements in technology have made annuities more manageable within their existing practices, allowing them to better serve their clients' needs. As the demand for lifetime income options continues to grow, options too will become more commonplace in defined contribution plans within the next decade. This shift will positively impact the country and alleviate pressure on Social Security. "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." — Gary Baker Connect with Gary Baker: Website: Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30853033
info_outline
There’s NO Annuity Sweet Spot to Purchase: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
04/17/2024
There’s NO Annuity Sweet Spot to Purchase: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Annuities are contracts The perfect time to buy an annuity You can’t time contracts Key Takeaways: There is no "sweet spot" to purchase annuities, as all types have contractual guarantees that should be analyzed. Remember that annuities are contracts, not investments. The perfect time to buy an annuity is when the contractual guarantees make sense to you and when they fit that gap for principal protection, income for life, legacy, and long-term care. Nobody knows where interest rates are going to go and that is especially true with annuities since the pricing mechanism is primarily based on life expectancy.. Annuities are contracts, you can’t time contracts. You buy contracts for the guarantees. "Nobody knows when the bell is gonna ring at the top or the bottom. Nobody can time it, especially with annuities." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30801998
info_outline
Transfer Your Risk to Annuity Contractual Guarantees: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
04/10/2024
Transfer Your Risk to Annuity Contractual Guarantees: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: What annuities solve for Transfer of risk The three phases of retirement Key Takeaways: Annuities solve for PILL: Principal protection, Income for life, Legacy, and Long-term care. There’s no G for growth, or R for Returns. If you want growth and returns, do not buy an annuity of any type. Annuities are bought for transferring risk. When you buy an annuity contract for lifetime income, the company will be on the hook to pay as long as you’re breathing. There are three phases of retirement: go-go, slow-go, and no-go. If you get to slow-go and no-go, you're going to need a long-term care confinement care type of transfer risk cover. "If you're not going into the annuity contract to transfer risk. Don't buy it." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30628858
info_outline
Jamie Hopkins: Retirement Planning And The Why That Makes You Cry (TAM Classic)
04/09/2024
Jamie Hopkins: Retirement Planning And The Why That Makes You Cry (TAM Classic)
In this episode, The Annuity Man and Jamie Hopkins discuss: ROS - Return on Sleep From an accumulation to a decumulation mindset Living your retirement meaningfully Changing your relationship with money Key Takeaways: People often don’t care about optimal, people care about being happy. Giving people a good retirement experience, a Return On Sleep, is better than giving optimal results. Point your focus towards what you’re planning to work towards or what you want to acquire - accumulating money isn’t going to do you any good if you don’t convert it into anything that will make your retirement a joyful experience. If you go into retirement and end up not having any passion for anything or not having anything you care about, you’re not gonna have a great retirement - whatever it might be, find that piece that will make your retirement meaningful for you. That’s true wealth. Think about rewiring your preconceptions around money and wealth - it takes more than planning, it takes coaching and being aware of the misconceptions that you hold. "Would you give up all your money if it means that you’ll be happy for the rest of your life? Most people would say yes - that’s what we’re aiming for. Dollars are a means to an end." — Jamie Hopkins Connect with Jamie Hopkins: Website: LinkedIn: Twitter: Book: Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30628718
info_outline
You Already Own At Least 2 Annuities: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
04/03/2024
You Already Own At Least 2 Annuities: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: The best inflation annuity on the planet. The second annuity you already own RMDs are an annuity payment Key Takeaways: Annuities that adjust for inflation offered by the private sector have their initial payments drastically lowered to make up for the index increase. You don’t need to get that because you already own the best inflation annuity on the planet: Social Security. The second annuity you might already own is attached to your Individual Retirement Account. A 401k, 403b, or 457 are tax-deferred types that you’re eventually going to roll into an individual IRA. Your Required Minimum Distribution is also an annuity. It creates an annual lifetime income stream. As long as you have IRA assets, you’re going to have to take RMDs. "You definitely own one [annuity], you most likely own two and you could own three - so what does that mean to you? That income floor takes you through chapter two of your life." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30536183
info_outline
Get Your Annuity Income Ducks in a Row: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
03/27/2024
Get Your Annuity Income Ducks in a Row: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: What retirement is all about The ducks that you may already have Annuity income ducks Key Takeaways: Retirement, or chapter two of your life, is the time that you need money hitting the bank account so that you can go live your life. This chapter is going to be all about you, about your lifestyle, and about reclaiming your health. The first income duck you have is the best inflation annuity on the planet: Social Security. If you have a pension from a company or the government, that’s another income duck as well. Legacy stocks and triple-A municipal bonds that pay tax-free income are also income ducks. Immediate Income Annuities, Deferred Income Annuities, and Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts are all lifetime income products. Multi-Year Guarantee Annuities where you can just peel off interest and not touch the principal are also annuity income ducks. "The mother duck is Social Security. Pension payments, annuity type payments, bond payments, CD payments, Multi-Year Guarantee Annuity interest payments, those types of things are the ducks behind them." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30464718
info_outline
Marcia Mantell: Cookin' Up Your Retirement Plan
03/26/2024
Marcia Mantell: Cookin' Up Your Retirement Plan
In this episode, The Annuity Man and Marcia Mantell discuss: The value of simplicity in understanding financial concepts Getting ready for the emotional aspect of retirement The key to financial success in retirement The importance of creating an estate plan Key Takeaways: If you can’t explain a concept or product simply to somebody who doesn’t live in your industry, then you don’t understand that concept or product enough. You are going to retire someday, you have to be ready for not only the financial aspect but also the emotional aspect of retirement. This includes the loss of structure and social interactions. You will need to take the lead in creating new routines, new structures, and connections in chapter two of your life. The key to financial success in retirement is knowing how much you spend. The terms “essential expenses” and “discretionary expenses” simply mean “how much you have to spend” and “how much you want to spend.” Focus on having a good estimate of how much you spend each year and start there. Everyone who’s still living needs to create an estate plan. Make your own funeral plans and decisions. Leave your children or family with an inheritance and a legacy rather than with financial and emotional burdens. "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 frickin much you spend." — Marcia Mantell Connect with Marcia Mantell: Website: LinkedIn: Twitter: Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30495213
info_outline
Your Retirement Plan Is Not an Annuity Game: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
03/20/2024
Your Retirement Plan Is Not an Annuity Game: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: The standard of a fiduciary Your retirement is not a game Annuities as guarantees and as commodities Key Takeaways: Be wary of people in the annuity industry who sell one product to every type of person. In most cases, the product they’re selling is the highest commission product. The annuity you buy has to be aligned with the goal you want to set for chapter two of your life. Some advisors look at annuities like it’s a game, thinking only about making the most amount of money by selling the most amount of policies that they can to anybody they meet. Meanwhile, you’ve worked your whole life to get to your chapter two. Your retirement is not a game. Annuity policies are contracts so you should shop all carriers for contractual guarantees only. When you do that, you completely turn the products into commodities, which means we can shop all carriers for the highest contractual guarantee for your specific situation. "You have to fully understand that this is not a game. Annuity policies are contracts… shop all carriers for the highest contractual guarantee for your specific situation." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30358828
info_outline
Annuity Decisions Should Be Simple & Contractual: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
03/13/2024
Annuity Decisions Should Be Simple & Contractual: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Buying contractual guarantees Keeping it simple with annuities Annuities that adjust for inflation Key Takeaways: Buy annuities only for their contractual guarantees. Don’t buy an annuity for hypothetical, theoretical, back-tested returns. Don’t buy an annuity for the upfront bonus. Buy an annuity for what it will do, not what it might do. Annuities are supposed to be simple. You should understand your annuity contract enough to be able to explain it to a nine-year-old. Annuity companies don't give away Cost of Living Adjustments or potential index increases, and instead severely lower the initial payment compared to the same annuity without those potential increases. "Annuity decisions should be simple and contractual, they have to be both. They can’t be one or the other." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30323323
info_outline
Andy Panko: Financial Planning Demystified and Unemotional (TAM Classic)
03/12/2024
Andy Panko: Financial Planning Demystified and Unemotional (TAM Classic)
In this episode, The Annuity Man and Andy Panko discuss: How advisors should construct their fees The complexity of decumulation Making the plan as good as it can be Cryptocurrency is a lottery ticket Key Takeaways: The work isn’t linear to the asset size; advisors shouldn’t make more money just because assets go up. In the same way, advisors shouldn’t be paid less just because the markets go down. They’re still doing the same amount of work and providing the same services. Investment management, even good investment management, has become increasingly cheap, easy, and commoditized to do and do well. Decumulation is much more complex. Try to make the plan as good as it can be initially, accounting for unpredictable events. So try to structure your plan as best as possible to account for times of distress. Get all things working cohesively - it’s not just investments, insurance, real estate - it’s everything, including guaranteed lifetime income. Cryptocurrency has zero intrinsic value. Its value is 100% on simple auction market pricing; it’s only worth as much as what someone is willing to pay for it. You can invest a small portion into it, but only if you’re comfortable that the value could go to zero. Treat it like a lottery ticket. "Most people can do accumulation well; it’s the decumulation where things get a little more tactical and complicated…" — Andy Panko. Connect with Andy Panko: Website: Facebook: YouTube: LinkedIn: Twitter: Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30148848
info_outline
Annuities Will Do What You Contractually Need: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
03/06/2024
Annuities Will Do What You Contractually Need: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Don’t buy the dream Backtested numbers are not guaranteed What an annuity is for Key Takeaways: Do not buy hypotheticals, dream sales pitches, or back-tested returns. Do not buy the annuity dream because you're going to own the contractual reality. There’s no such thing as a “guaranteed and back-tested” return. To say that it’s back-tested means that there are no guarantees. Buy an annuity for what it will do, not what it might do. If you want market returns, don’t buy an annuity of any type. Don’t buy a packaged product or anything that limits the upside. Buy an annuity only for Principal protection, Income for life, Legacy, and Long-term care. "I don't like the word hypothetical. I like the word guaranteed. You need to like the word guaranteed. You need to shun anything hypothetical. Walk away from the unicorns-chasing-the-butterfly sales pitch. You can’t lock in a hypothetical, but you can lock in a contractual guarantee." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30148698
info_outline
Don’t Buy Annuity Hypothetical Returns: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
02/28/2024
Don’t Buy Annuity Hypothetical Returns: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Annuities are contracts How Indexed Annuities should be used Don’t buy an annuity for market returns Key Takeaways: To say that something is “guaranteed and backtested” means that there is nothing guaranteed at all. Annuities are contracts, buy them for what they will do and not what they might do. Indexed Annuities have the potential to go down in value, but they can be used as an efficient delivery system for guaranteed lifetime income through an income rider attachment. If you want market returns, never buy an annuity. Annuity solves for four things: Principal protection, Income for life, Legacy, and Long-term care. "Do not buy the annuity dream because you're gonna own the contractual reality." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30114653
info_outline
Terry Savage: The Savage Truth For Your Money in 2024
02/27/2024
Terry Savage: The Savage Truth For Your Money in 2024
In this episode, The Annuity Man and Terry Savage discuss: 401k and annuities What does it mean to be a fiduciary? Annuities are commodity products Always have some chicken money Key Takeaways: When you are in the accumulation phase, there should be no limitations at all on the upside. You’re better off focusing on accumulation during the 401k time period and then at the end pivoting to an immediate annuity for a lifetime income stream. Being a fiduciary means more than just having a plaque on the wall. Anyone in the financial business should be putting their client's best interests ahead of themselves every single time. People need to realize annuities are commodity products. Not one company is better than the other. Not one product is better than the other. These quotes change like a gallon of milk every seven to 10 days so you have to quote for the highest contractual guarantee. Everybody should have some chicken money. The top four chickens are treasuries, CDs, money market, and MYGAs which are the annuity industry’s version of a CD. These are all for principal protection, no annual fee, guaranteed interest rates for your chicken money. "There is one annuity that you might have that will keep up with inflation and it’s called Social Security." — Terry Savage Connect with Terry Savage: Website: YouTube: LinkedIn: Twitter: Facebook: New Book Link: Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/30114673
info_outline
Annuities Can Have Flexible Income Start Dates: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
02/21/2024
Annuities Can Have Flexible Income Start Dates: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: The four lifetime income products How annuities are priced The simplicity of SPIA Getting the highest guarantee Key Takeaways: There are four lifetime income products: Single Premium Immediate Annuities, Deferred Income Annuities, Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts, and Income Riders that can be attached to Variable Annuities and Indexed Annuities. Annuities are priced primarily on your life expectancy at the time you start the payment. Interest rates play a secondary role. Deferred Income Annuities are in essence just a Single Premium Immediate Annuity that is deferred past a year. A SPIA has no moving parts, no market attachments, and no annual fees. It is a straight transfer of risk. The highest possible payments you can have from an annuity are from a life-only annuity. This is the annuity for people who don’t want to give to any beneficiaries. Companies often issue these without the option to change the start date, but you can change the start date if the contract has a cash refund or period certain attached to it. "That income for life transfer risk strategy with annuities, typically four primary types SPIAS, DIAS, QLACs, and Income Riders. We can structure it so that you have the ability to pivot and change that income start date." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29972433
info_outline
Belt & Suspenders Annuity Strategies: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
02/14/2024
Belt & Suspenders Annuity Strategies: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: State guaranty funds The true safety of the industry Life insurance companies are more regulated Assigning unused money to beneficiaries Key Takeaways: If you look at the state guaranty fund, each state has a specific rule in place to protect you and your money in case something happens to the carrier. You should be buying the claims-paying ability of the life insurance company from the standpoint of safety. The true safety of the annuity industry is the industry policing itself. Life insurance companies are not smarter than banks, they’re just more regulated. The company is handcuffed from making financially stupid decisions. You can structure an annuity so that 100% of any unused money goes to your family or beneficiaries. "You can protect yourself and your hard-earned money in a myriad of ways. You can protect it by buying very good companies, by buying underneath the state guarantee fund within your state, and by structuring the policy so that 100% of any unused money goes to your family or beneficiaries." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29841988
info_outline
Christine Benz: Avoiding Blind Spots in Your Retirement Portfolio Planning (TAM Classic)
02/13/2024
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. "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 Connect with Christine Benz: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: Twitter: Book: Morningstar’s 30 Minute Money Solutions: Book: Morningstar Guide to Mutual Funds Christine’s Article Archive: Reference: Open Social Security: Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29823408
info_outline
Exchange Your Income Rider for a SPIA: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
02/07/2024
Exchange Your Income Rider for a SPIA: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: The Income Rider and the accumulation value Two numbers you need before you transfer to SPIA Calculating a SPIA quote When you should transfer to a SPIA Key Takeaways: The Income Rider is an attachment to a policy that guarantees a lifetime income stream but it’s a separate calculation from the accumulation value. The accumulation value in simple terms is the real money. Take the accumulation value of the policy and ask the company to give you two guaranteed contractual numbers: first is the Income Rider number of what the lifetime income stream would be, and second, the annuitization number if you took that accumulation value and converted it to a SPIA. After requesting those two numbers, you can run a SPIA quote using the calculator found at this link: You must only transfer from an Income Rider to a SPIA if you will be given a higher contractually guaranteed amount. Do a comparison first before transferring. Stay with your current policy if a transfer wouldn’t provide a higher contractual guarantee. "Stay where you are and turn on the Income Rider when you need income. But there are going to be situations like what John Lenz ran into where we can beat the Income Rider using the accumulation value in a SPIA, quoting all carriers." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29750888
info_outline
Swallow the Seminar Food, NOT the Annuity Pitch: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
01/31/2024
Swallow the Seminar Food, NOT the Annuity Pitch: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Swallowing the food but not the pitch Annuities are never one-size-fits-all Focusing on contractual guarantees Key Takeaways: If you ever get invited to an annuity “seminar”, then remember to swallow the food but not the pitch. Don’t be swayed by misleading terms and enticing promises. When it comes to annuities, always focus on the contractual guarantees. When it comes to annuity companies and products, there is no “best” product and no “best” company that is applicable to everyone and all situations. Annuities are never a one-size-fits-all, you have to get the product that has the most appropriate contractual guarantees for the goal or need you are solving for. Don’t be fooled by the expensive steak or bad chicken dinner seminars that pitch hypothetical, theoretical, or backtested numbers. If you want to buy an annuity, ask yourself these two questions: “What do you want the money to contractually do” and “when do you want those contractual guarantees to start?” "If it sounds too good to be true, it is with annuities every single time without exception." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29632938
info_outline
Chuck Jaffe: Top Money & Life Topics for 2024
01/30/2024
Chuck Jaffe: Top Money & Life Topics for 2024
In this episode, The Annuity Man and Chuck Jaffe discuss: Politics and economy Looking into how inflation affects you How Indexed Annuities should be used The question for cryptocurrency Key Takeaways: Politics don’t create the economy. There are a lot more factors that go into it than just who is in power. Economic forecasts sometimes become inaccurate because there is a huge disconnect between how we feel and how we’re doing. Don’t let the news dictate what you truly feel. Try to honestly assess how inflation is affecting your life because inflation is not that bad for those who have and are much worse for people who have not. Indexed Annuities are often pitched in misleading ways but they are good products if the consumer is taught their true features and function. They can be used as a great delivery system for income rider guarantees when future income is the goal of the client and it beats the deferred income annuity quote. The biggest question we must ask about cryptocurrency is this: “What problem does it solve?” The value of cryptocurrency is determined by what the market makes of it. It doesn’t have any value yet except that. Blockchain technology is much more worthy of investment. "Keep in perspective where money is supposed to be. You didn't make it to save it. You didn't make it to be buried. The richest man in the graveyard is not the happiest man before he got there." — Chuck Jaffe Connect with Chuck Jaffe: Website: Podcast: Twitter: Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29699168
info_outline
Increase Your Annuity Income Floor as You Age: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
01/24/2024
Increase Your Annuity Income Floor as You Age: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Creating a solid income floor for retirement Considering your income Many ways to create income Key Takeaways: Going into chapter two of your life, you have to do your own thing. Stop keeping score. You’ve already won the game, you already have enough money, so why are you still playing? It’s important to have non-correlated income sources for your retirement such as pensions, rental properties, and annuities in order for you to create a solid income floor that’s not affected by market fluctuations. Factor in how much income you need in your retirement, what you want to do with your money, how you want the money to work, what kind of risks you want to shoulder, and what risks you want to transfer. Interest rates are at a point at the time of this taping where people can protect the principal and take interest off of the top. This way, you’ll create your income floor without putting your capital at risk. "If there's a gap in your floor, what are you going to do? You're not just going to leave the gap, right? If you have a gap in your income floor, you're going to fill it. You're going to fill it with as little amount of putty or fake wood as you can. With annuities, you do the same thing." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29531098
info_outline
Annuity Income: Return OF or ON Your Money?: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
01/17/2024
Annuity Income: Return OF or ON Your Money?: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Lifetime income and principal protection Return of your money Peeling of the interest to solve income needs Key Takeaways: Annuities aren’t only for lifetime income, some products just protect the principal like a MYGA or a Fixed Annuity. With lifetime income, annuity companies are on the hook to pay a return OF your principal plus interest as long as you are breathing. Will peeling off the interest, never touching the principal, and getting a return ON your money solve your income needs? MYGAs give you the option to lock in interest rates for one year up to ten years. "If you choose the return ON then all we're going to have to do at the end of the maturity of that MYGA is roll it to another MYGA and hope that rates are at a good level. If rates go down, we can always transfer that [MYGA] to an immediate annuity for lifetime income. So you can play both sides a little bit." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29514863
info_outline
Stan The Annuity Man: The Annuity Man Predictions for 2024
01/16/2024
Stan The Annuity Man: The Annuity Man Predictions for 2024
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Planning with simplicity Annuity products overview Consumer-focused future of annuities Tuning out the noise Key Takeaways: Lifetime income is priced primarily on your life expectancy and interest rates play a secondary role in pricing. Shop all carriers for the highest contractual guarantee, don’t gamble your retirement on hypothetical and theoretical numbers. Seek simplicity in planning. Indexed annuities are going to keep getting pitched, and often through misleading and hyperbolic statements, by sales agents because of the high commission. Indexed annuities aren’t bad products, they are great delivery systems for lifetime income through the attachment of an income rider. Companies must realize the importance of putting consumers first and giving them the power to make the choices that they want to make through education and other helpful resources. Annuities should be bought and not sold, agents have the responsibility to make sure the client understands their contract fully. Tune out the noise of the media and look into your life instead. Think about things that matter to you, things that make you happy, and focus on making more time for that. Eliminate the things in your life that are not adding to your joy. "If you're in chapter two of your life in retirement, I want you to maximize the day. I want you to start structuring your day for fun and for relaxation and for reflection." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29509508
info_outline
The 2 Questions That Make Annuities Simple: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
01/10/2024
The 2 Questions That Make Annuities Simple: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Annuities solve for PILL Two questions that make annuities simple Commoditizing annuities Key Takeaways: Annuities are simple; they’re a transfer of risk contract that primarily solves four things: principal protection, income for life, legacy, and long-term care. You don't need an annuity if you don’t need to solve for any of those four items. You need to answer two questions when you consider buying annuities: “What do you want the money to contractually do?” and “Where do you want those contractual guarantees to start?” When you only focus on the contractual guarantees of the contract, it commoditizes the annuity type. Then, you can shop all carriers for the highest contractual guarantee for your specific situation. "What do you want the money to contractually do, and when do you want those contractual guarantees to start? Your answers to those two questions determine the product that will provide the highest contractual guarantee for your specific situation. That's simple, isn't it?" — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29407863
info_outline
Annuities Are for Do-It-Yourselfers: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
01/03/2024
Annuities Are for Do-It-Yourselfers: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Annuities are DIY products Focus on the contractual guarantees Commoditization of annuities Key Takeaways: Annuities are do-it-yourself products that don’t need any management fees. If an agent asks for management fees, you must ask them to explain why they included that charge. You own an annuity for what it will do, not what it might do. The “will do” are the contractual guarantees of the policy. Never buy an annuity for hypothetical, theoretical, backtested, or projected return scenarios. When annuities are commoditized, you can shop for the highest contractual guarantee, which makes it perfect for DIY individuals. "All annuity types are for do-it-yourselfers. If you want lifetime income, then you answer two questions, what do you want the money to contractually do when you want those contractual guarantees to start." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29274408
info_outline
Tom Hegna: Don't Worry, Retire Happy! (TAM Classic)
01/02/2024
Tom Hegna: Don't Worry, Retire Happy! (TAM Classic)
In this episode, The Annuity Man and GUEST discuss: Saying no to DIY retirement What the right age for retirement is How annuity addresses inflation Securing guaranteed lifetime income with annuities Key Takeaways: Retirement is not a DIY project, do it with a professional. The age for retirement would not be the same for many. If you want to get the optimal age, you have to spend some time calculating all the factors that go into it. Be creative in doing something that can help your retirement. It’s okay if you have to do a side hustle or work longer. Having a huge income guaranteed allows you to make riskier and therefore more rewarding investments. When the account is drawn down to zero, the annuity company is still on the hook to pay. "They found that the happiest people in retirement were those people who were surrounded by their families and friends, and had guaranteed paychecks every single month." — Tom Hegna Check out Tom’s Books here: Connect with Tom Hegna: Website: LinkedIn: Facebook: Twitter: Pinterest: Youtube: Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29313078
info_outline
Lovingly Handcuffing Your Beneficiaries with Annuities: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
12/27/2023
Lovingly Handcuffing Your Beneficiaries with Annuities: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Protecting your beneficiary from dumb choices How Stan lovingly handcuffs his beneficiaries Handcuffing your loved ones is good for them Key Takeaways: Lovingly handcuffing your beneficiaries with annuity guarantees protects them from making dumb decisions with lump sums. Stan has written in the trust that when he dies, there will be a lifetime income annuity purchase for each of his daughters, guaranteed to pay them for the rest of their life as long as they are breathing. Your beneficiaries might not react positively to you giving them income instead of a lump sum, but handcuffing them contractually is the right thing to do and it will be good for them in the long run. "Death is not a good strategy, because you can only use it once. But wouldn't it be good to know regardless of what happens, that they're taken care of? And that lifetime income stream is going to be in place?" — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29274393
info_outline
Annuity Light Switch Income Guarantees: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
12/20/2023
Annuity Light Switch Income Guarantees: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Why would you want to stop taking in income? Three types of irrevocable income lifetime income teams Light-switch Annuity Products Key Takeaways: There’s a myriad of reasons why you would want to stop taking income, and there are annuity reasons that allow for this. One reason could be if tax laws change in the future and you want to shut down the income stream to not get taxed, or when you want the income to accumulate for your death benefit. The three types of irrevocable income lifetime income streams are Single Premium Immediate Annuity, Deferred Income Annuity, and Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts. A Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity is the annuity industry version of a CD. It allows you to take out interest while keeping the capital intact, and it’s a light-switch annuity product. Another light-switch product is an income rider attached to an indexed annuity. "There are annuities that aren't light switch annuities: SPIAs, DIAs, and QLACs - but there are annuities that are light switch for income, MYGAS, and then income riders which are lifetime income products." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29078983
info_outline
Michael Finke: Why Annuities Make Sense Right Now (TAM Classic)
12/19/2023
Michael Finke: Why Annuities Make Sense Right Now (TAM Classic)
In this episode, The Annuity Man and Michael Finke discuss: Annuities are more attractive today Protecting your future lifestyle Cutting little slices on the birthday cake There’s no perfect product to solve for inflation Key Takeaways: At the time of this episode’s taping, near-retirees can lock in 5.2% on five-year MYGAs for the next five years; however, it may go up or down. When buying an annuity, you're essentially buying yourself a minimum standard of living forever, no matter how long you live. You have to choose if you want to shoulder the risk or transfer it. Your future lifestyle is at stake. It’s not going to be easy, but you must first recognize that you’re not going to live forever. You have to decide how you could spread out your savings to accommodate your lifestyle until you die or if you want to spend more money to have less worry. If you can be more flexible, then inflation’s impact won’t be that big of a deal. Also, there’s no perfect product to solve for inflation. There are options that could help you have some stability through it, like social security and I Bonds. "If we model out 1000 different potential retirements, the ones who will have an annuity will, on average, be happier, but the ones with an investment portfolio might have a slightly higher probability of success. But there is no information about what failure means." — Michael Finke. Connect With Micheal Finke: Website: LinkedIn: Facebook: Twitter: Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29078363
info_outline
Planning Lifetime Income for Your Spouse: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
12/13/2023
Planning Lifetime Income for Your Spouse: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Annuities for your spouse and loved ones Throwing darts at death Planning for cognitive decline Filling in financial gaps Key Takeaways: Using a trust, you can set up an immediate annuity purchase to trigger when you pass away to provide lifetime income for your spouse using a designated lump sum. You can use annuities to lovingly handcuff your young beneficiaries, providing them with guaranteed income instead of a lump sum. Buying an income rider, deferring it out, and setting it up as a joint-life policy is like throwing darts at death because you don’t know when you’re going to die. Death is not a good strategy. The problem with planning for something for your spouse in case of cognitive decline is that you don’t know when you have cognitive decline, especially if you are already in cognitive decline. You can set up a plan that will fill in financial gaps that your spouse can enjoy when you pass away, and it can be set up so that your death triggers it. However, you can also throw some calculated, contractual darts if that’s what you prefer. "Now, while you're alive, if there's something like a pension or something that's going to be reduced upon your death, we should start planning upon your death to replace that gap for your spouse. That can be done at the time of your death - it can be triggered by your death. Or we could throw some calculated contractual darts. " — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
/episode/index/show/theannuityman/id/29019828