“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.
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Warren Buffett’s 2 Rules for Annuities: Shootin’ It Straight With Stan
12/03/2025
Warren Buffett’s 2 Rules for Annuities: Shootin’ It Straight With Stan
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 protect client interests. PILL stands for principal protection, income for life, legacy, and long-term care. This framework aligns annuities with client goals and priorities. It provides a clear structure for evaluating annuity suitability. "With annuities, you’re transferring the risk to the life insurance company that issues the annuity." — Stan The Annuity Man Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Moshe Milevsky: Learning from History with Annuities (From the Vault)
12/02/2025
Moshe Milevsky: Learning from History with Annuities (From the Vault)
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 agents have to make sure the clients understand and continue to understand what they are buying and what contractual guarantees they have in place. A tontine is one of the many strategies people use to finance themselves in retirement, in which the longest-living people get the most income, while the people who didn’t live a long time get a smaller amount of income. Tontines increase the income for all living people involved as time passes because the same income amount is being split within a group that gets smaller as members pass away. The mortality rate becomes a real interest rate - this is most interesting in the current inflationary times. Money alone doesn’t solve your problems; just throwing money at a problem won’t make it go away. You need to do something with it to solve your problems, and one of the biggest problems in aging is the gap between health span and lifespan. "When you have a product that is meant to help people that are eventually going to cognitively decline, there's a higher burden of care there because you got to make sure that they understand what they're buying and they continue to understand what they're buying." — Moshe Milevsky Connect with Moshe Milevsky: Website: Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Comparing Myga Interest Rates to Spia Rates: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
11/26/2025
Comparing Myga Interest Rates to Spia Rates: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
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 planning priorities. Evaluating yields requires nuance: MYGA interest compounds tax-deferred without reducing principal, whereas SPIA "rates" reflect life expectancy and combine principal with interest, making direct comparisons misleading. Before purchasing, ensure you fully understand an annuity's contractual guarantees, avoid relying on hypothetical rates, and seek reliable sources for accurate information to make informed decisions. "We’re looking at a principal-protected product and an income product. Now right there. You should say, I’m not sure we can compare those two… because [they’re] two different categories." — Stan The Annuity Man Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Annuity Zero Is Not Your Hero: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
11/19/2025
Annuity Zero Is Not Your Hero: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
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 the past; base it on the future. Don’t buy a product for the upfront bonus. Also, there’s no such thing as a “market upside with no downside.” Instead of buying a product where you’re locked in for seven to ten years, why not buy a MYGA? It’s a CD product where you can lock in on shorter terms of one, two, three, four, or five years. Zero is not your hero. If zero is your hero, you might as well dig a hole and put all your money in it. If anyone tells you that zero is your hero, just tell them to shut up. Be rational, don’t buy the dream. "Zero is not your hero. We are in inflationary times. I don’t care if we’re in inflationary times or not; you need your money to grow. Period. " — Stan the Annuity Man Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Rick Ferri: Core-4 Portfolios for Simplistic Success (From the Vault)
11/18/2025
Rick Ferri: Core-4 Portfolios for Simplistic Success (From the Vault)
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 and a total international fund. Are you going to be active or passive? Select a portfolio strategy. Determine whether you’re going to be aggressive or conservative and assess if you need a higher rate of return and if you can handle high volatility. In bad times, remember that “this too shall pass.” Investing doesn’t come without risk. Everything in life has risks. Even burying your money has a risk; inflation will eat away at its value. It’s better to face the risk. "The idea is simplicity. Be simple, be low-cost, be consistent, stay the course, be tax-efficient." — Rick Ferri Connect with Rick Ferri: Website: Facebook: LinkedIn: Twitter: Books: Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Political Chaos Equals Contractual Opportunities: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
11/12/2025
Political Chaos Equals Contractual Opportunities: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
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 as lifetime income and principal protection helps prepare for uncertainties. “Political chaos equals opportunity for locking things in. For contractual guarantees. You have opportunity for lifetime income guarantees." — Stan The Annuity Man Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Crypto Dice Throw or Annuity Guarantees: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
11/05/2025
Crypto Dice Throw or Annuity Guarantees: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
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 rises. Social Security and pensions already provide a guaranteed income. Evaluating whether you need more ensures that your financial base remains steady even when the markets shake. Instead of chasing bonuses or hypothetical returns, consider moving some assets from high-risk areas like crypto into products with clear, guaranteed outcomes. "You own an annuity for what it will do, not what it might do. The ‘will do’ is the contractual guarantees of the policy." — Stan The Annuity Man Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Wade Pfau: Retirement Income Style Awareness (From the Vault)
11/04/2025
Wade Pfau: Retirement Income Style Awareness (From the Vault)
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 beyond viewing retirement as a mere cessation from work and consider it as attaining fiscal independence to pursue passions and goals without dependency on income from employment. Read Wade Pfau’s article on the 4% rule of thumb and its limitations. Additionally, explore the potential benefits of annuities as a tool for sustaining retirement spending over a long retirement. Explore the broader international experience in financial markets and retirement planning to better understand the uncertainties and challenges involved. Consider the impact of low interest rates on bond returns and the need for diversified retirement income strategies. “We need to figure out what retirement strategy works for each individual because what works for one person may not work for another. It's about finding the style that resonates with you.” - Wade Pfau Connect with Wade Pfau: Website: LinkedIn: Twitter: Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Stan@TheAnnuityMan.com Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Market Freestyle or Annuity Lifestyle: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
10/29/2025
Market Freestyle or Annuity Lifestyle: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
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 reducing financial stress during downturns. When markets perform well, it’s wise to secure profits by converting them into guaranteed income sources like annuities—protecting your principal before inevitable market corrections. Financial stability comes from proactive planning, not reaction. Avoid waiting for the next crash; design a plan today that blends market opportunity with lifetime income guarantees. "Market freestyle is fine for a portion of your money. But annuity lifestyle, what annuity lifestyle means is that you can lock in guarantees so that you go live your life." — Stan The Annuity Man Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Do Not Throw Annuity Darts at Your Death: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
10/22/2025
Do Not Throw Annuity Darts at Your Death: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
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 inflexibility and regret. Smart financial planning means keeping control until the moment it truly matters. Work with estate planning lawyers to structure income that activates when needed. Trusts can ensure seamless transitions and guaranteed income after death. Legal planning replaces guesswork with confidence. Ignore flashy pitches and confusing riders that promise more than they deliver. Financial security is built on clarity, not complexity. Simplify, stay flexible, and only commit when you understand every detail. "Death is not a good strategy, because you can only use it once." — Stan The Annuity Man Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Fixed Index Annuities Tailored to Your Goals: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
10/15/2025
Fixed Index Annuities Tailored to Your Goals: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: The purpose of Fixed Index Annuities Buying only for contractual guarantees Why do some agents oversell Index Annuities Understanding contractual guarantees Key Takeaways: Fixed Index Annuities are designed for principal protection and lifetime income, not market growth. Buy annuities only for contractual guarantees, not for upfront bonuses or agent projections. Index Annuities are complex products often oversold by agents for high commissions. Buyers should thoroughly understand contractual guarantees before purchasing Fixed Index Annuities. "This is your money. Don't believe the hype, believe the contract and own an annuity for what it will do, not what it might do." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Annuity Guarantees That Can Change Your Life: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
10/08/2025
Annuity Guarantees That Can Change Your Life: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Annuity solutions to retirement problems The four things that annuities solve for How annuities can give peace of mind, flexibility, and freedom Key Takeaways: Retirement can be a daunting prospect, with the uncertainty of how long your savings will last and the fear of running out of money. However, annuities offer a solution to these concerns by providing contractual guarantees. Annuities can provide principal protection, ensuring that your initial investment is safe. They also provide income for life, allowing you to have a steady stream of income throughout your retirement years. Additionally, annuities can help leave a legacy for your loved ones and even cover long-term care expenses. By creating an income floor with annuities, retirees can have peace of mind knowing that their basic expenses are covered. This allows for greater flexibility and freedom in spending during retirement. "Contractual guarantees matter, and contractual guarantees change lives." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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You Already Own 2 Annuities (Here’s Why): Shootin' It Straight With Stan
10/01/2025
You Already Own 2 Annuities (Here’s Why): 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 is a tax-deferred type 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:
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Will More Money Actually Make You Happier in Retirement?: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
09/24/2025
Will More Money Actually Make You Happier in Retirement?: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Think again, would more money change your life? Peeling off the interest Are you really affected by inflation? Live your life now Key Takeaways: Why do you still keep money in the markets when you’ve won the game? Think about it, would more money really change your life? If the answer is no, then why are you putting your money at risk? Treasuries, CDs, Fixed-Rate Annuities, and MYGAs are at a level where you can just peel off the interest, never touch the principal, and never pay any fees. 60% of adults have less than $400 to their name. Those people are the ones really affected by inflation, not millionaires like you. If you need more money, go get it. But for those who don’t need it, why are you still trying to chase more? You don’t need to put your resources into volatility; what you need to do is to live your life now. "Why are you putting all or a portion of your hopes and dreams in potential returns? Keyword: ‘potential.’ The only potential in your life should be the potential for you to live your life on your own terms because you've earned it. The potential is doing things for you." — Stan The Annuity Man Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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The Retirement Income Rule You Can’t Ignore: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
09/17/2025
The Retirement Income Rule You Can’t Ignore: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Preserving principal Matching products to time horizons Adapting to changing rates Prioritizing peace of mind Key Takeaways: The “never touch the principal” rule emphasizes generating retirement income from interest alone, keeping original capital intact for protection and legacy. CDs and treasuries are best for terms under three years, while MYGAs provide tax-deferral benefits and stronger returns for longer durations. 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. 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: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Why the “Perfect Annuity” Is a Myth: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
09/10/2025
Why the “Perfect Annuity” Is a Myth: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Recognizing annuity trade-offs Focusing on contractual guarantees Asking the right questions Evaluating strength over sales pitches Key Takeaways: No annuity is perfect; each comes with both benefits and limitations. They should be understood as commodity products rather than flawless solutions. Annuities should always be purchased for their contractual promises, such as lifetime income or principal protection, rather than hypothetical returns. The key to choosing the right annuity is identifying what you want the money to do contractually and when you want those guarantees to begin. When comparing annuities, focus on the company’s financial stability and the highest contractual guarantees offered, not marketing claims or projections. "If you do not need to contractually solve for one or more of those items in the PILL acronym, then you do not need an annuity." — Stan The Annuity Man Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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The Truth About Annuities | How Income & Guarantees Really Work
09/03/2025
The Truth About Annuities | How Income & Guarantees Really Work
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Annuities as lifetime income How annuities are priced Focus on contractual guarantees Two primary purposes of annuities Key Takeaways: Annuities, like Social Security or pensions, provide guaranteed income for life. They come in several forms, such as immediate, deferred, and longevity annuities, each designed to fit different timing and retirement needs. The pricing of annuities is based on life expectancy, interest rates, and insurer capacity. Because of these factors, annuity quotes change frequently, much like other market-driven products. Annuities should be purchased for their contractual guarantees rather than hypothetical returns. Comparing these guarantees across different carriers ensures you get the most reliable value. The main reasons people buy annuities are for principal protection and income for life. Choosing the right annuity depends on what you want your money to do and when you want the guarantees to begin. "Capacity equals competition. And that's the reason that when you look at annuities for just the contractual guarantees of the policy, which is the reason you should buy, never buy an annuity for the hypothetical returns." — Stan The Annuity Man Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Smart Annuity Income Planning Explained: Shootin' It Straight with Stan
08/27/2025
Smart Annuity Income Planning Explained: 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:
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The 3 Annuity Strategies for Principal Protection: Shootin' It Straight with Stan
08/20/2025
The 3 Annuity Strategies for Principal Protection: Shootin' It Straight with Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: CDs and MYGAs I-bond no-brainer The safest product in principal protection How safe are MYGAs? Key Takeaways: Here’s how CDs (Certificate of Deposit) work: you give the bank money, they protect the principal, and you don’t have to pay any fees. You can take the interest if you want to at the end of the term, and do what you want with your money. MYGAs are basically the annuity industry’s version of a CD. Treasury bonds are a no-brainer. Go to treasurydirect.gov to buy them for yourself. The only downside of treasury bonds is that there’s a limitation on how much money you can put in them. Of these three safe principal protection options, treasury bonds are the safest because the government can tax or confiscate money in order to pay them, and they will. The second safest one is CDs, since they are government-based as well. MYGAs are safe products to invest in, and their safety is based on the annuity company’s ability to pay. They are commodity products, and the money you’ll get from them can be used to buy another MYGA from another company. However, you can’t put all your money on annuities; you've got to spread it around. "This trifecta is a contractual guarantee: CDs, Treasuries, Multi-Year Guarantee Annuities. You’re owning these because of what they will do, not what they might do. You're buying the yield. The yield is contractual." — Stan The Annuity Man Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Can Your Annuity Income Increase With Inflation?: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
08/13/2025
Can Your Annuity Income Increase With Inflation?: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Annuities that increase with inflation The role of interest rates in pricing For products that adjust for inflation Reverse-engineering your income floor Key Takeaways: Annuities don’t give things away for free. A product that magically increases with inflation doesn’t exist. Lifetime income is primarily priced based on your life expectancy at the time you take the payment. Interest rates play a minor role. For products that have a potential or contractual increase for inflation, the annuity company will severely lower the initial income as compared to the exact annuity without the increase. Don’t focus on things that you can’t control. Focus on building up an income floor that suits your needs. Compute the number you’ll need to cover your expenses; we can reverse-engineer a product for that. "It's math to the annuity companies. It should be math to you. If it sounds too good to be true, it is every single time. " — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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How to Reverse Engineer Annuities to Fight Inflation: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
08/06/2025
How to Reverse Engineer Annuities to Fight Inflation: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Products that adjust for inflation Thinking rationally about inflation Reverse-engineering annuity Key Takeaways: Many bad sales pitches out there mention a way to beat inflation using indexed products that adjust for inflation. What really happens is that the annuity company severely lowers the initial payment to make up for any potential increase. Think rationally about inflation. It’s customizable to everybody, meaning not everyone is affected the same way. Some are not even affected at all. Start with the goal or the need. How much more do you need in order to live the life that you want? To solve for that difference, you’ve got to shop all carriers and see which offers the highest contractual guarantee that will fit the goal or the need. "Just hold until you need to fill the gap in income for inflation. Don't be proactive; don't throw darts at it. But if you do want to throw darts - let's buy income that starts at a future date." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Searching for Growth or Guarantees? Shootin' It Straight With Stan
07/30/2025
Searching for Growth or Guarantees? Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Threading the needle with volatility Freedom from volatility Annuities are the haystack Time to secure guarantees Key Takeaways: Threading the needle to get market returns makes you dependent upon so much unknown. You’re dependent on world markets, geopolitical events, and meltdowns that are impossible to predict. A lot of people can retire from their jobs and the market, and they should; those who can’t yet should make it a goal to do that and be free from being dependent on volatility. There’s no threading the needle for principal protection; there’s no finding the needle in a haystack for lifetime income. You don’t need to find a needle; you need the haystack. Use an annuity to have the highest contractual guarantee. What phase of your life are you in right now? If you’re in the no-go stage, then it’s time to stop losing sleep over the markets, and it’s time to secure guarantees. "Investing in markets a lot of times is like surfing the side of a cruise ship. Sometimes you’re going to catch a wave right beside that cruise ship, but a lot of times, you’re going to get sucked under the boat." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Don’t Fall for Hypothetical Annuity Returns: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
07/23/2025
Don’t Fall for Hypothetical Annuity 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:
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Flexible Annuity Start Dates Explained: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
07/16/2025
Flexible Annuity Start Dates Explained: 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:
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Annuities For A 9-Year Old: Shootin' It Straight With Stan (TAM Classic)
07/09/2025
Annuities For A 9-Year Old: Shootin' It Straight With Stan (TAM Classic)
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Buying an annuity that you understand Annuities aren’t one-size-fits-all How to know if you understand a product Key Takeaways: When buying an annuity, remember that if a product sounds too good to be true, it is every single time. Some annuities are more complex, and most agents cannot explain them well, let alone even comprehend them themselves. Currently, the annuity industry has an unbalanced way of compensation for different types of products. Agents get a higher commission for selling a certain type of product. The problem is that annuities aren’t one-size-fits-all. It takes some consideration to determine a person’s needs and what product would solve that. Buy products that you understand. A good indicator that you do understand something fully is if you can explain it to your spouse, family, or friends and have it make sense to them. "You have to be able to understand what you're buying, and you have to be able to go into a second-grade class and explain it to them." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Annuity Horror Stories Debunked: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
07/02/2025
Annuity Horror Stories Debunked: Shootin' It Straight With Stan
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Why do agents tell stories? Protecting yourself from bad pitches Don’t listen to these stories The only two important questions Key Takeaways: In sales, managers will often tell their people that stories sell and that they do, so you have to watch out for hypotheticals, testimonials, and anecdotal “evidence.” Here’s how you can protect yourself from liars who’d sell you stories: write down their sales pitch exactly as they said it and how you understood it. Sign and date it at the bottom and flip it over to them. Have them sign the contract, so they’re on the hook if they lie in their pitch. Never base your decision on a back-tested number; those are stories. If they tell you all about the people who own what they're selling, don’t listen - those are stories. Never base your decision on up-front bonuses; you’re smarter than that - there’s no such thing as free money. There are only two important questions: “What are the contractual guarantees?” and “When do you want those contractual guarantees to start?” By answering those two, we can determine whether you even need an annuity or which type will provide the highest contractual guarantees if you need an annuity. There are no stories with contractual guarantees. "Don’t buy the dream because you’re going to own the contractual reality. Don’t buy the story, buy the contract." — Stan The Annuity Man Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Planning Lifetime Income for Your Spouse: Shootin' It Straight With Stan (TAM Classic)
06/25/2025
Planning Lifetime Income for Your Spouse: Shootin' It Straight With Stan (TAM Classic)
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 will 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:
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Ventilator Annuity Lifetime Income: Shootin' It Straight With Stan (TAM Classic)
06/18/2025
Ventilator Annuity Lifetime Income: Shootin' It Straight With Stan (TAM Classic)
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Solving for longevity risk Four products for lifetime income Focusing on guarantees Key Takeaways: There is no ROI until you die. Up until then, it’s a transfer of risk to the annuity company to solve for longevity risk. The longevity risk is the fear that you’ll outlive your money. An annuity will pay as long as you’re breathing, even if you are on a ventilator. The annuity industry has four major types: Single Premium Immediate Annuities, Deferred Income Annuities, Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts, and Income Riders. All four provide a lifetime stream as long as you are breathing or if you set it as joint-life, as long as you or your spouse is breathing. Forget all the shiny things that agents try to make you fixate on. Focus on the guarantee that you will get paid as long as you’re breathing. You could also structure the contract so that your money goes to your beneficiaries when you die. "The good thing about turning on lifetime income stream and transferring that risk to an annuity company to pay for as long as you're breathing or on a ventilator is that it's turnkey. And there will come a point if we live long enough that we will need that income to be turnkey." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Push Comes to Shove Annuities: Shootin' It Straight With Stan (TAM Classic)
06/11/2025
Push Comes to Shove Annuities: Shootin' It Straight With Stan (TAM Classic)
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Annuities with a push-comes-to-shove feature Advantages of liquidity Balance between potential and liquidity Why flexibility matters in annuity planning Meeting diverse financial needs through annuity design Key Takeaways: Certain annuity products, such as the MYGA (Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity), fixed-rate annuity, and CD annuity, offer a liquidity option known as the "push-comes-to-shove" feature, allowing penalty-free withdrawals in case of emergencies. The "push-comes-to-shove" feature in annuities provides access to funds when faced with unexpected financial circumstances, offering peace of mind and flexibility. By allowing penalty-free withdrawals, these annuity products cater to individuals seeking a balance between growth potential and liquidity, ensuring financial security during unforeseen events. The inclusion of the "push-comes-to-shove" feature in annuity products reflects an understanding of the need for accessible funds, particularly in times of crisis or emergencies. Annuity providers recognize the importance of offering products that not only provide long-term growth opportunities but also address the potential need for immediate access to funds, catering to the diverse financial needs of their clients. "Annuities that provide you the liquidity, either taking out interest or 5% or 10%, those are push-comes-to-shove annuities." — Stan The Annuity Man Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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Annuity Companies Are Not Smarter Than Banks: Shootin' It Straight With Stan (TAM Classic)
06/04/2025
Annuity Companies Are Not Smarter Than Banks: Shootin' It Straight With Stan (TAM Classic)
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Annuity companies are more regulated than banks Features that protect the annuity industry There is no run on annuities How the banking crisis will affect the annuity industry Key Takeaways: Annuity companies are more regulated than banks, with features like surrender charges and market value adjustments that prevent runs on the company. Annuity companies are required to invest in investment-grade bonds, providing stability, unlike banks that had to sell bonds during the recent crisis. Lifetime income products offered by annuity companies, such as SPIAs and DIAs, are irrevocable and provide a guaranteed income stream for life, preventing panicked withdrawals. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) plays a crucial role in overseeing annuity companies and protecting consumers, and the recent banking crisis will likely lead to increased oversight of the annuity industry. "The bottom line: the annuity industry has put in place features to not only protect you, the consumer, which is their ultimate goal, period, but to protect the industry as well." — Stan The Annuity Man. Connect with The Annuity Man: Website: Email: Book: : YouTube: Get a Quote Today:
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