"Fun With Annuities" The Annuity Man Podcast

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Chuck Jaffe discuss:   Some good examples of bad investments Issues with cryptocurrency Understanding indexed annuities  Interest rates and inflation    Key Takeaways:   Some investments are unjustifiable and unnecessary.  Cryptocurrency isn't that different from gift checks, except you can actually spend gift checks. Only a handful of stores accept bitcoin pay...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Owen Schrum discuss:   The Retirement Crisis The Free Paradigm Unteaching things that people thought wrong Growth and guarantees - the truth about Structured Investments    Key Takeaways:   The retirement crisis cannot be solved by Social Security, you have to be the one to save yourself from this crisis with strategy, sound planning and smart investment.  Don'...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Jeff Miller discuss:   Life expectancy and income level demographics  Until what age should you wait?  Figuring out your life expectancy  Inflation, where is it going and how will it affect social security    Key Takeaways:   With any type of lifetime income-stream annuity, it's all about life expectancy - the older you are, the higher the payment.  Find what y...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and John Olsen discuss:   The suitability approach and consumer trust  How the annuity industry can be better  Approaching people who hate annuities  Risk management and risk transfer    Key Takeaways:   There is a considerable certainty that companies out there are determined to give the right product to their clients.  If you're looking for a solution for your cl...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and FIA-X discuss:   Upfront bonuses on annuity and other bonuses to be wary of  Looking for contractual guarantees in annuity contracts Uncapped products and other "modifiers" Monthly sum - what they're actually saying   Key Takeaways:   Buying an annuity for the upfront bonuses is like buying a car to get the stereo  Stay smart out there. Companies are never a ch...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Tom Hegna 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 so...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Bradley Birkenfeld discuss:   Corruption in the government and our justice system The problem with bank secrecy and facts about the relationship between our government and bankers Getting incarcerated for doing the right thing Tax evasion in wealthy groups and how corruption happens in places The future of cryptocurrency and bankers    Key Takeaways:   If you'r...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Dana Anspach discuss:   Juicing your retirement money How can you know if you're "retirement-ready" What are some things you have to consider when setting up your retirement plan The four percent rule   Key Takeaways:   Don't underestimate what more you can juice from your retirement plan. You might very well end up with hundreds of thousands of dollars by the...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Bob Powell discuss: The new normal of today's interest rates  Good tips and strategies for building your retirement fund Some insights on Cryptocurrency  Special Purpose Acquisition Companies and  Key Takeaways:   Use the "bucket strategy" for a low but somewhat stable yield even in unstable times Be very careful on deals and contracts that are "too good to be...

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...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Dennis Miller discusses:   What ROMEO is and how it influences Dennis and his writing.  Why inflation is a personal thing.  Diversifying for income guarantee and reducing risk.  Answering the questions Dennis's readers are asking.    Key Takeaways:   You must diversify if you are going to survive as a retiree and not rely solely on any one income stream, includ...

In this episode, The Annuity Man discusses:   How the COVID19 pandemic has affected retirement plans. The Retirement Watch newsletter and how it can help you.  What DC is doing that can affect retirement.  Inflation and adding inflation hedges to your portfolio.    Key Takeaways:   While the focus of retirement planning is on the financial side, that is the least important side of your retirement...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and John Lenz discuss:   Spendthrift planning.  Customizing the annuity contracts to achieve the specific goals you have in mind.  Medicaid planning using annuities.  Nonqualified stretch plans.    Key Takeaways:   There is nothing magical about the ability to manage money. It can be difficult regardless of the age of the beneficiary.  Working with an elder care at...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Bill Black discuss:   What is happening in the life insurance space (especially during the current pandemic).  How interest rates affect life insurance policies.  Benefits of life insurance to the beneficiaries.  What to watch out for in the sales pitch world of life insurance.    Key Takeaways:   Oftentimes, term insurance can be changed to permanent insurance...

In this episode, The Annuity Man discusses:   The historical journey of indexed annuities and how they've gotten to where they are today.  The questions to ask your advisor about your indexed annuities.  The golden rule of annuities - they have the gold, so they make the rules.  The problems with backtested numbers.    Key Takeaways:   For anyone to say market upside with no downside or market par...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Terry Savage discuss:   The Money Lady's opinion on the current markets.  The creation of money, interest rates, and the US budget deficit.  How technology has changed investing.  The coming hot topic of long term care.    Key Takeaways:   You don't have to beat the market to be successful, you need to be in the market.  It is inevitable that rates will go up,...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Jack Lenenberg discuss:   The environment, products, and solutions in long term care currently available.  The 6 daily functions of life and how they affect long term care.  The best time to look into and apply for long term care.  The answers to common questions that Jack is asked by customers.    Key Takeaways:   Your long term care does not need to be perman...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Paul Merriman discuss:   Making decisions that are in your, individual, best interest.  Understanding what you're trying to achieve and what you want to do with your investments in the market.  Navigating the forks in the savings road.  Finding your good enough return.    Key Takeaways:   To be a successful long-term investor, you have to shut out all of the no...

In this episode, The Annuity Man and Gary Baker discuss:   The pricing of lifetime income.  How mortality tables (life expectancy tables) work and function within annuities and life insurance.  The future of the annuity industry.  How Cannex works with carriers and some of the challenges with doing so.   Key Takeaways:   You buy a life insurance contract in the event that you die too soon, you buy...

In this episode, The Annuity Man discusses:   Compliance at family offices, hedge funds, and other securities offices.  Possible hiccups and downturns on the horizon.  The misinformation around the 4% Rule.  The research behind Barry's book, The Pirates of Manhattan.    Key Takeaways:   Family offices have more assets (money under management) than hedge funds.  The general public doesn't know what...

In this episode, The Annuity Man discusses:   What cryptocurrency is and how blockchain works.  Losing Bitcoin and the future of the cash dollar.  Looking at cryptocurrency as an investment.  Normalizing cryptocurrency with direct and indirect regulations.    Key Takeaways:   It is a speculation tool, an investment, but a very speculative one. That is, an investment in a new technology called Bloc...

In this episode, The Annuity Man discusses:   The relationship between annuities and inflation.  Don't believe the pitch, understand the contract.  How you do address inflation with annuities.  Laddering your annuities with staggered start dates.     Key Takeaways:   Interest rates do not have to go up, and there are arguments for both inflation and deflation.  There are no indexed annuities that...

In this episode, The Annuity Man discusses:   The top questions to ask your advisor about annuities.  Knowing which questions are deal-breakers from the beginning for advising you about annuities.  The nuances and varieties of annuities.  The reasons to ask these questions for your best contractual guarantees.    Key Takeaways:   All lifetime income streams are life expectancy-based, interest rate...

In this episode, The Annuity Man discusses:   Why we don't care about the cash flow percentage that other sites put by their numbers.  The best immediate annuities...and why they differ for everyone. Income floor vs. cash flow.  Annuities as confidence products.     Key Takeaways:   Annuity companies have the big buildings for a reason - they are not giving any money away.  Immediate annuities are...

In this episode, The Annuity Man discusses:   What the 4% Rule is and how it affects you.  Annuities are the only product that can provide a lifetime income stream. Figuring out what you need per month to know what your withdrawal strategies need to be.  Understanding what you're buying before you sign anything.    Key Takeaways:   Every person retiring needs to set up their income floor, regardle...