Annuities
Protecting your assets
The term “asset protection” has many connotations. For most people it means shielding assets from claims of creditors. Because we live in a very litigious society, it’s probably wise to…
Read MoreIs the market going to do well?
It’s not uncommon for new clients to ask me how I think the market will perform. I guess some people expect their financial advisers to have a unique ability to…
Read MoreFinancial Swiss Army knife
Throughout the financial planning process we must address numerous concerns. Is there ample liquidity? Is there a growth strategy? How can we mitigate risk? How can we create sufficient lifetime…
Read MoreRough road ahead for retirees?
When planning for retirement, it’s important to make several assumptions concerning expected investment returns, life expectancy and inflation. If you utilize conservative assumptions regarding these factors, your chances of not…
Read MoreBenefits of fixed annuities
For those looking for conservative growth with higher yields than bank products, fixed annuities can be an attractive option. Fixed annuities are contracts with insurance companies that provide for tax-deferred…
Read MoreMinimizing annuity taxes
Many deferred annuity owners have seen their accounts appreciate over the years without having to pay any taxes. However, at some point someone is going to have to pay taxes.…
Read MoreIndex annuity update
Many investors have been increasing their allocations to index annuities as a way to reduce market risk while still maintaining reasonable growth expectations. As numerous insurance carriers have recently started…
Read MoreUncapped index annuities as an alternative to bonds
I recently attended a lecture with Roger Ibbotson, an emeritus finance professor from Yale business school, and had the opportunity to speak with him afterward. Ibbotson recently completed extensive historical…
Read MoreThink twice before naming your trust as the owner or beneficiary of your annuity
One of the major benefits of a deferred annuity is the ability to delay paying taxes on all of the gains. By kicking the tax-liability can down the road, you…
Read MoreAnnuities vs. modified endowment contracts
Although tax-deferred annuities will delay the due date of tax liability, taxes will eventually be due at some point because eventually the non-spousal beneficiaries will be required to take the…
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