The goal of Annuity Watch USA is to educate the public on how annuities really work. This site dispels myths, explores nuances in annuity products and explains how annuities add to your retirement portfolio in plain English. We have provided a wealth of information, but every person’s financial situation is unique, so we always encourage those with specific questions to set up an appointment with one of our annuity experts.
Life changes happen. Is your portfolio still working in your favor? If you are facing a job change or planning for retirement, it might be time to consider a 401K […]
You’ve probably heard the terms “bull market” and “bear market.” What do these terms mean and how do they affect you and your retirement savings? When share prices rise for […]
What Does an Insurance Company Rating Really Mean? Before making a significant investment, we recommend researching the insurance companies you’re considering. One method of comparing insurance companies is to look […]
As you explore your retirement options, you’ll likely encounter more than a few investment strategies. Whether you’re close to retirement age or years away from it, making smart decisions at […]
A question we hear quite often is, “What is a fixed index annuity?” It’s a very valid question because fixed index annuities are unique among the various types of annuities […]
When considering buying an annuity, one thing you’ll certainly want to keep in mind is that an annuity product guarantee is only as good as the financial strength and claims-paying […]
In our last article, we talked about growth guarantees that help maximize the income value of Fixed Index Annuities. With income in mind, let’s shift our focus to annuity payout […]
So far in our series on retirement annuities, we have discussed many aspects of annuities, especially the fixed index annuity. We have covered the four types of annuities, fixed index […]
With people living longer and spending an average of 18 years in retirement, inflation has the potential to wreak havoc on your retirement plans unless precautions are taken. Let’s say […]
In our series on retirement annuities, we have previously covered the four types of annuities, fixed index annuity basics, principal protection, and one of the types of annuity crediting methods […]
A question we hear quite often is, “How does a fixed index annuity make money?” That’s a great question because there are a lot of options available when it comes […]
If you are like most investors, your retirement portfolio suffered big losses during the market crashes of 2000 and 2008, and you are looking for a solution that will help […]
In a recent blog, we explained the four different types of annuities where one of those four was the fixed index annuity. Now we’ll take a closer look at the […]
Before we delve into the four types of annuities, let’s start with a simple question: What is an Annuity? An Annuity is simply an insurance product that guarantees income – […]
Though saving with a 401(K) is easy and you get a tax break, there is also something to the adage that it is possible to have too much of a […]
It’s Time…You have done your due diligence and you’re ready to choose a Financial Professional to help you purchase an annuity with some or all the money you have saved […]
Annuities are popular retirement planning vehicles where a large principal payment is held with an insurance company in exchange for regular sums paid out over a predetermined period of time. […]
If you are retired or planning for retirement, you may have learned that transferring the burden of generating lifetime income and managing market risk to an insurance company makes a […]
Many Americans worry that retirement will bring not leisure, but financial hardship. Unfortunately, their fears are valid. More than 25 million Americans aged 60+ are economically insecure, living at or […]
Whether it’s on your mind or a far-away concept, retirement is somewhere on the horizon. Even if you plan to work forever or would rather not plan for a situation […]
With the constant threat of stock market volatility, more and more people are looking for safety when it comes to a retirement income stream. Annuities can provide that safety. So […]
Consistent, steady growth in a variety of market environments Since it was established in 2009, the J.P. Morgan MOZAIC Index has delivered a 69% higher return than the S&P 500. The Nationwide New […]
With fixed index annuities, your money earns interest based on any positive changes to an external index, such as the S&P 500, over a set period of time. If the […]
With the promise of a new year comes many things: resolutions, a chance to start over, and, of course, new tax legislation. The Treasury Department announced its inflation-adjusted limits for […]
As millions of American move swiftly into their senior years, their focus turns to their financial condition and how to continue to live out their remaining years in relatively the […]
Let’s just get it out in the open. Annuities have a reputation for being the bad boys of the investment world. And, not in a good, Marlon Brando kind of […]
Planning for retirement can be a confusing and stressful process, from the limitless array of investments available to complex end-of-life decisions. Making the choices that will be right for you […]
In the world of retirement planning, Fixed Index Annuities or FIAs have grown up and weathered the storms of adolescence to become a well rounded and stable retirement income choice. […]
401(k)s Now Have Annuity Options: Protection for Your Investment In October of 2014, the United States Treasury Department issued guidelines that are meant to encourage employers to enable employees to […]
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of fixed indexed annuities (FIA). It’s been a ride of fits and starts . The history of the FIA passed the […]
With a seemingly endless parade of insurers offering a never-ending selection of annuities, shopping for income annuities can be a daunting process. Many baby boomers planning for retirement become overwhelmed […]
Annuities are more popular than ever and it’s fixed index annuities that are leading the pack. Dynamic growth propelled the annuity industry in 2014, according to Annuity News, with fixed […]
Choosing the right annuity to help support your retirement income needs can be confusing and a little intimidating especially when so many different kinds of annuities offer such a dizzying […]
Investors closing in on retirement and looking to secure future income would do well to explore deferred income annuities. Indeed many are, as sales of these products are accelerating. On […]
Outliving retirement savings. That’s what many retirees—and those approaching the retirement ranks—cite as their number one fear. Generating reliable streams of retirement income used to be a straightforward process, one […]
Security. Flexibility. Growth. In the world of retirement savings, vehicles with these features can be pure gold. Hybrid annuities feature each of these elements, and may be the antidote to […]
It may sound like a trick question, but the answer is simple. An account earning 8% simple interest earns less over time than an account earning 7% compound interest. A […]
Frustrated by money sitting around earning next to nothing? Thank goodness there’s now a smarter, short term 5-year option that beats the performance rates of money markets, CDs, and more! […]
A real estate indexed annuity is a unique product that is tied to the Dow Jones Real Estate Index. The Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Index includes Real Estate Investment […]
Longer life expectancy and more years spent in retirement are two realities confronting the baby boom generation—and generations beyond. But longevity can be a mixed blessing. Saving and preserving a […]
The annuity cap can be a bit confusing. Is it annually? Is it monthly? How does it work?
“Consumers are practically bombarded with annuity marketing these days. Retirees need to know a retirement income plan is about much more than a flashy interest rate. Get the facts, and […]
In the past couple of decades, annuities have become more popular with financial advisors and retirees for retirement planning. In many cases, annuities can be a valued part of a […]
Relying on a 401(k) as a main source of retirement income is sort of like buying a Smart Car to pull your boat. When planning for retirement, just like in […]
The popularity of annuities – especially fixed index annuities – with people planning for retirement is on the rise. Americans are living longer and longer, so guaranteed lifetime income is […]
Over the years, annuities have gotten a bad rap in the investment world (see “Annuities: The bad boys of the investment world?”). The trouble is some of the most vocal […]
If you are thinking about retirement, about to retire, or you’re retired and are concerned about your future finances, let me ask you a question. Suppose your rich uncle just […]
A fixed index annuity (FIA) is a contract between you and an insurance company designed to help you achieve your long-term retirement goals. In exchange for your premium payment, the […]
When you purchase a bond, you are lending money to an issuer that is usually a government, municipality, corporation, or federal agency. In return for that money, the issuer promises […]
Immediate annuities are the simplest type of annuities. You give the insurance company a sum of money, the premium, and they give you a payout each month for the rest […]
A fixed annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company. You pay the insurance company, through an agent, a premium that grows tax deferred over time by an […]
Understanding annuities is not difficult once you understand that there are multiple types of annuities. There are essentially four major types of annuities – immediate, fixed, variable, and fixed indexed […]
In a recent article by Scott Burns titled “Best place for ‘safe money’ may be in CD-like annuities“, a reader had emailed the following question. “My wife and I are […]
by Cathy DeWitt Dunn – There is a mountain of data showing that the best time to sell stocks is in May and to stay out of the stock market […]
With interest rates as low as they have been, buying an annuity now that pays a guaranteed 8% compounded rate of return sounds pretty good…on the surface. If you are […]
Find out how a fixed index annuity can solve the 7 biggest retirement fears of the Baby Boomer generation! Safe Money Talk Radio’s fixed index annuity experts, Cathy DeWitt Dunn […]
The benefits of a 401K rollover to an annuity are explained by Safe Money Talk Radio’s Cathy DeWitt Dunn and Matt Redding. Watch this informative video before you roll over […]
Financial advisor, author, motivational speaker and television host Suze Orman shares her dislike of variable annuities in this short video. At AnnuityWatchUSA.com, we agree.
Part 2 in a series where Safe Money Talk Radio annuity experts Cathy DeWitt Dunn and Matt Redding separate fact from fiction and tell you the truth about annuities. Continued […]
Myth. Annuities are very complicated to understand and own. Reality. The concept of a fixed index annuity is very simple. In return for a lump sum purchase of an annuity […]
On our Safe Money Talk Radio Show, we are often asked “should I buy an annuity?” However, we cannot answer with certainly until we know more about you and your […]
The financial world has changed, no question. And, when it comes to annuities, this is a great thing! Insurance companies have listened to what consumers are truly looking for and […]
I recently came across a post on a large national newspaper’s blog talking about how investors should focus on generating cash flow during their retirement years. This makes a lot of […]
If you are one of millions of Americans who are considering buying an annuity, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. There are literally thousands of websites you could visit […]
Regardless of whether you’re retiring tomorrow or ten years from now, inflation can take a toll on your retirement nest egg. Don’t be part of the majority of people who […]
While some financial advisors may tell you that you’ll probably be spending less money in retirement than what you’re spending now, we don’t believe it. We think this is a myth…and we want […]
A fixed index annuity is the only asset in the world that provides a contractually guaranteed lifetime income. A bond can’t do this. A Certificate of Deposit can’t do this. […]
Some financial advisors may tell you that you will spend less money in retirement than what you are spending now. We don’t believe this line of thinking. That’s just not how […]
We have all heard stories from our parents or grandparents about forgoing bank accounts and sticking money under the mattress during the economic nightmare that was the Great Depression. Now, […]
For over 25 years David Letterman’s Top 10 lists have consistently proven to get some good laughs about topics of the day. Now, Cathy and Matt turn the top 10 […]
Safe Money Talk Radio’s Cathy DeWitt Dunn explains the advantages of a fixed index annuity for the Baby Boomer generation. Free Annuity Educational Videos As baby boomers plan their retirement, […]
Guaranteed annuity? Not so fast… With interest rates as low as they have been, buying an annuity now that pays a guaranteed 8% compounded rate of return sounds pretty good…on […]
Annuities come in all shapes and sizes…and “lifetime income” is just part of the story. And, here’s a dirty little annuity secret: there’s a steep price to pay for that […]
When most people hit the magic age of 59 ½, retirement is just a few years away… and it’s time to get serious about putting a plan in place that […]
Most people will agree that living longer is a blessing if, of course, we keep our health and have the financial means to live life to the fullest without becoming […]
At Annuity Watch USA, we specialize in helping individuals and families understand various retirement income planning options that can help them create a more secure feature. One great option is […]
To discuss whether a fixed income annuity may be an appropriate solution, contact us today. Let us do the work of navigating through the many companies and products that are out […]
A question that we hear quite often around here is, “Is and annuity right for me?” That’s also a question we talk about in great depth each week on our […]
As with all retirement income planning solutions, there are pros and cons to fixed index annuities. In order to protect yourself, it’s important to know what to look for when […]
I recently came across a post on a large national newspaper’s blog talking about how investors should focus on generating cash flow during their retirement years. This makes a lot […]
A Fixed Index Annuity is an insurance contract between you and a life insurance company. You pay premium to the insurance agency in return for regular income payments over a […]
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