Annuity Straight Talk

If the pandemic mayhem has had you longing for the “good old days”, then you could be on to something, at least regarding annuities. Annuities used to be something that every retiree had to cling to, whether they liked it or not and whether rates were in their favour. However, with stock markets relatively volatile and the cost of living rising, a little of the charm of pension freedoms has worn off for many. A lot has been happening in the market for the past few years. Which makes you beg the question: Is now a good time to buy an annuity?

Well yes! Spoiler alert! If you have ever thought of buying annuities, the right time to buy is now! This episode will lay out the reasons why.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

[4:43] Products and strategies have to change because the market changes over time

[5:02] Safe money rates move past 4%

[6:57] When you're in a bond, do not sell it

[8:12] No matter why you want to buy it. An annuity will save you a lot of money in the past year.

[13:22] When annuities are the best, nobody wants them. Nobody wants them this year when the stock market was at the high

[17:35] If you’re thinking about buying an annuity, you have to do it now!

Key Quotes:

[4:21] “I survived in this business because I worked hard. Mostly because I found different ways to accomplish retirement goals even when rates are high.”

[9:58] “The most important thing about making money is not losing it before you get going.”

Resources:

Annuity Newsletter

Call Annuity Straight Talk at 800-438-5121 or schedule a call at AnnuityStraightTalk.com

Investors appear to be running away from volatility in the stock market, while insurers provide better terms amid rising interest rates. This year, investors have been piling into annuities to protect themselves from market losses. Many people are investing in them because it minimises fees that will eat away at their retirement savings.

Bryan is back with good friend and fan favourite John Balmer for a market update. They will give points on the different types of annuities, the value they bring in today’s market, and how now is a great time to buy them more than ever.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

[1:44] John and Bryan’s market analysis update

[4:23] Long-term planning objectives and short-term plays on the market

[8:09] Bonds are not a suitable retirement investment 

[8:51] As interest rates fall, the prices of bonds go up.

[11:56] Fixed index annuities are a fantastic bond replacement because of the overall risk.

[13:48] If you’re worried about inflation, the first thing that you need to do is to get out of bonds. 

[25:18] When the economy slows down, the stock market doesn’t respond well.

Key Quotes:

[3:29] “It’s amazing how the market’s falling in such a short amount of time.”

[17:35] “You don’t have to take a ton of risk in retirement. You’ve already won the game.”

[19:57] “The time is now. Take a good deal when you see a good deal that you want.”

Resources:

Annuity Newsletter

Call Annuity Straight Talk at 800-438-5121 or schedule a call at AnnuityStraightTalk.com

Are annuities protected? The short answer is yes. Are they used for protection? Yes, it’s not that complicated. Here’s the gist: Annuities are long-term investments that are issued by an insurance company and are designed to help protect you from outliving your income. They provide the benefits of tax-deferred growth potential and a guaranteed income stream throughout retirement.

But not everyone understands how they can fit into a secure retirement, so let’s find out what annuities do and how they work. Today, Bryan will give us the answer as to why annuities are used solely for protection. He’ll also give us a basic overview of the individual nature of annuities.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

[3:05] Two people can use the same product in very different ways. 

[5:10] Annuities are for protection.If there’s something you want to protect financially in retirement, then an annuity is a very good tool for the job.

[6:04] There are two types of annuity. It’s either immediate or delayed. 

[12:06] Guaranteed income, market participation, and a guarantee that you will pass all the money to your heirs are the three hallmarks of variable annuities.

Key Quotes:

[3:13] "Individual preferences and circumstances will dictate a different explanation of why one thing works over another."

[8:21] "Your individual preferences direct you towards the product that’s best for you."

Resources:

Annuity Newsletter

Call Annuity Straight Talk at 800-438-5121 or schedule a call at AnnuityStraightTalk.com 

Listen to Episode 5: Annuities and Long Term Care

It’s a common denominator for annuity buyers to have second thoughts before investing their money in Annuities. As most of us know, every state has a guaranty fund for insurance contracts. It serves as a safety net to protect policyholders, but there’s a lot that you need to consider before that even comes to play. 

Today we navigate the real purpose of State Insurance Guaranty Funds. What’s the scope of its protection, and who can benefit from it? Does the state guarantee annuities? Let’s find out in this episode.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

[1:47] State insurance guaranty funds and how they work

[3:46] You’re not allowed to use the presence of a State insurance guaranty fund in your sales pitch as a reason to buy insurance can contract at any time

[5:36] What if an insurance company goes bankrupt?

[6:04] When banks have far more liabilities than assets, then only a part of those liabilities go bad to wipe out all assets 

[8:05] You cannot use state insurance guaranty funds to market a product 

[17:02] You’re protected by insurance. The state guaranty fund covers the insurance company. 

Key Quotes:

[10:05] “There are very few cases where guaranty associations have been used to cover losses in annuities.”

[15:37] “That is what insurance guaranty funds are for. They’re for catastrophic losses.”

Resources:

Annuity Newsletter

Call Annuity Straight Talk at 800-438-5121 or schedule a call at AnnuityStraightTalk.com 

Bryan is back from his hunting escapade and today he’s giving you big updates on the market as he gets back into the swing of things. If you’ve been observing the current market state, you may have noticed that a series of interest rate hikes is making annuities look more attractive again. In this episode, Bryan will be talking about how it’s a great time to invest in annuities as the climbing interest rates provide greater payouts to annuity buyers. 

If you’re planning to invest and don’t know where to start, you might try and give this quick episode a listen.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

[1:13] Update on what’s been happening in the market

[4:11] Everything’s up in the air right now with a lot of uncertainty 

[5:18] It’s a great time for annuities, especially now that the rates are high 

[6:55] Keep it all in perspective and realize the goal of long-term solutions and long-term planning 

[12:18] There’s still a great position for annuities, and it’s a great time to invest in them now.

Key Quotes:

[1:26] "Protection is key when facing retirement."

[9:11] "If you’re waiting for things to get better, you have to think about the time you have to wait when it gets there."

Resources:

Annuity Newsletter

Call Annuity Straight Talk at 800-438-5121 or schedule a call at AnnuityStraightTalk.com 

As many of you know, Bryan likes adventures. He went on an elk hunting trip three years ago, and it taught him to live in the moment. It’s been quite a while since he took a break, and this is the time of year when he likes breaks the most. Getting the mules out on the trail and exploring the beautiful and remote parts of his state is his favorite thing to do. He’s thankful that his job of selling annuities helps him have the freedom to do things he wants without worrying about his clients.

The thing he likes most about annuities is how consistent they are. It protects his business and, at the same time, he gets to spend more time testing creative strategies to get more yield. Regardless of politics or economics, annuities are safe and allow you to focus on your passions and hobbies in retirement. As you continue to find the best approach to retirement, try considering annuities and keep in mind the benefits that you can reap from them.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

[4:34] Annuities remove the issue of second-guessing

[6:14] When managing finances, you have to learn from your mistakes and improve things while you can.

[6:27] Annuities are simple, easy, and consistent.

[9:40] Bryan talks about his elk hunting trip.

[10:3]  Bryan shares his favorite part when elk hunting 

[16:57] Annuities, to some extent, allow you to slow things down and let you pay attention to moments that go by.

Key Quotes:

[5:16] "Everything in life is a choice."

[7:45] "Go put your feet on the ground one time a day."

[17:35] "Life is too short to be anybody but exactly who you are."

Resources:

Annuity Newsletter

Call Annuity Straight Talk at 800-438-5121 or schedule a call at AnnuityStraightTalk.com 

Have you ever “panic sold” your investments after a flash crash, believing they're going to fall all the way down, only to watch them regain value and go even higher? You run out of cash and get nervous because the market is starting to go away from you.

Chances are, you fell for a head fake.

The current market appears to be moving from one direction to the other. Trade during a head-fake usually happens at key breakout points, like major support or resistance levels.

So the big question for investors is, how do they keep up with this frenzy, manage their money and generate income regardless of where the stock market goes? How do they mitigate potential damage?

In this episode, Bryan and John Balmer use some charts to support, identify, and analyze patterns in today’s market.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

[4:46] Long-term retirement goals

[10:55] Market recoveries and what people should be on the lookout for

[12:13] The S&P 500 dropped 25% in six months

[13:49] Potential further downside in this market could possibly occur 

[14:15] Rates get high enough and they might pivot away from stocks

[14:53] You have to balance your fixed income with your risked assets 

[17:57] John gives us an overview of the S&P 500 index

[22:12] Managing risks appropriately and balancing your portfolios

Quotable Quotes:

[10:14] “In order for us to be really constructive in the market we got to get above the 200 moving average.”

[11:27] “Winning doesn’t mean winning all your money back. Sometimes it’s okay to walk away with some of it."

[27:25] “Nobody likes to take losses but you should have money prepared in the stock market.”

Resources:

Annuity Newsletter

Call Annuity Straight Talk at 800-438-5121 or schedule a call at AnnuityStraightTalk.com 

If you’ve ever been to financial discussions, you might have heard of the famous line "Investing in the stock market is just like gambling in a casino."

It’s true; poker machines are like stock markets. Investing and gambling both have a common denominator, and that is having to risk your capital with the hopes of future profit.

When you bet your money on both, the money is not yours until you have the cash on your hand or in your bank account. The only difference is that, over time, the odds will be in your favor as an investor and not in your favor as a poker player.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

[4:27] There’s a huge difference between "making money" and "preserving money".

[7:17] Poker machines relate to stock markets specifically because what you see on TV and what you hear reported as a yield is almost never going to be your yield.

[10:39] You’ll realize that the advertisements and the funding of all financial shows or major financial institutions absolutely want to play with your money.

[12:56] Gambling is not quite the same as the stock market, but you’re being manipulated in a similar fashion.

[14:41] Stock market traders vs Gamblers

Key Quotes:

[7:24] "You need to understand and put your expectations into your actual performance."

[10:58] "The thing about gamblers is that they know how to put down long ways to make money."

Resources:

Annuity Newsletter

Call Annuity Straight Talk at 800-438-5121 or schedule a call at AnnuityStraightTalk.com 

Rates have risen consistently over the last 3-4 months, widening the spread of insurance companies. With all of that going on, people are looking for ways to protect their money, which results in a flood of insurance contracts. With rates rapidly changing, companies are preoccupied with expanding their sales force. Some companies are handling it well, while others are in a dramatic fallout. It’s a competitive market, and these companies are working tirelessly to keep up. 

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

[1:29] Why are insurance companies really busy right now?

[8:00] If you’re using an IRA, an application should be processed before the insurance company will transfer paperwork to a custodian 

[9:30] No matter how good the product is, the extra benefit is not necessarily worth the complex contract service over the life of the contract

[10:48] There’s a rumor that life insurance is a lot more financially stable and you get better ratings for having consistent revenue streams for life insurance 

Key Quotes:

[4:10] "The business is competitive, so the first thing most companies do is create a better product."

[15:22] "I’m glad that so many people are getting into annuities to protect their money. It’s a great product and this is a very good time to do it."

Resources:

Annuity Newsletter

Call Annuity Straight Talk at 800-438-5121 or schedule a call at AnnuityStraightTalk.com 

Education is important, especially when you’re making retirement plan decisions. Annuities can improve your portfolio, but how it does will be all up to you. Most of the time, you’re going to be given two or more options to choose from, but again, it’s important to be well informed and learn how all of these types work before you decide where to bet your money on.

Today, Bryan will share with us an unusual case that landed on his desk. A 75-year-old widow contacted him and asked for advice on the best annuity to purchase for her needs.

And we’ll learn more about it in this episode.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

[5:05] In this market, how do you choose the best annuity?

[10:32] If you use the highest projected return, there’s a possibility that it will work out.

[11:16] Bryan shares a 75-year old lady’s retirement case.

[12:11] What’s the highest guaranteed lifetime payout for 130K?

[13:35] The solution is to improve the portion of the yield of available funds

Key Quotes:

[8:44] "Safety is a primary concern."

[8:58] "Taking a risk when you are towing the line or walking a tightrope is a very bad idea.

Resources:

Annuity Newsletter

Call Annuity Straight Talk at 800-438-5121 or schedule a call at AnnuityStraightTalk.com