Thinking about buying an annuity? Before you sign any paperwork, you need to know exactly where you are buying it from.

In this video, Shawn Plummer from The Annuity Expert shares 18 years of "inside baseball" industry secrets. Shawn breaks down the Top 10 absolute worst places to buy an annuity—and explains why purchasing from the wrong person could leave you with a B-rated company, locked into an irrevocable contract, or earning significantly less income than you deserve.

You'll learn why you should avoid direct-to-consumer platforms, big box advisory firms, captive insurance agents, local banks, and the dangerous world of online lead-generation ads. Finally, Shawn explains why an Independent Annuity Broker is the only way to guarantee you are getting the best contract from a pool of 1,500+ options.

📖 Read our full, unbiased Annuity & Carrier Reviews here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/reviews/

📊 Compare your options using our free Annuity Calculators here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/annuity-calculator-2/

📞 Want independent, unbiased advice? Call us for free at: 770-755-1565

Can you buy an annuity directly from an insurance company without using a broker? Yes, you can. But should you? Probably not.

In this video, Shawn Plummer from The Annuity Expert delivers a brutally honest reality check about the new wave of direct-to-consumer annuity companies (like Gainbridge and Canvas). Many people try to bypass brokers because they are afraid of "hidden commissions." Shawn breaks down exactly how commissions actually work (hint: they don't come out of your pocket!), and why trying to avoid an agent could leave you stuck with a B-rated company, an irrevocable contract, and terrible customer service down the road.

If you want unbiased advice, access to A-rated carriers, and the ability to compare 50+ companies at once—all for free—watch this video before you sign a direct-to-consumer contract!

📈 Compare today's highest Fixed Annuity Rates (Updated Daily) here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/rates/annuity/fixed/

📊 Run a free, anonymous lifetime income quote here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/annuity-calculator-2/

📞 Want independent, unbiased advice? Call us for free at: 770-755-1565

If you have a pension, you might be wondering if you can cash it out to access your money. The answer depends entirely on where you are in the pension timeline!

In this video, Shawn Plummer from The Annuity Expert explains the critical difference between cashing out before you start taking payments versus trying to cash out after you've retired. You will learn why taking a lump sum and rolling it into an IRA is often a much smarter tax move than cashing it out entirely.

Shawn also reveals the harsh truth about "annuitization"—why your monthly pension benefit is almost always an irrevocable, irreversible decision. However, if you are already stuck in a payout phase and desperately need your cash, Shawn shares the one specific phrase (the "Commutation Benefit") you need to ask your pension provider about immediately.

📊 Compare your Lump Sum option vs. a Monthly Payout here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/annuity-calculator-2/lump-sum-calculator/

If you are planning for retirement with your spouse, ensuring that neither of you runs out of money is likely your top priority. In this video, Shawn Plummer from The Annuity Expert explains exactly what a Joint and Survivor Annuity is, and the two completely different ways to set it up.

Shawn breaks down the critical difference between traditional "Annuitization" (which forces you to give up control of your money forever) and a modern Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit (GLWB) rider. You will learn why a GLWB is often the far superior option for married couples, allowing you to lock in a guaranteed paycheck for both of your lifetimes while still maintaining control of your cash, earning market-linked interest, and preserving a lump-sum death benefit for your heirs.

📖 Read our full guide on Joint and Survivor Annuities here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/types-of-annuities/joint-and-survivor/

📞 Want a free "Income Heat Map" comparison for your joint payout? Call us at: 770-755-1565

Did you buy your annuity between 2000 and 2019? If so, you might be leaving thousands of dollars on the table!

In this video, Shawn Plummer from The Annuity Expert answers a crucial question: Should I buy an annuity in a high-interest-rate environment, and should I replace my old one? Because interest rates are significantly higher today than they were a decade ago, newer annuity contracts are offering much higher lifetime payout percentages.

Shawn shares a real-life case study of a couple from Minnesota who "stress-tested" their old 2015 variable annuity and managed to increase their guaranteed lifetime income by over $2,000 a year simply by rolling it into a modern contract! Watch to learn how to run your own stress test and use our free calculator to see what your money could be generating today.

📊 Stress-test your old annuity and calculate your real-time payout here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/annuity-calculator-2/

📞 Want a free, no-obligation stress test for your specific contract? Call us at: 770-755-1565

If you are researching ways to protect your retirement savings while still getting market-linked growth, you have probably run into a wall of confusing insurance jargon. The most common question we get from people reading older financial advice is: What is the difference between an Equity Index Annuity and a Fixed Index Annuity?

In this quick video, Shawn Plummer from The Annuity Expert gives you the straight answer: there is virtually no difference!

Shawn explains how the term "Equity Index Annuity" was popularized in the late 90s and early 2000s. You will learn the one subtle difference between those early contracts and the modern "Fixed Index Annuities" sold today (hint: it has to do with the addition of a declared fixed-interest bucket). Both products serve the exact same core purpose: giving you stock market-linked upside with 100% principal protection against market crashes.

📖 Read our full, easy-to-understand guide on Fixed Index Annuities here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/types-of-annuities/fixed-index-annuity/

📊 Calculate your guaranteed lifetime income in real-time here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/annuity-calculator-2/

📞 Have questions or need a custom FIA quote? Call us for free at: 770-755-1565

If you own an annuity or are considering buying one, you likely have a few major questions about how the IRS and government programs view your money. In this video, Shawn Plummer from The Annuity Expert breaks down exactly when your annuity funds are considered tax-deferred assets versus taxable income.

Shawn explains how ordinary income tax applies to your gains once you start taking withdrawals, and highlights the one major exception: tax-free Roth IRA annuities. You will also learn about a highly specific, lesser-known strategy using a "Medicaid-Compliant Annuity" to protect a healthy spouse from going broke if their partner needs to enter a nursing home.

📖 Read our full, easy-to-understand guide on Annuity Taxes here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/annuity-basics/taxes/

📊 Stress-test your current annuity or calculate your lifetime income here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/annuity-calculator-2/

📞 Have questions about annuity taxes or Medicaid rules? Call us at: 770-755-1565

If you are a retiring federal employee or military member, you face a massive decision: What should you do with your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)?

In this video, Shawn Plummer from The Annuity Expert explains exactly how to roll over your TSP into a Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) without triggering any taxes or IRS penalties.

Shawn breaks down the critical difference between the government's default payout option (the MetLife Monthly Benefit) and rolling your lump sum into a privately-owned IRA Annuity. You'll learn why the MetLife payout is a dangerous, "irrevocable" trap that strips you of your control, and how using a Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit (GLWB) on a Fixed Index Annuity allows you to generate a similar (or higher) lifetime paycheck while keeping total control of your cash, earning market-linked interest, and preserving a lump-sum death benefit for your family.

📊 Compare your TSP MetLife payout vs. an FIA anonymously using our free calculator here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/annuity-calculator-2/

📞 Have questions about executing a tax-free TSP rollover? Call us at: 770-755-1565

Are you in your 40s and wondering if you are too young to buy an annuity? The short answer is no—you can buy an annuity at almost any age! But should you buy one in your 40s?

In this video, Shawn Plummer from The Annuity Expert breaks down the two main reasons why an annuity makes sense for a 40-year-old. First, it offers a safe haven for growth, allowing you to sidestep a volatile stock market using a Fixed Annuity (MYGA) or a Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) as a bond alternative. Second, it allows you to leverage "deferral time" to lock in massive lifetime income payouts.

Shawn runs the real-time math to show you exactly how a 42-year-old can put $500,000 into an annuity today, let it cook for 20 years, and lock in a contractually guaranteed $120,000/year for life starting at age 62!

📊 Run your own math! Calculate your guaranteed lifetime income in real-time here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/annuity-calculator-2/

📞 Have questions about setting up a foundational retirement plan? Call us at: 770-755-1565

A common question we get from younger savers is: "Can I buy an annuity at age 30, and is it a good idea?"

In this video, Shawn Plummer from The Annuity Expert gives you the straight, unfiltered truth. Yes, you can buy an annuity at 30, but it is only a smart move in a few specific scenarios. Shawn explains how younger investors are using Fixed Annuities (MYGAs) as high-yield CD alternatives, and how Fixed Index Annuities (FIAs) offer stock market-linked growth without the risk of a market crash.

Shawn also reveals a brilliant wealth-preservation strategy for 30-year-olds who just received a massive inheritance or sold a business: pairing a Life-Only SPIA with a Term Life Insurance policy to create a massive, guaranteed income stream while protecting their heirs. Finally, learn exactly who should never buy an annuity in their 30s!

📈 Compare today's highest Fixed Annuity (MYGA) Rates here:

https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/rates/annuity/fixed/

📞 Need a Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) or Income quote?

Note: Our online income calculator starts at age 40. If you are in your 30s and want to see your actual numbers, give us a call for a free, no-obligation custom quote!

Call us at: 770-755-1565