Annuities are nothing new; in fact, they’ve been around since Roman times, and maybe even before that.1 But they’re seeing a modern-day surge in popularity, fueled by pre-retirees and retirees concerned about stock market volatility and outliving their retirement income. The fixed annuity market experienced significant growth between 2017 and 2018, with a 25 percent increase…

Recessions have consequences, and the Great Recession of 2008 may have produced one of the most influential consequences of all: the millennial mindset. Because of their early experiences in the “real world,” this generation is poised to have long-term significance — comparable to baby boomers — in work, play and politics. If you think boomers…

Imagine if, sadly, Dad dies or becomes incapacitated. You’re in charge of handling all his financial affairs, from managing his investments to putting income sources in place for Mom. There’s just one problem: He was an old-school guy who never consolidated his assets or set up online accounts. Also, it appears he worked with different…

The Federal Reserve recently reported that four out of 10 American adults surveyed said they would struggle to pay for an unexpected expense of $400 or more.1 This revelation goes against the common financial advice urging adults to have three to six months of expenses saved in an accessible account for emergencies.2 Nearly everyone has multiple…

While the 2020 presidential election gains steam, it seems that the passion for new legislation has taken a backseat. As of July 1, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives had passed 169 bills this year1 while the Republican-dominated Senate had passed 61.2 Unfortunately, as of the same date, this divided impasse had produced only 24 enacted bills since…

Kiplinger recently noted that the U.S. stock market appeared more resilient than ever, having bounced back from a devastating end of 2018. Employment remains relatively steady, inflation flat and the Fed has indicated reticence to increasing interest rates through the end of the year. In fact, the only headwinds for the rest of the year…

As you begin the retirement planning process, it’s important to have a strategic income plan with regard to Social Security benefits. It is particularly important for married couples to consider not only when the primary breadwinner should begin drawing benefits but also how that start date could affect a spouse whose benefit is derived from…

One of the first discussions a young couple may have when starting a family is about affordability. How will they pay for child care? Will one spouse quit their job to stay home and raise the child? Here are a couple of interesting facts that may enter that equation:1 The average income for first-time mothers…

When it comes to retirement preparation, a common benchmark goal is having one’s mortgage paid off. This typically removes a large, ongoing payment from the budget and can reduce retirement expenses substantially. Some people even schedule their retirement just after their final payment date. Here’s an even better idea: Schedule your retirement date six months…

Between 1926 and 2018, the S&P 500 experienced double-digit annual losses only 11 times. Not only did the market recover, but the index has never permanently lost ground in any rolling 15-year period during that timeframe.1 While past performance is no guarantee of future results, that bit of history is good for stock investors to…

Why Buy an Annuity When the Market is Up? Perhaps you are familiar with an annuity. The basic premise is that you convert a lump sum of money into a stream of income. Unlike an investment, once you commit a fixed amount of money to the insurance company, that company is contractually obligated to provide…

Companies are constantly trying to find new ways to reduce their expenses and generate revenue each year; some in quite innovative ways. The insurance industry is no different. On the health insurance side, one example is companies’ entrance into the wellness arena. By teaching members to make healthier choices and engage in healthier behaviors, and…

According to IRS estimates, taxpayers collectively pay about 82 percent of taxes they legitimately owe. This amounts to about $458 billion annually in lost taxes, based on data from 2008 to 2010.1 Of course, we do not recommend strategies to avoid legitimate tax liabilities. However, it is important to stay current with the constantly evolving…

Although mental illness has long been stigmatized, fortunately, things are beginning to change. Starting this year, dozens of health systems are adopting widespread solutions to address mental health conditions, including untreated depression, teen suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).1 Here are some startling statistics:2 As of 2016, 44.7 million American adults had experienced a mental…

In 1985, only 10 percent of people aged 65 and older were either in the workforce or job hunting. Today, that share has doubled, for a couple of reasons. First, fewer 65-year-olds have enough money to retire. Second, the number of people in this demographic with a college degree has more than doubled (53 percent…

There are different formulas for launching highly successful companies. First, create a product that solves a problem that no one knew they had — for instance, how online search engines replaced encyclopedias. Then, there are ideas that help solve problems that plague millions of people. Back pain, for example. Not only do approximately eight in…

According to Zurich North America’s chief claims officer, natural hazards are more common and more damaging than in the past. The time to act and reduce future risk is now, particularly when it comes to nationwide infrastructure. For example, U.S. roads and bridges were simply not built for the severity and frequency of storms and…

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that Social Security beneficiaries have lost $6.7 million in two months resulting from a new, highly effective scam. This is how it works: Someone calls you and says they are with the Social Security Administration (SSA), stating they regret to inform you that your Social Security payments have been…

Once we’ve established an income plan, after we assess your current needs and build a plan that’s going to address income planning in your retirement, we begin to create an investment strategy for the remaining assets. We set aside “X” amount of dollars for the income. Annuities are great tools to use for putting money…

Next, we do a portfolio analysis to find out what your current fees are. Typically, we find that we can save someone several thousands of dollars once we take over as their advisor. Achieving low volatility managing assets in a very volatile market is difficult for the average advisor or the average retiree. When the…