One of the prime features of many annuities is the guaranteed income it can provide.  Where else can you get an income to last to rest of your life no matter how long that is?  And get that income regardless of what happens in the stock, real estate, or bond markets.  So why might I [...]

With the stock market hitting new highs, people are beginning to feel more bearish.  What is the future of the stock market in 2013? S teve Hochberg, chief market analyst at Elliott Wave International, believes that we will see the market below the March 2009 lows.  Only time will tell. You can watch the interview by [...]

According to a survey by Deloitte’s Center for Financial Services (Deloitte), close to 40% of 4,500 consumers surveyed said they do not know anything about annuities or understand how they work.  The survey suggests that these findings attest to the inability of the industry to convey not only the operational mechanics of the products, but [...]

Saving for your retirement doesn’t have to be complicated either. Sometimes, it’s downright easy!  How do you make the most of your early retirement saving?  Stop leaving it on the table.  Get active with your savings.  Go beyond being active, and be pro-active.  Start with your employer.  If you’ve got a 401(k) through your employer, [...]

According to this report from LIMRA, overall annuity sales were down 8% overall in Q4 2012.  However, leading the way were Index Annuity sales up a staggering 143% over Q1 2012.  In 2012, Index Annuity sales reached a new record high of $34 Billion.  This is a 5% increase over 2011.   The rationale for [...]

There is a term in the annuity industry called “Annual Reset”.  It is a term referring to some Index Annuity products.  Not every annuity or even index annuity offers Annual Reset.  However, it is the single biggest advantage that the Index annuity product offers.   Here’s how it works:   Whenever the index your performance [...]

Recently a quick assessment was posted on Life Health Pro by Maribeth Kuzmeski.  According to Kuzmeski, answering these 8 questions will tell you a lot about your marketing strategy for this year. 1) Do you have an up to date website? And does the site have a call to action to engage your prospects? 2) [...]

According to a survey from FindLaw.com, roughly 55% of Americans don’t have a will, which leaves them no say in what happens to their assets when they die. Furthermore, if you die “intestate” without a legal will your living situation at death has no bearing on the division of your accidental estate.   Market watch [...]

The commonly used rate of inflation, 3%-4%, is used in so many formulas for retirement, investing, and “cost-of-living” increases.  But, is that the right number?  A   story released by the American Institute for Economic Research claims that the real rate of inflation is closer to 8%. Where is this number coming from?  The reports are [...]

According to Doug Dubitsky, vice president of product management and development for Guardian Life Insurance, “There’s no greater time to be offering guaranteed income products.”  As 10,000 baby boomers reach the age of 65 every day in the US, who have less access to traditional sources for retirement like pensions, annuities are a great avenue [...]