Updated December 2019

There are several options financial professionals can use to help their clients prepare a strategy for retirement expenses. Long-term care insurance (LTCI) provides care for those who need long-term assistance in a nursing home, care at home or adult daycare. Some annuity "doubler" income riders can also be used to provide double the annual income for up to five years if the annuitant qualifies.

As more companies do away with defined benefit pension plans, the responsibility is left on individuals to ensure that they have enough income saved for retirement. The issue is many people don’t realize the importance of developing a financial strategy now or understand what needs to be done. Help your prospects and clients with a financial strategy that will help them not outlive their savings.

What does it take to get a saver to move their money? Apparently not that much. According to an insurance company representative, they are writing new business hand over fist because their company offers the highest guaranteed fixed rate of interest for a specific number of years within a deferred annuity.

In the past, financial professionals have relied on a well-balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds to manage a client’s risk versus return. While the concept is widely accepted, if you ask 50 different financial professionals what a well-balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds looks like, you'll likely get 50 different answers. 

What is the one big risk that Certificates of Deposit (CDs), fixed annuities, and fixed indexed annuities share? Interest-rate risk. For example, you could miss out on higher interest credited to your savings if current rates increase during the penalty period of the fixed interest-bearing vehicle of your choice.

How many indexed annuities do you own? Your answer should be at least “one” if you are recommending them to others. My belief is if you are selling them, you should own them. If you don’t, you are not credible.

Indexed products: You’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, right? WRONG! Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIA) have been sold in the United States for over two decades. Sales of FIAs have skyrocketed in recent years as their popularity increased.

In 2004 Morgan Spurlock released a shocking documentary called Super Size Me on the health risks of eating fast food. Although a bit extreme, Spurlock’s documentary followed him for an entire month as he only consumed fast food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The results? He gained weight of course!