Author name: John Stevenson

If you’re considering an annuity, one of the first questions you should ask is simple:Are annuities really guaranteed—and who’s backing those guarantees? A lot of advisors talk about “guarantees,” but very few explain where those guarantees actually come from. Let’s break it down in plain English so you can feel confident about how annuities are

One of the most common questions people ask is: “What’s the best age to buy an annuity?” You’ll hear a lot of vague answers online. Some say “as early as possible,” others say “wait until retirement.” The truth is, those answers are incomplete—and following them blindly can cost you flexibility and income. Let’s break down

If you’ve noticed more retirees talking about annuities lately, you’re not imagining it. Annuity sales are near record highs — and there are very specific reasons why. Some people ask: Are annuities good? Bad? A scam? The real answer is simpler — they solve problems retirees are facing right now. Let’s break it down so

If you’re searching for the safest type of annuity in today’s market, you’re usually asking one simple question: “How do I protect my principal and still get a fair return or reliable income?” In most cases, the safest annuities are fixed annuities (MYGAs) and fixed index annuities (FIAs)—not variable annuities. Below is a clear, practical

If you’re shopping for an annuity, the biggest annuity mistakes usually don’t look like “mistakes” at the time. They look like convenience: trusting one quote, signing fast, and assuming everything was explained. But annuities are long-term contracts. When you buy the wrong one—or buy the right one the wrong way—you can lock yourself into surrender

If you’re wondering whether to roll over a 401(k) into an annuity, you’re not alone. Pre-retirees and retirees often reach a point where the market feels stressful, and they want guaranteed lifetime income they can’t outlive. The good news: rolling a 401(k), 403(b), TSP, or similar employer plan into an annuity is usually straightforward when

If you’re thinking about buying an annuity, one of the biggest questions is simple—but critical: How much money should you actually put into it? Some advisors say “only a little.” Others say “as much as possible.” The truth? There’s a right range—and going too far can backfire. Let’s break it down in plain English. Need

If you’re thinking about purchasing an annuity, one of the first questions you probably have is: “How will this be taxed?” Great question — because depending on how you fund your annuity, your taxes can be very little… or quite a lot… or sometimes none at all. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly

Inflation is the hidden tax that eats into every retiree’s income. And many retirees are asking the same question: “Do annuities actually grow fast enough to beat inflation… or even keep up with it?” It’s a smart question—especially when you want market protection and growth. Traditional thinking says, “Just buy more stocks to beat inflation,”

If you’re approaching retirement and you have a pension, you’ve probably wondered: “Should I take the pension payout… or would I get more income by moving that lump sum into an annuity?” This is one of the most common questions retirees bring to me. And the truth is: sometimes the pension is the better deal