Hi Reader,

When people hear the word annuity, they often picture a stream of retirement income. While that's certainly part of the story, there are important decisions that come long before those payments ever begin.

How do the different types of annuities work? Which one might fit your retirement goals? And what questions should you answer before comparing products?

"The objective isn't to find the best annuity. The objective is to determine whether an annuity belongs in your retirement plan at all, and if it does, which type is the right one for you."

ERIC BLAKE

Which Type of Annuity Fits Your Retirement Plan?

In this episode, I continue our annuity series by explaining the different types of annuities and how each one is designed to solve a different retirement planning challenge.

I clarify the difference between an annuity as a financial concept and an annuity as a financial product, explain how immediate, deferred, fixed, fixed indexed, and variable annuities work, and return to one guiding question that can bring greater clarity to every retirement decision:

What are you trying to accomplish?

Key Takeaways:

• How viewing annuities as financial products changes the decisions involved before purchasing one
• Why immediate and deferred income annuities serve different retirement income objectives
• How fixed indexed annuities balance market participation with protection from direct market losses
• Why variable annuities may appeal to investors seeking tax-deferred growth opportunities
• How identifying your retirement goal first helps narrow the annuity choices that may fit your plan
• And more!

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Related Links & Resources

• 📄 Read
  • ​Episode 116 Transcript​
• 🎧 Related Episodes
  • ​Understanding Annuities Before You Decide if They Belong in Your Retirement Plan (Ep. 115 | Pt. 1)​
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Upcoming Workshop

Retirement is about more than your finances. It's also about creating a life you'll enjoy once work is no longer part of your daily routine.

That's why I'm excited to host a free live workshop with Joy Levin, Certified Professional Retirement Coach.

The Plan Nobody Hands You: Building a Life You'll Love After Work

Together, we'll explore the personal side of retirement and discuss practical ways to build purpose, structure, and meaningful connections beyond your career.

The workshop will be held on Tuesday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m. CT.

I hope you'll join us.

The Simply Retirement Toolbox

👉 Does An Annuity Fit Within My Financial Plan?​​​​​

Securing a predictable income stream in retirement is likely one of your primary goals if you are approaching or already in retirement. With so many products and strategies available, it can be difficult to determine which approach best fits your unique financial situation.

Annuities can provide guaranteed income along with several other benefits that may support your retirement plan. Depending on your needs and circumstances, an annuity may help protect your initial investment, supplement your retirement income, provide tax-deferred growth, help address long-term care expenses, or support your legacy and wealth transfer goals.

Before deciding whether an annuity is right for you, it deserves careful consideration rather than being automatically dismissed or accepted. To help you evaluate whether an annuity fits within your retirement plan, we created this checklist. It covers several of the key factors you should consider, including:

• Variable, fixed, and indexed annuities
• Immediate and deferred income annuities
• Purchase/funding methods
• Riders and other features
• Tax considerations

Have more questions about retirement planning? Just hit reply to this email. I read and respond to every message. 😃

Keeping Retirement Simple,

Eric Blake, CFP®

​Content here is for illustrative purposes and general information only. It is not legal, tax, or individualized financial advice; nor is it a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any specific security, or engage in any specific trading strategy.

All investing involves risk including loss of principal. Results will vary. Past performance is no indication of future results or success. Market conditions change continuously.

Information here is provided, in part, by third-party sources. These sources are generally deemed to be reliable; however, neither Blake Wealth Management nor RFG Advisory guarantee the accuracy of third-party sources. The views expressed here are those of Blake Wealth Management. They do not necessarily represent those of RFG Advisory, their employees, or their clients.

This commentary should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Blake Wealth Management or RFG Advisory, or performance returns of any client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice.

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