This article is part of the Retirement Financial Life Equation (RFLE). It was initially published on July 31, 2019, and updated in January 2026. In this, the third and final article in this series on annuities, I examine variable annuities. The 2025 landscape: Although sales of fixed index annuities have significantly outpaced variable annuities in … Read more
In my last article, I looked at immediate fixed-income annuities and discussed whether I might want to include them as a part of my overall retirement income plan. Guaranteed payments for life are their strong suit (helps mitigate “longevity risk”). But, as I noted, one of my major concerns about immediate fixed-income annuities is that … Read more
This article is part of the Retirement Financial Life Equation (RFLE) series. It was initially published on July 10, 2019, and updated in December 2025 I recently helped a friend evaluate an annuity product he was considering for part of his retirement savings. Like many of us, he wanted to protect some of his assets … Read more
This article is part of the Retirement Financial Life Equations (RFLE) series. It was initially published in September 2018, but was updated in March 2026. Owning a house is a great thing. Mostly because we all need a place to live, and if you’re fortunate enough to own your own home, you’re truly blessed. Among … Read more
I recently was asked an interesting question by a church friend concerning his elderly mother. Like many of us, he is a ‘boomer’ and has an 85-year-old mother who currently lives in an assisted-care facility. Her expenses are being paid for by Social Security, a military survivors pension, and long-term care (LTC) policy. Her living … Read more
This article is part of the Retirement Financial Life Equation (RFLE) series. It was initially published on January 31, 2018, and extensively rewritten in February 2026 in the context of the RFLE. The Retirement Financial Life Equation isn’t just a theoretical framework. It’s a practical diagnostic tool for answering the question that eventually confronts everyone … Read more
This article is part of the Retirement Financial Life Equation (RFLE) series. It was initially published on May 6, 2017, and updated in December 2025. I know quite a few people who have taken an early “traditional” retirement. By that I mean they were between the ages of 62 and their Full Retirement Age (FRA). … Read more
This article is part of the Retirement Financial Life Equation (RFLE) series. It was initially published on July 24, 2019, and updated in January 2026 In my last article, I looked at immediate fixed-income annuities and discussed whether I might want to include them as a part of my overall retirement income plan. Guaranteed payments … Read more
As a financial coach, I often work with folks who are in the accumulation/growth phase of planning for retirement (i.e., 5 to 10 years or more away). Sometimes I come across someone who has either: 1) received a recommendation from their stock broker or insurance salesperson to purchase a fixed-rate, indexed, or variable annuity product … Read more
