How to expertly evaluate any annuity.

Do you include an annuity or two as a part of your retirement savings? Annuities are a common part of many retirement accounts because they offer some unique benefits that are impossible to find elsewhere. ​ Annuities are sold by insurance agents, banks and credit unions, stockbrokers and financial advisors. Some of these people have access to the best annuities and some have limited choices to offer. Some choose annuities that pay them a higher commission at your expense. ​ The hard part is telling the great annuity, from the good annuity, from the downright crummy one. We will show you EXACTLY how to grade the quality of your annuity. ​ Annuities come in three basic varieties. Fixed annuities are the most predictable and plain vanilla. Index annuities protect your principal but have less predictable returns. Variable annuities fluctuate up and down in value based on your specific investment returns. ​ All annuity types vary in quality- there are great, good and crummy ones of each. ​ We mentioned that annuities can offer some unique benefits hard to replicate- these benefits can include promises or guarantees on minimum performance, minimum amounts payable to your beneficiaries, income guaranteed to last your lifetime, and increased benefits for long-term health care. Generally, these additional benefits can only be selected when you start your annuity. ​ We will show you how to find out if your annuity offers any of these additional benefits, what they mean to you, and how much they cost each year. ​ You own the annuity. Now is the time to see if it is a keeper. ​ Complete the following three steps and you will have your own Annuity Report Card.  ​ And then you will be able to really know if your annuity is an A+ or something less.

WHAT AN ANNUITY REPORT CARD ALLOWS YOU TO DO Once you complete the process of grading your annuity you will know more about your annuity than ever before. What will that knowledge allow you to do? ​ If you find your annuity is working hard to meet your goals and that it provides a good balance of the benefits most important to you, you can relax and continue to enjoy your annuity. ​ If you find that your annuity is lacking in performance or features, you may choose to transfer your money somewhere else. Possibly to another annuity, or to a different type account that is more appropriate for you today. ​ You could also choose to do some of both- leave some money in the current annuity and transfer some money somewhere else. ​ It is a hard time for retirement savers, it is important to make sure every one of your retirement dollars is providing all the benefits possible.

Come see us today at seriousmoneyohio.com for all the tools you will need to expertly evaluate your annuity.