Risk protections

Annuities & Retirement Income

A retirement has to fund itself for decades without a paycheck behind it. An annuity is a contractual way to guarantee part of that income, or to grow and defer tax on money you don’t need yet — and for many clients, a disciplined destination for a rollover that has otherwise been left to drift.

Who this is for

Approaching or in retirement

Individuals and couples within a decade of retirement, weighing how much of their income should be guaranteed versus market-dependent. Retirees who want part of a portfolio protected from sequence-of-returns risk. Anyone consolidating an old 401(k) or IRA who wants a deliberate decision, not a default one. Recipients of a structured settlement or a lump sum who need it to produce income responsibly over time.

What we design

Matching the contract to the goal

  • Guaranteed income

    Immediate and deferred income annuities that convert a sum of money into a contractual income stream — for life, or for a defined period — to cover essential expenses a portfolio shouldn’t have to carry alone.

  • Guaranteed growth

    Fixed and fixed-indexed annuities, including multi-year guarantee annuities (MYGA), for money that needs principal protection and tax-deferred growth rather than market exposure.

  • Flexibility where it’s needed

    Deferred and flexible-premium structures for clients still accumulating, who want to add to a contract over time rather than fund it once.

  • Rollover consolidation

    Evaluating whether a qualified rollover — from a 401(k), 403(b), or existing IRA — belongs in an annuity structure, on its merits, including what it gives up as well as what it gains.

  • Structured settlements

    Designing the income schedule from a settlement or judgment so it actually lasts as long as the need it’s meant to cover.

What we do

Modeled against the rest of the plan

We model how much guaranteed income a client actually needs against Social Security, pensions, and portfolio withdrawals — not in isolation — so the annuity fills a real gap rather than duplicating income that already exists. We compare carriers on contract language, rider cost, and surrender terms, not headline rates alone, and we coordinate with a client’s investment advisor so the annuity is understood as one piece of the retirement-income plan, not a competing one.

Note: An annuity can also be structured specifically to fund long-term care. See Long-Term Care Planning.

Is your retirement income guaranteed, or just assumed?