Plain-English fixed annuity education. No jargon, no spin, no sales pitch.
Inheriting an annuity comes with tax rules that differ from other inherited assets. Here's what a beneficiary should understand before deciding what to do.
MYGA rates move with the broader interest-rate environment, not on their own schedule. Here's what actually influences the rates you see today.
Riders add optional features to an annuity for a fee. Here's what the most common ones actually do, and how to decide if one is worth it.
There's no single right age — it depends on the job you need the annuity to do. Here's how age intersects with each type of fixed annuity.
Variable annuities put your principal at market risk. Fixed annuities don't. Here's the real difference — and why we specialize in fixed only.
The highest rate isn't always the best contract. Here's what actually matters when comparing insurance carriers for a fixed annuity.
Instead of locking all your money into one MYGA term, laddering spreads it across several — giving you regular access points and rate flexibility.
A DIA lets you lock in future guaranteed income today, at a date you choose. Here's how it differs from an immediate annuity — and who it's built for.
If your annuity is inside an IRA, RMD rules still apply. Here's how required minimum distributions work with annuities, in plain English.
Most fixed annuities pass directly to a named beneficiary — often avoiding probate entirely. Here's how death benefits actually work.
Yes — and it's more common than most people realize. Here's how funding an annuity with IRA money works, and what changes about the tax treatment.
A 1035 exchange lets you move from one annuity to another tax-free — if you follow the rules exactly. Here's how the process actually works.
The side-by-side math most banks don't want you to see — and why tax deferral changes the final number more than most people realize.
Where rates stand today, which terms are most competitive, and what to look for beyond the headline number when comparing MYGA offers.
How you can earn interest linked to the S&P 500 without ever losing principal — and what "cap rate" actually means in plain English.
The math behind income annuities — and why no stock portfolio can truly replicate guaranteed lifetime payments, no matter how conservative the withdrawal rate.
AM Best grades insurance carriers the way Moody's grades bonds. Here's what the letter ratings actually mean — and how to use them when comparing annuity carriers.
How hybrid LTC annuities work, what the leverage looks like, and why this approach solves the "use it or lose it" problem with traditional LTC insurance.
The 4% rule, income replacement, guaranteed income floor — three frameworks for thinking about retirement readiness, and where annuities fit each one.
The honest answer: it depends on the type. MYGAs have no annual fees. FIAs and income riders do. Here's what to look for and how to evaluate the cost.
When your CD matures, you have a decision to make. Here's a framework for thinking through whether a MYGA makes sense — and when it doesn't.
State guaranty associations provide a safety net if an insurance carrier becomes insolvent. Here's how coverage limits work and why carrier AM Best ratings still matter.
Two very different products, often confused. Here's the honest side-by-side — including when MYGAs win, when FIAs win, and what the decision actually comes down to.
Single Premium Immediate Annuities explained clearly — how the payout rate is calculated, the tradeoff on liquidity, and who they're actually the best fit for.
Tax deferral, the exclusion ratio, 1035 exchanges, and IRA eligibility — the complete picture on how annuities interact with your tax situation.
"Annuities are a scam." "Your heirs get nothing." "You lose all your money." These myths persist. Here's what's actually true — with the math to back it up.
The end of a MYGA or FIA surrender period gives you several options. Here's what happens at maturity, what the free look window means, and how to think about what comes next.
If there's something you want explained — a product, a comparison, a specific scenario — contact Devin directly. If it's a common question, it becomes the next post.