Advertise on podcast: "Fun With Annuities" The Annuity Man Podcast

Market swings can threaten more than a portfolio—they can affect the retirement lifestyle you've worked toward. This episode makes the case for an income floor as a way to help retirees stay steady through both market volatility and life's changing stages.   In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Sequence-of-returns risk and guaranteed income "Sequence of lifestyle risk" Social Security, pensions, and MYGAs Market volatility and avoiding panic selling Go-go, slow-go, and no-go retirement phases   Key Takeaways:  The episode argues that guaranteed income can help cover essential expenses while leaving investments less exposed to panic-driven decisions. "Sequence of lifestyle risk" describes the possibility that market downturns or life events could disrupt a retiree's plans. Retirement income planning can consider Social Security, pensions, and annuity products as parts of an income floor. An income floor may give retirees more confidence to remain prudent investors during market volatility. Retirement needs can change over time, so planning should account for active years as well as periods when more care may be needed.   "Sequence of returns risk can be solved by annuities… the income floor is in place, the guarantees are in place, the principal protections in place, so it doesn't disrupt the lifestyle that you've worked so hard for and earned and should enjoy in chapter two of your life." —  Stan the Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

What does it mean to feel financially secure in retirement? Stan The Annuity Man argues that building a reliable income floor can help address the fear of outliving your money—and reduce reliance on market performance to cover essential expenses.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Income uncertainty and the fear of outliving your money Building an income floor with Social Security, pensions, and annuities The difference between portfolio gains and contractually guaranteed income Choosing an income product by goal and start date Planning for a spouse's income to continue if you pass away   Key Takeaways:  Stan frames income uncertainty as a longevity concern: the possibility of outliving your savings. An income floor is intended to cover bills and support your lifestyle, regardless of market conditions. His central message: evaluate annuities for their contractual guarantees, not hoped-for returns. Start with two questions: What do you want the money to do? And when should the guarantees begin? Planning for a surviving spouse can help keep household income uninterrupted after one partner dies.   "Annuities are the only category that can provide lifetime income. That's going to pay for as long as you're breathing." — Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

What if you could get annuity questions answered around the clock—and compare quotes without handing over your personal details? Stan shares how Virtual Stanley and anonymous quoting are designed to give consumers more access and control.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Virtual Stanley and its content foundation Anonymous annuity quotes Online applications across carriers Contractual guarantees and the PIL framework Consumer-first technology in the annuity industry   Key Takeaways:  Evaluate annuities for their contractual guarantees, not hypothetical market returns. Technology can make answers and quotes more accessible without requiring consumers to share contact details. An educational tool is most useful when it draws on substantial, authentic source material. Giving consumers time and choice can support a more informed buying experience. Improving a service means continuing to learn from users and refine what is offered.   "We don't sell hype; we sell contractual guarantees." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

Can an annuity truly keep up with inflation—or is that just a sales pitch? Stan challenges common claims about COLAs and indexed annuities, and explains his approach to covering a specific income shortfall when it arises.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Annuity COLAs and reduced starting payments Social Security's cost-of-living adjustment Indexed annuities and income riders Personal inflation and income gaps Reverse-engineering quotes for needed income   Key Takeaways:  A lifetime-income increase through an annuity COLA comes with a lower initial payment. A rising index does not necessarily mean an indexed annuity will deliver market returns or higher income. Inflation affects people differently, so a general-purpose solution may not match an individual's needs. One approach discussed is to calculate the amount needed to fill a specific income gap and price an annuity for that amount. Evaluate annuities by their contractual guarantees, not by hypothetical returns or sales promises.   "Never buy an annuity for hypothetical, theoretical, backtested, promised returns." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

What if the cash sitting in your checking account could compound year after year without the IRS taking a cut of the interest every year? Stan, The Annuity Man, explains how Multi-Year Guarantee Annuities make that possible.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  The PILL framework: principal protection, income for life, legacy, long-term care MYGAs as the annuity industry's version of a CD Tax-deferred compounding for non-qualified money Taking interest out, turning it on and off, and moving to a new MYGA without paying tax Why MYGA rates can be higher than CD rates   Key Takeaways:  Buy an annuity for what it will do, not what it might do. Annuities are contracts that shift risk to the insurer. They aren't tools for market growth. CD and money market interest is taxed every year. MYGA interest in a non-qualified account grows and compounds with taxes deferred. You don't have to take anything out when the term ends. You can move the money into another MYGA without paying tax, and it keeps compounding. Need income for a while? You can take interest off the top and keep your principal, then switch the payments off when you no longer need them. MYGA rates can beat CD rates because insurance companies back them with other profit centers. That doesn't make MYGAs better than CDs. It just makes them a strong fit for non-IRA cash.   "Multi-year guarantee annuities - it is the biggest no-brainer of all time and the greatest example of the eighth wonder of the annuity world, which is compound interest." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

That 7.3% next to an immediate annuity isn't a yield. It reflects how long you're expected to live. In this episode, Stan explains why there are only two kinds of annuity rates, and why tracking the Fed won't help you get either one right.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  The PILL framework: principal protection, income for life, legacy, long-term care Payout rates and life expectancy in lifetime income products MYGAs as the annuity version of CDs and bonds Why the Fed and annuity rates don't always move together Shopping all carriers for the highest contractual guarantee   Key Takeaways:  A payout rate isn't an interest rate. Lifetime income payouts depend mostly on your life expectancy. The older you are, the higher the payout. MYGAs work like CDs. You lock in a guaranteed interest rate for a term you choose, from 1 to 10 years, and you can ladder several terms. Both rate types shift risk to the insurer. With a MYGA, you hand off interest-rate risk. With lifetime income, you hand off the risk of outliving your money. You can't time the market, so don't try. A carrier may cut its rates even when the Fed raises them, if it already has enough business from people like you. Treat annuities as commodities. Shop every carrier for the highest contractual guarantee, and for lifetime income, only use insurers rated A+ or better.   "Do not buy annuities for market growth. Listen to me: buy them for the contractual guarantees of the policy. End of story." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

Former Wall Street broker turned annuity evangelist, Stan the Annuity Man, argues the industry's most misunderstood product is actually the market's greatest ally. Lock in a guaranteed income floor, he says, and you'll never panic-sell your portfolio again.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  The income floor and non-correlated retirement income Four lifetime-income annuity types: SPIAs, DIAs, QLACs, income riders Why Wall Street resists annuities (wrap fees) Debunking the 4% rule Allocation limits, transparency, and anonymous quoting   Key Takeaways:  Own an annuity for what it will contractually do, never for what it might do. A guaranteed income floor doesn't compete with your portfolio — it protects it, because you're never forced to sell into a downturn. Annuities hold a monopoly on lifetime income; no other product can pay as long as you're breathing. The 4% rule collapses the moment markets fall, since you're still withdrawing while trying to recover losses. Never go all in: the industry itself caps annuities at roughly 50–60% of investable assets, and the goal is to solve the income gap with the least money possible.   "If you want growth, don't buy an annuity. If you want guarantees, buy an annuity. It's that simple." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

Could living longer mean receiving lower annuity payments in the future? This episode explores how AI-driven medical breakthroughs could affect longevity, life expectancy assumptions, and lifetime income annuities.   In this episode, The Annuity Man discusses:  AI-driven medical breakthroughs and their potential impact on life expectancy How life expectancy tables factor into lifetime income annuity pricing Why current life expectancy assumptions may present an opportunity to lock in lifetime income Lifetime income products including SPIAs, DIAs, QLACs, and Income Riders Why financially strong A+ or better carriers matter for lifetime income guarantees   Key Takeaways:  AI-driven advances in medical research could potentially increase life expectancy and affect future annuity pricing. Lifetime income annuities are primarily priced around life expectancy, not interest rates. If future life expectancy assumptions increase, the speaker argues that lifetime payments could be lower because payments may need to continue for longer. Locking in current life expectancy assumptions could potentially result in higher lifetime income. Lifetime income products transfer longevity risk to the insurance company.   "How do you beat AI? How do you get ahead of AI? Lifetime income right now, because AI hasn't affected it, and the next word I'm going to say is very important, yet. It will. You know it." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

Upfront bonuses, free long-term care, unlimited market growth — if the annuity pitch sounds too good to be true, there's a reason. Here's how to spot it before you sign a 10-year contract.   In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  FIAs as CD products, not market products Principal protection and locked-in annual gains Caps, spreads, and renewal-rate discretion Deconstructing the four-part sales pitch Licensing gaps behind mis-selling   Key Takeaways:  It's a CD product, not a market product. These were built to compete with CD returns, bringing that expectation, not a growth one. Principal protection is the real upside. Market swings can't shrink your money, and gains lock in at each contract anniversary. A 10-year surrender charge can hide a one-year guarantee. Caps and spreads reset at the insurer's discretion, so renewal-rate history matters. Upfront bonuses aren't free money. They're priced into the guarantee, and the best guarantees often carry no bonus. "Free long-term care" isn't real coverage. A guaranteed-issue confinement rider is easy to qualify for and is not replaceable.   "If it sounds too good to be true, it is every single time with annuities without exception." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

Tired of annuity hype, bonuses, and rosy projections? In this episode, Stan The Annuity Man breaks down the three phases of income rider taxation and shows why the real value of annuities doesn't show up until your account hits zero.   In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Contractual guarantees vs. hypothetical projections What income riders are and how they work The three phases of income rider taxation Solving for longevity risk and building an income floor How to evaluate annuities and run income rider quotes   Key Takeaways:  Annuities should be purchased for their contractual guarantees, not for hypothetical growth stories or back-tested projections. Income riders attached to indexed annuities are designed to deliver lifetime income, and the focus should remain on the income rider, not the index side. The taxation of income riders moves through three stages—gains, principal, then the insurer's money—each with different tax implications. The true power of lifetime income products only appears after the account value hits zero, when the insurance company is still obligated to keep paying. Using annuities to create an income floor can reduce the fear of outliving your money and help you invest more confidently with the rest of your portfolio.   "When you buy an annuity, you're going to get a policy. That policy is a contract from a life insurance company that issues the annuity. So buy it for the contractual guarantees. Don't buy it for the dream." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

In this solo episode, Stan The Annuity Man breaks down how to buy annuities the right way and why his no-data, real-time quote platform is changing the industry.   In this episode, The Annuity Man discusses:  Annuities as contractual guarantees, not hypothetical growth The "annuity life coach" and "annuity oncologist" mindset Anonymous, real-time quoting for SPIAs, DIAs, MYGAs, QLACs, and Income Riders Professional boundaries and no-pressure, no-outbound model Direct-to-consumer mission and cleaning up annuity industry "charlatans"   Key Takeaways:  Annuities should only be purchased for what they are contractually guaranteed to do, not for hypothetical or illustrated returns. A truly client-focused advisor is willing to say "you're putting too much into this annuity" or "you might not need this product right now." Providing real-time, anonymous quotes empowers consumers to explore annuity options without fear of being chased by salespeople. Financial advisors should maintain professional distance rather than trying to be friends, golfing buddies, or entertainers. Transforming the annuity industry requires radical transparency, direct-to-consumer access, and a zero-tolerance stance on misleading, high-pressure sales tactics.   "You don't need a friend. You don't need a golfing buddy, and you don't need a meal purchased for you. You need someone telling you the truth." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

When an upfront annuity bonus looks too good to be true, it usually is—and the real cost can be buried in massive surrender charges and hollow promises. In this episode, you'll hear a blunt breakdown of the fixed index annuity bonus churning strategy and how to protect yourself from it.   In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Dangers of upfront bonuses in fixed index annuities How bonus churning and flipping annuities harm consumers Surrender charges and predatory sales practices Why contractual guarantees matter more than hypothetical growth Practical steps to evaluate annuity offers and avoid scams   Key Takeaways:  Upfront bonuses on fixed index annuities are rarely "free money"; they're typically funded by giving up value somewhere else in the contract, such as lower income payouts. Moving from one annuity to another just to chase a bigger bonus often leads to large surrender charges and usually only benefits the agent through new commissions. Any annuity recommendation should be justified by clear, contractual improvements—not by hypothetical projections, marketing hype, or emotional persuasion. In most cases, it is better to use available penalty-free withdrawals than to accept a huge surrender charge just to enter a new "bonus" product. Annuities should be purchased for their contractual guarantees, not as growth vehicles, and any offer that sounds too good to be true almost always is.   "Most upfront bonuses go to the income account, not the walkaway account. Income account's monopoly money." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

In this episode, Stan The Annuity Man pulls back the curtain on how annuity incentive trips can quietly distort recommendations—and how to protect yourself from funding your agent's next vacation. Discover why focusing on contractual guarantees, not sales gimmicks, is the only way to buy annuities on your terms.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Incentive trips and conflicts of interest in annuity sales Fiduciary mindset and putting client interests first Why annuities should be evaluated by contractual guarantees only Using online tools to compare annuity carriers and rates anonymously The PILL framework and simplifying annuity decision-making   Key Takeaways:  Incentive trips create a powerful misalignment between what's best for the client and what's most lucrative for the agent, often steering people into the wrong annuity products. The only legitimate "agenda" in any annuity recommendation should be finding the highest contractual guarantees that match a client's goals and timeline. Acting like a fiduciary—putting the client's interests ahead of commissions and perks—should be the baseline standard for anyone selling financial products. Annuities are commodity products whose quotes change frequently, so broad claims about a single "best" product are misleading and potentially fraudulent. Consumers gain power when they can anonymously compare annuity options, focus on contractual guarantees, and ask just two key questions: what they want the money to do, and when those guarantees should start.   "You only ask two questions when considering annuity: What do you want the money to contractually do? When do you want those contractual guarantees to start?" —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

Are you "surfing beside a cruise ship" in today's all‑time‑high stock market, hoping you don't get sucked under when the next downturn hits? In this solo episode, Stan the Annuity Man breaks down how to use annuities to lock in lifetime guarantees, build an income floor, and stop confusing a bull market with financial genius.   In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Current stock market euphoria and AI-driven highs The "surfing beside a cruise ship" risk metaphor What annuities are actually good for (PILL framework) The annuity industry's monopoly on lifetime income Building an income floor and avoiding growth-focused annuity traps   Key Takeaways:  Markets at all‑time highs can feel effortless, but that "easy money" environment can quickly reverse, especially when driven by hype cycles like artificial intelligence. Annuities should be used to provide contractual guarantees—such as principal protection and lifetime income—not to chase stock market–like growth. Before buying any annuity, you should clearly define what you want the money to contractually do and when those guarantees must start. The real, underused power of annuities is their ability to provide guaranteed income for as long as you live, something no standard market product can replicate. Establishing a non‑market‑correlated income floor first allows you to ride market waves more confidently without panicking or selling at the worst possible time.   "If you buy them for growth, you're a fool. Annuities, never buy them for market growth. Go buy the market." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

Real market growth never comes with surrender charges—and if it does, you're not really in the market. In this episode, Stan The Annuity Man tears apart "too good to be true" annuity pitches and shows you how to separate true contractual guarantees from sales hype.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Real market growth vs surrender charges Proper role of annuities and contractual guarantees Index annuities and income riders as delivery systems The PILL framework for what annuities actually solve Anonymous quote tool and consumer-first annuity education   Key Takeaways:  Real stock market participation is defined by liquidity and full upside potential; once surrender charges are involved, you're no longer in a true market-growth vehicle. Annuities should be purchased strictly for their contractual guarantees, not for hypotheticals, illustrated returns, or sales-driven "dream" scenarios. Index annuities are most efficiently used as delivery systems for income rider guarantees rather than as primary growth products. The PILL framework—Principal protection, Income for life, Legacy, Long-term care—clarifies exactly what annuities are designed to solve, and growth is not on that list. Separating annuities for guarantees and non-annuities for growth helps investors build a clearer, more rational strategy without falling for upfront bonuses and marketing gimmicks.   "Real market growth has no surrender charges." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: [email protected]  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!