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A married couple came to Marty with $1.5 million saved for retirement. On paper, they looked like they were in great shape. But when Marty ran the numbers, they were on track to run out of money by their mid-80s. In this episode, Marty breaks down a real case study of a 62 and 60-year-old couple needing $138,000 a year in income — a 9.2% withdrawal rate, more than double the standard 4% rule. Marty walks through four different strategies side by side: staying conservative, going aggressive in the market, a half-measure annuity approach, and the full Atlas Annuity Strategy that took them from running dry to having nearly $1 million left in their 90s, with over 90% of their income guaranteed for life and zero market risk. You'll learn: Why a safe withdrawal rate matters more than your total account balance What really happens when your withdrawal rate creeps above 4% Why "locking up" money in an annuity may actually free up more cash than staying invested How guaranteed income can let you take more risk — and defer Social Security — safely This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or trade any securities. Please consult a licensed advisor before making any financial decisions. Ready to see what your own withdrawal rate and guaranteed income strategy could look like? Book your free Income Clarity Call at atlasannuity.com.

Have you ever looked at an annuity illustration and seen a chart labeled "surrender schedule" and thought, wait... is my money trapped? In this episode, Marty Becker breaks down exactly what surrender charges are, why insurance companies build them into annuities, and why they're actually more forgiving than people assume. Marty walks through real numbers showing how a surrender schedule works, why it's actually more flexible than a bank CD, and why every annuity discloses a Minimum Guaranteed Surrender Value (MGSV) — something stocks and bonds never tell you upfront. He also covers when surrender charges can become a real problem (hint: it's a planning issue, not a product flaw), plus the key exceptions that let you access your money penalty-free, including terminal illness, nursing home confinement, death benefits, and bailout provisions. In this episode, you'll learn: What a surrender schedule actually is and how the declining penalty works year by year Why annuities are more forgiving than bank CDs when you need extra money What the MGSV is and why no other investment discloses this in advance The real reason surrender charges exist — and why it's not the annuity company keeping your money hostage The industry rule of thumb for how much of your money should ever go into an annuity The exceptions that let you access 100% of your funds penalty-free This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or transfer any security or insurance product. Please consult a licensed securities advisor before making any investment decisions, and a licensed tax professional for any tax-related strategies. Ready to see if the Atlas Annuity Strategy is right for you? Book your free Income Clarity Call at atlasannuity.com or click the "Schedule a Call" button on any page of the website.

What if a portfolio that averaged almost 7.5% for over two decades still ran completely out of money by age 90? It's not a hypothetical — it's a real historical outcome, and in this episode, Marty Becker breaks down exactly why it happened. Most advisors love to talk about "average returns," but almost none of them explain the difference between an average return and your actual return — and that gap could be the single biggest threat to your retirement plan. In this episode, Marty covers: Why a 25% "average return" can still leave you with $0 more than you started with The real math behind a 60/40 portfolio from 2000–2025 that looked great on paper but ran dry by age 90 How to calculate the actual rate of return your money would need to match a guaranteed income annuity A real-world example of a $538,000 allocation producing $40,000 a year in guaranteed lifetime income How to protect against inflation without giving up your entire portfolio Why guaranteed income can actually let you invest more aggressively with the rest of your money — in both worst-case and best-case market scenarios If you've ever wondered whether your statement is telling you the whole truth about your money, this episode will change the way you look at every number on it. Want to know your actual return — not just your average? Book a free Income Clarity call with Marty at atlasannuity.com.

Every week, Marty Becker gets asked the same question: "What's the best annuity out there?" His answer never changes — there isn't one, because it depends entirely on the person asking. In this episode, Marty Becker, owner and founder of Atlas Financial Strategies in St. Louis, Missouri, breaks down the exact five-step process he uses with nearly every client: the Atlas Annuity Strategy. Rather than leading with a product recommendation, Marty walks listeners through why the "one-size-fits-all" approach used at most dinner seminars is a mistake — and what a personalized, gap-focused strategy looks like instead. Listeners will learn: Why education always comes before any product discussion How a 30,000-foot overview uncovers hidden gaps in a retirement plan — and why sometimes the answer is "you don't need anything" A real case study of a couple who felt fully covered by a pension and Social Security, but overlooked a critical survivorship gap that could have cost them 45% of their income Why unrealistic return assumptions can turn a "bulletproof" retirement plan into a fantasy How to control what's actually controllable in retirement — guaranteed income versus market risk This episode is for anyone who's been pitched an annuity based on a flashy bonus or high cap rate, and wants to understand what a genuinely personalized retirement strategy looks like before making a decision. As always, this episode is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or transfer any security or insurance product. Atlas Financial Strategies Incorporated is an insurance-only licensed entity, and any decisions regarding securities should be discussed with a licensed securities advisor. To see if the Atlas Annuity Strategy is right for your situation, visit atlasannuity.com to book a free, no-obligation call.

Most retirees have heard at least one of these myths about annuities. That agents are just chasing a commission. That annuities cap your growth. That your money gets locked up forever. But here's the truth — most of these myths come from a misunderstanding of how annuities actually work, and believing them can cause you to overlook a strategy that might genuinely fit your retirement. In this episode, Marty Becker breaks down the 6 biggest annuity myths, where they actually come from, and exactly why they're wrong. Here's what Marty covers: Why the "commission" objection almost always comes from the client's current advisor — not the client The real difference between a cap rate, a participation rate, and a spread, and why growth isn't as limited as people think Why your money in a managed portfolio may already be more "locked up" than you realize What you're actually paying for with an income rider fee — and how it compares to a typical management fee How annuity companies actually use call options to protect your principal, and why they aren't pocketing your gains The one question every retiree should ask before believing anything they hear about annuities at a dinner seminar If you're tired of getting conflicting information about annuities and want to separate fact from fiction, this episode is for you.

Marty Becker goes head-to-head with the numbers: annuity vs portfolio, using a $1 million retirement as the test case. A 65-year-old couple needs $95,000/year in income, with Social Security covering $45,000 — leaving a $50,000 gap. This episode compares two ways to fill it: pulling the full gap from a traditional portfolio at a 5% withdrawal rate, or moving $400,000 into a guaranteed income annuity paying $29,750/year for life. The result is an honest, side-by-side look at what each path really means for a retiree's income and risk. This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.

Have you been offered a rate-lock annuity? Before you sign anything, you need to hear this. In this episode of the Atlas Annuity Podcast, Marty Becker — owner and founder of Atlas Financial Strategies in St. Louis, Missouri — breaks down exactly what a "rate lock" on a fixed indexed annuity really means, and why it's not automatically the better deal most people assume it is. Marty explains the basic FIA story: your money isn't directly invested in the market, so if the index falls, you don't lose value — but if the index rises, the insurance company credits interest based on a formula. The problem? The cap, participation rate, or spread you're quoted today may not be the same one you get at your next anniversary. That's where "rate lock" products come in — but the term gets used in at least three completely different ways, and most people don't know which one they're actually being offered. In this episode, you'll learn: Why insurance companies change crediting rates in the first place The real difference between a new business rate lock, an index lock, and a cap rate lock Why a rate lock guarantees only ONE part of the formula — not your actual return The exact questions to ask your advisor before agreeing to a "locked" rate A breakdown of how annual point-to-point crediting actually works, with real numbers If you've been handed an illustration with the words "rate lock" on it, this episode will make sure you know exactly what you're signing up for before you commit a dollar. Have questions about your own annuity or retirement strategy? Book a call with Marty today.

There's a popular belief that annuities are only for people who are afraid of the market or haven't saved enough. But what if an annuity could actually improve the retirement outcome of someone worth several million dollars — even when the market performs well? In this episode, Marty Becker, owner and founder of Atlas Financial Strategies, walks through a real case study of a client worth over $4 million in combined assets who still had a $172,000 per year income gap heading into retirement. Marty breaks down exactly where that gap came from, why more wealth doesn't automatically mean more retirement income, and how a single guaranteed income annuity closed the gap completely — without touching the rest of the portfolio. If you've ever assumed that having "enough" money means you don't need to plan for guaranteed income, this episode will change how you think about retirement risk. In this episode, you'll learn: Why net worth and retirement income are two completely different problems How a real client with $4M+ in assets still faced a six-figure income shortfall How a guaranteed income annuity with deferral closed the gap for a fraction of the portfolio's value Want to see what your own income gap looks like? Book a free call with Marty at Atlas Financial Strategies.

Most retirees assume TIPS and MYGAs are basically the same thing. Both are conservative. Both preserve your principal. Both appeal to people who want stability in retirement. But here's the truth — they solve two completely different problems. And choosing the wrong one for the wrong job can quietly cost you. In this episode, Marty Becker breaks down exactly how TIPS and MYGAs work, what makes each one unique, and — most importantly — how to know which one is right for your situation. Here's what Marty covers: What a MYGA is and why its predictability makes it one of the most reliable retirement tools available How TIPS actually work — including the part most retirees never hear about Why TIPS can lose value during deflation and what that means for your retirement money The one question every retiree needs to ask before putting money into either one Why the TIPS vs MYGAs debate isn't really about which one is better — it's about what job you need your money to do If you're looking for safe, stable retirement income and want to make sure you're using the right tool for the right job, this episode is for you.

Most people think putting their annuity in a trust is a smart move. Their attorney told them to do it. So they did it. But that one simple paperwork change could trigger a massive tax bill — and most attorneys don't even realize it. In this episode, Marty Becker breaks down the trust mistake that blindsides retirees every day. You'll learn the critical difference between a revocable and irrevocable trust, why it matters for your annuity, and how one wrong signature could make $150,000 in deferred gains immediately taxable. What you'll learn: Why trusts are not the tax shield most people think they are The two types of trusts and how each one affects your annuity differently The real-life example that shows exactly how much this mistake can cost you What to ask your attorney before you transfer anything If you have an annuity and an estate plan — this episode is a must listen.

In Episode 108 of the Atlas Annuity Podcast, Marty Becker, owner and founder of Atlas Financial Strategies in St. Louis, Missouri, explores one of the most creative retirement strategies he has come across in recent memory — using an annuity to pay your mortgage at a discount. It all started with an email from one of Marty's sharpest clients, Dave, who asked a simple but brilliant question: could an insurance company essentially take over his mortgage payments for the next five years, and do it for less than he actually owes? After running the numbers, Marty breaks down exactly how a 5-Year Term Certain Single Premium Immediate Annuity works, why the math makes sense, and how retirees can potentially lock in years of guaranteed mortgage payments while putting thousands of dollars back in their pocket — with zero market risk. In this episode, Marty covers: What a 5-Year Term Certain SPIA is and how it works How Dave's strategy turned $115,000 into $129,000 worth of mortgage payments When this strategy makes sense and what most people overlook Why guaranteed income can be one of the smartest tools in a retirement plan If you are approaching retirement or already retired and still carrying a mortgage, this episode is a must listen.

Record highs are hiding a massive retirement risk—and most people headed into retirement have no idea. In this episode, Marty Becker breaks down what is really happening beneath the surface of today's market and why the old retirement playbook may not work the way people expect. The stock market is at all-time highs. Tech stocks are booming and Wall Street is acting like the future is perfectly clear. But underneath that optimism, nearly half of major indexes are still technically in bear markets. Oil prices are surging. Inflation may not actually be under control. And some of the smartest macroeconomic minds out there are now comparing today's environment to one of the strangest economic periods in modern history — the late 1970s. Marty references The Wellington Letter, written by Bert Dohmen — a man who has called nearly every bull and bear market over the past 40 years — and his team's belief that we are entering a market environment very similar to 1978 through 1980: Inflation was soaring and interest rates were rising fast Commodities like gold and silver were exploding higher And yet — stocks still pushed upward as investors searched for inflation hedges Money flowed into stocks, energy, precious metals, and other hard assets The big takeaway? Markets and economies rarely behave the way people expect. If you are approaching retirement and still relying on the same old strategy, this environment could catch you completely off guard. This isn't just a market update — it's a warning. And for anyone close to retirement, it's one worth hearing.

Artificial intelligence can write essays, analyze data, and answer almost any question you throw at it. So it's no surprise that people have started asking AI about their retirement money. But here's the truth — AI annuity advice can actually be very helpful. Or it can be a very expensive mistake. And knowing the difference could save your retirement. In this episode, Marty Becker shares a real client story that sparked this conversation — a client who came to him ready to buy a specific annuity because AI recommended it. The problem? That product wasn't even available in their state. Marty then does something different — he actually asks AI three questions directly: When does it make sense to use AI for annuity advice? When does it NOT make sense? How will AI change the annuity industry in the future? The answers might surprise you. What you'll learn in this episode: Why AI is a great tool for learning about annuities — but a dangerous one for making decisions The difference between annuity education and annuity advice Why there's no such thing as "the best annuity" — and why AI doesn't know that What AI gets right, what it gets wrong, and what that means for your retirement If you're using AI to research your retirement options — this episode is a must listen before you make any moves.

In this episode, Marty Becker tackles one of the most common misconceptions retirees have about annuities — the belief that annuity companies are simply returning their own money back to them. He explains why this flawed thinking may actually be causing retirees to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars less than they safely could in retirement. Marty breaks down the risks associated with the traditional Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP), including sequence of returns risk, longevity risk, withdrawal rate risk, and behavioral risk — such as panic selling during volatile markets. He uses a compelling real-world example of two retirees, Ben and Susan, who retired just three months apart in 1968, yet ended up with nearly a million dollar difference in their retirement outcomes due to sequence of returns risk alone. He also addresses how today's markets are even more volatile than in previous decades due to high-frequency trading and algorithmic manipulation, making this risk more relevant than ever for those approaching retirement. Marty then explains how income annuities can serve as a powerful tool to mitigate these risks and allow retirees to spend more confidently throughout their retirement years.

In this episode, Marty Becker explores the often-overlooked psychological side of retirement that has nothing to do with 401(k)s, Social Security timing, or interest rates. He discusses the multi-year psychological transition that occurs when someone leaves a lifelong career and explains why financial preparation alone isn't enough if retirees aren't mentally prepared for this major life change. Marty walks listeners through the research on retirement as a process rather than a single event, breaking down the phases many retirees experience during this transition. He then explains how financial structure—particularly income annuities—can help stabilize the psychological shift and provide the emotional security needed during this critical period. This episode is essential listening for anyone approaching retirement who wants to understand not just the financial mechanics, but the mental and emotional journey that lies ahead.