Month: July 2016

Watchful Eyes on Annuities Benefit Investors

Posted by | Jul 12, 2016 |

Consumers can liberally vet providers before making long-term commitments. Often questioned, misunderstood and maligned, annuities and their providers are open to evaluation at nearly every purchase touchpoint. This works well for investors, who have multiple review sources at their disposal, including providers’ track records of longevity, liquidity and reliability. Hardly anything in life is as prevalent as the desire for safety. It begins with childhood (“Look both ways before crossing the street”), and continues through retirement, when the financial focus is on distribution, not accumulation, and where volatile markets provide few chances, if any, to course-correct. Annuities are growing...

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Complex Retirement Planning Drives the Demand for Adviser Input

Posted by | Jul 12, 2016 |

The proliferation of financial information has investors increasingly reliant on trusted advisers for direction and clarity. Trust is the overarching theme in an investor/adviser relationship. Tools and processes are available to help the evaluation process. The search for a trusted adviser should be client-driven, with an emphasis placed on qualification and compatibility. The complexities surrounding retirement planning have nearly eliminated the DIY (Do It Yourself) option, and placed a premium on finding a retirement plan specialist who is above all else, trustworthy. Adviser trust can transcend the overload of information resulting from retirement investment options and regulations, and can...

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Misconceptions & Myths About Annuities Can Cause Confusion

Posted by | Jul 12, 2016 |

Potential annuity holders are misled by incomplete or mistaken information about a growing and popular retirement investment. Record 2014 annuity sales exceeding $235 billion aren’t enough to sway some investors. Overcoming common misconceptions about annuities’ validity, suitability and associated costs could unlock further growth. Although annuities are surging in popularity across the United States investment landscape – up 3% in 2014 at nearly $236 billion, and up nearly 10% from 2011 – the product can be a lightning rod for criticism. Speculation can be traced in part to a lack of understanding, misinformation and harsh messaging by opponents and...

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Choice of Retirement Adviser May Affect Options & Outcomes

Posted by | Jul 12, 2016 |

Key qualities in an adviser can enhance chances for retirement success. Consumers seeking to maximize their financial resources in retirement are well served by selecting an adviser with essential skills that prioritize objectivity, customization and client interest. If you’re excited about the prospect of retiring, but overwhelmed by the idea of planning for it, you’re not alone. Accessing friends, family and online tools, while well-intended, is generally not the answer. And if your trials omitted a key planning aspect like tax planning, or when to initiate Social Security, a common conclusion is that retirement planning is not DIY –...

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Conflicting Info Contributes to Confusion About Annuities

Posted by | Jul 12, 2016 |

Full-service advice can cut help investors cut through the clutter to make specific and appropriate annuity decisions. Given the types, requirements and benefits of annuities, consumers are best served by informed and non-biased advisers to objectively decide if annuities are a fit for their retirement portfolios. The decision to buy an annuity can be likened to a group of friends deciding on a restaurant for dinner. Both scenarios can be influenced market noise, along with participants who may be either informed or uninformed; passionate or apathetic; or have a desire for something traditional or cutting-edge. While a disappointing choice...

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