Retirement Security

Iowa, Arizona Lead The Way on Best Interest

Separated by about 1,000 miles of farmland, mountains and desert, Iowa and Arizona are two very different states. On first glance, the only thing they seem to have in common is their deep-rooted ties to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs’ spring training facility has been in Arizona for more than 60 years. And the Cubs’ … Continue reading

Annuities Awareness Month: Guaranteed Lifetime Income

Millions of Americans face worrisome financial challenges during their retirement. For many, anxieties have intensified recently due to the market upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, there is a surefire way to address those concerns: an annuity. June is Annuity Awareness Month, a time to focus Americans on the only financial product in the … Continue reading

Consumers Benefit from Regulation BI

The bar on consumer protections is raised in important ways by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), which goes into effect at the end of this month. Reg BI preserves access for middle- and lower-income savers to financial professionals that offer the opportunity to set up income guaranteed for life. Insurance … Continue reading

Retirement Statements – Safer in an In-Box than a Mailbox!

More and more, the haul from my mailbox (snail mailbox, that is) is magazines, catalogs, junk mail and once a quarter, my retirement statement. To be honest, it all (except for the magazines) goes immediately in my recycling bin. And considering the current COVID-19 climate, it likely gets sprayed with sanitizer, too! Like most Americans, … Continue reading

Annuities: Certainty in Retirement

The COVID-19 pandemic has been tragic for those who have lost loved ones around the world. It has also shuttered businesses and sent the financial markets reeling. For those preparing for or living in retirement, these are the rainy days for which they’ve saved. Congress, through the CARES Act, recently made it easier for those … Continue reading

Countering Market Volatility

Market volatility is especially unnerving after decades of working and saving. The antidote is smart, sound financial education, information and options. Fortunately, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted rules last June, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) adopted a model regulation in February, to make sure people can get the help they … Continue reading

SECURE Act Enables More Lifetime Income Options for Savers

The SECURE Act is a huge win for millions of retirement savers. Signed into law by President Trump in December, the SECURE Act removed an obstacle that many employers said discouraged them from offering annuity options to their retirement plan participants. Offered by life insurers, annuities are the only financial product that delivers guaranteed income for … Continue reading