The annuity library
Annuities, written plainly
Eleven guides, no filler — written for pre-retirees and retirees who want to actually understand what they're buying before they buy it. Start with the basics, then go as deep as you want.
New to annuities?
- Eleven plain-English guides
- No filler, no sales pitch
- Start with the 10-minute primer
Covers every product type and how to tell which one fits.
Start here, the basics
The foundation. What each product type actually is, how it works, and who it fits.
What is an annuity?
Start here. What an annuity actually is, the seven types you'll encounter, and how to decide if one belongs anywhere in your retirement plan.
10 min read
Fixed annuities
Guaranteed rate, protected principal, predictable payments. How fixed annuities compare to CDs and the conservative parts of a portfolio.
7 min read
Fixed indexed annuities
Upside linked to an index, floor that protects principal. How caps, participation rates, and spreads decide what you actually earn.
9 min read
MYGAs
Multi-year guaranteed annuities are the CD of the annuity world. Fixed rate, fixed term, tax-deferred growth. Where they fit and where they don't.
6 min read
Income riders
Roll-up rates, benefit bases, payout factors. The marketing is confusing on purpose — here's the only question that matters.
11 min read
Go one layer deeper
The subjects most shoppers never get around to — but the ones that decide whether an annuity actually earns its place in the plan.
Annuity taxes
Qualified vs. non-qualified, withdrawals, annuitization, the 10% early-withdrawal penalty, and the planning moves that save real money.
10 min read
1035 exchanges
How to move from one annuity to another without triggering a taxable event — and when a 1035 is the wrong answer even if the numbers look better.
8 min read
Roth conversions
Using annuities alongside Roth conversions in the low-income gap between retirement and RMDs. Where this works and where the IRS closes the door.
9 min read
Caps & spreads
A cap of 7% and a participation rate of 70% are not the same thing. How to read an FIA rate sheet and estimate realistic long-run returns.
8 min read
Annuity fees
Surrender schedules, free-withdrawal provisions, rider fees, and the MVA wrinkle most buyers miss until it's too late.
7 min read
Put what you learned to work
- Free review from a specialist
- Or compare rates yourself
- No email wall, no phone tree.