We will make this simple. Read both lists. Be honest about which one sounds like you.
An annuity conversation is probably worth your time if...
- You are within about 10 years of retirement, or already retired
- Your essential monthly expenses are larger than your Social Security and pension income
- A 30 percent market drop the year you retire would genuinely change your plans
- You have savings you will not need to touch in full for at least 7 to 10 years
- You value predictability over maximum growth for at least part of your money
You can probably skip annuities entirely if...
- Social Security and pensions already cover your essential expenses
- You may need full access to your savings in the next several years
- Your savings are modest and locking any of it up would strain your flexibility
- You are comfortable riding out market downturns and your plan survives a bad decade on paper
- Your main goal is maximum long-term growth or maximum inheritance
The question underneath all of it
Retirement planning really asks one question: where will your monthly income come from, for as long as you live, in good markets and bad? If you can answer that confidently without an annuity, you may not need one. If there is a gap between your essential expenses and your guaranteed income, an annuity is one of the few tools that can close it contractually.
Your essential monthly expenses minus your guaranteed monthly income from Social Security and pensions. If the number is positive, something has to fill it every month for life.
What we will not do
We will not tell you an annuity is right for you before we know your numbers. We will not recommend moving your whole nest egg into any product, ever. And if the honest answer is that you do not need an annuity, that is exactly what you will hear. It costs us a sale and earns us a reputation. We like that trade.
Two ways to find out
The fast way is the 60-second quiz, which routes you based on your age, savings, timeline, and concerns. The thorough way is a free 30-minute call where we calculate your actual income gap. Both are free, and neither obligates you to anything.