One of the most attractive features of an annuity is its tax-deferred status. Generally, you won’t pay any income tax on the interest or earnings until you start taking withdrawals in retirement (age 59½ or later). Qualified and nonqualified annuities are taxed differently. Qualified annuities (such as annuities in an employer-sponsored retirement plan or an IRA) are typically purchased with pre-tax money, so withdrawals are fully taxed as ordinary income. It’s important to understand that purchasing an annuity in an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement plan provides no additional tax benefits than those available through the tax-deferred retirement plan.



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People have traditionally seen Social Security benefits as the foundation of their retirement planning programs. The Social Security contributions deducted from your paycheck have, in effect, served as a government-enforced retirement savings plan.

However, the Social Security system is under increasing strain. Better health care and longer life spans have resulted in an increasing number of people drawing Social Security benefits. And as the baby boom generation (those born between 1946 and 1964) approaches retirement, even greater demands will be placed on the system.



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Beacon Retirement Planning Group, Inc. | The San Diego Retirement Income Specialists

Beacon Retirement Planning Group, Inc. | The San Diego Retirement Income Specialists

One of the most attractive features of an annuity is its tax-deferred status. Generally, you won’t pay any income tax on the interest or earnings until you start taking withdrawals in retirement (age 59½ or later). Qualified and nonqualified annuities are taxed differently. Qualified annuities (such as annuities in an employer-sponsored retirement plan or an IRA) are typically purchased with pre-tax money, so withdrawals are fully taxed as ordinary income. It’s important to understand that purchasing an annuity in an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement plan provides no additional tax benefits than those available through the tax-deferred retirement plan.



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If you're selling fixed annuities, and you're not using videos in your sales process - you're missing out on a proven way to engage the interest of clients, prospects, leads and referrals.



Studies have shown that 5 out of 6 people prefer to listen to and watch videos - than to read text, listen to a speaker, or click through PowerPoint slides.

That's because audio/video is easier to comprehend, can tell a more interesting story, and make a more compelling impression.

And when done by a third party (not you) videos are subconsciously perceived as more objective, credible, and trustworthy.



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Every once in a while, you get to see a market train wreck coming. It should have been obvious in 2006, for example, that real estate was about to be slaughtered, or in 2000 that tech stocks had it coming. Determined not to be fooled again, a lot of smart people are calling for a comparable Armageddon in bonds. Newsletter writer and bond manager Marilyn Cohen calls it “bondland’s nuclear winter,” which gets my vote for best alarmist rhetoric.



You have to admit, the case against bonds is pretty strong:



Today the Federal Reserve said it would continue to hold short-term interest rates near zero percent “for an extended period,” a policy that has no doubt contributed to the decline in dollar and inflation in commodity prices. A lot of economists, including some on the Fed itself, believe the policy can’t help but spread inflation.





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Retirement planning is no slam-dunk. To make sure you retire in comfort, you have to start saving early and often. You need to pay attention to your money and not be distracted by the stresses and strains -- or the joys -- of day-to-day life. In the long run, you'll thank yourself for keeping one eye focused on the future.



To help you reach your retirement goals, here's a road map for navigating the decades as you move closer toward retirement age.



In your 20s



If you save $6,000 every year starting at age 20 and earn just 5% in interest each, by the time you're 65, you'll have more than $1 million saved for retirement. While that sounds like a lot, considering inflation, it's not a fortune -- but it can be enough.



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