Articles
Reference articles and commentary on annuities, lifetime income, and retirement finance. Updated over time.
Why Buy Health Insurance When Health Reform Offers-Up Such an Inexpensive Put Option?
The Obama health reform legislation has the potential to create some serious adverse selection issues for health insurance companies. Stated differently, there really does not seem to be a rational basis for purchasing an individual health insurance product under Obamacare.
Who Really Needs an Annuity?
Warren Buffett does not need to think about an annuity. While Buffett’s age may qualify him for annuity consideration, his wealth is sufficient to fund any personal income needs that may arise. Also, concerns such as longevity risk and sequence of returns risk are non-issues for him. At the…
Who Provides Longevity Insurance
The following is a list of the companies that currently provide retail longevity insurance.
What to Think When a Financial Advisor Says: "You Know I'm Not a Big Fan of Annuities"
Disdain for annuities is a thread of conventional wisdom that seems to exist among a broad swath of financial advisors. In fact, many financial advisors seem conditioned to wear annuity criticism as a sort of badge of honor. The inherent logic roughly resembles the following: I am an objective,…
What Retirees Should Make of the Low Volatility, No-Fear Market
The fear index seems to be signaling that all is well.
What to Make of MetLife's Exit from the Long Term Care Market
MetLife ’s recent decision to exit the U.S.
What is Driving the Rush for the Variable Annuity Exit?
Recent market volatility and ultra low interest rates could be distorting the perspectives of variable annuity issuers.
What the Average American Retiree Can Afford to Spend
A series of articles examines what the average American household can afford to spend in retirement.
Wealth Preservation through Annuities, or Why Mike Tyson Should Have Purchased an Annuity
According to a 2009 article in Sports Illustrated, 78 percent of former NFL players have gone bankrupt or are under financial stress within two years of their retirement, and 60 percent of former NBA players are broke within five years of their retirement.
Visualizing the Demographic Challenge
Visualizing the effects of low fertility rates combined with increasing longevity.
Veritat Offers Comprehensive, Fee-Only Financial Planning Services that are Affordable and Scalable
Veritat is a start-up seeking to leverage process and technology innovation to scale a business model that is typically saddled with persistent and burdensome variable costs.
Understanding the Value of Living Benefit Guarantees
Investors seeking protection through living benefit guarantees will likely find themselves worse-off in real terms.