Financial Crisis

The financial crisis has resulted in renewed interest in immediate annuities which can be used to lock-in stable, guaranteed income for a lifetime. "An immediate annuity can function just like a pension , producing a predictable payout. As the "immediate' part of the name suggests, the distributions start shortly after the money is invested." Longevity risk , inflation protection, how much to annuitize , and adding annuities over time are addressed in this article. Source: Wall Street Journal...

Traditional asset allocation and many target date mutual funds have not served retirees and near-retirees well during the financial crisis. Many in the asset management community are realizing that diversification and asset allocation are not sufficient. Largely in response to the crisis, several companies are rolling-out new products that combine traditional asset management and insurance . These "hybrid" products use insurance to create a base income that is guaranteed for life and is not...

Some of the nation's most prominent financial advisors are looking at annuities in a new light. Partial annuitization to ensure a base of stable income is discussed. Think twice if you are at or approaching retirement and you are not able to at least have a basic annuity-related discussion with your financial advisor . "At the end of the day, investors want to know they can withdraw X amount of dollars [a year] for life. That's why it makes a little more sense than it ever has before," he says...