by the ANN Team on April 10, 2012
As most successful investors attest, the secret to building lasting wealth is managing loss. This principle is called capital preservation: earn more by losing less and shield yourself from turbulent economic conditions. Historically, 1 out of every 4 years the S&P 500 goes into the red. If you can avoid losing capital during that one year, the other 3, over the long-term, will grow your wealth at an exponential rate. Index annuities do just that. Whereas you’d be losing money with a variable annuity during that inevitable negative year, a fixed index annuity will return a low — but still positive — rate. In most retirement plans this safety net is well-worth the cost. Shurwest Financial Group’s Chris Price and Jim Maschek discuss how these products have become less complex and more user friendly with the help of expert design groups like Shurwest.
source: http://www.freeannuityrates.com
by the ANN Team on April 3, 2012
Since the early 1960s, Americans have become less trusting of the world around them, losing confidence in government, religious institutions and the financial system itself, the Pew Global Attitudes Survey reported in 2007. Since then, the meltdown of the financial markets, punctuated by the failure of Bear Stearns, has only exacerbated distrust of the financial system.
Some financial advisors have felt this lack of trust most acutely in recent years, making it increasingly difficult to serve clients. It’s a difficult challenge to help to clients who are hesitant to share information, distrustful of financial projections and reluctant to follow prudent recommendations.
Many advisors are fighting a seemingly uphill battle as the Pew study has found that fewer people each year agree with the statement, “most people can be generally trusted.” But Americans have not become totally distrustful of everyone or everything. It seems that a new source of trust has emerged from the rubble of our institutions and icons.
by the ANN Team on March 29, 2012
Despite a low interest rate environment, Income and Index Annuity products finish strong in 2011, according to Beacon Research. Jeremy Alexander, President and CEO of Beacon Research says low interest rates will be with us for awhile.
Coming next week: ”Hartford Exits Annuity Business”…. and “Rebuilding Trust Through Predictable Income Strategies”
