A Retirement Income Vaccine?

I don’t think that I need to say that these are not ordinary times.  This pandemic is (I hope) a once in a lifetime occurrence.  I, like you, have witnessed many events that we could not avoid. One only has to remember 9/11, the dot com crash in 2000, and the financial meltdown in 2008/2009.  But, this COVID-19 experience may top the charts.  While I am confident that we will get through this pandemic, there will still be carnage.  Today, I am speaking about retirement income nest eggs for current, or soon to be, retirees.  I would also like to remind you that I am not giving investment advice . I do believe in the equity markets, I do understand that long term markets have always come back.  But, for many of us, there might not be time to build those accounts to the numbers we had imagined. That is why I am speaking of a retirement income vaccine.

Okay, let’s get the genie out of the bottle.  I am speaking about annuities that can provide a steady stream of guaranteed retirement income.  I am not here to argue about whether equities or annuities are best.  I am also not here to suggest that you empty your “equity bucket” and place all your money in an annuity.  But, I am suggesting that you empty some of your “worry buckets.”  If you are like me, you look forward to a steady stream of retirement income that is guaranteed and one that you can’t outlive. So, I have some suggestions.

First, identify what is keeping you up at night.   Next, look at a timeline and identify the date that you will need the retirement income.  Separate essential from discretionary income needs.  Then, ask yourself if you have the appropriate amount of money at risk.  Then, make a decision.  Is it time to place some of your nest egg in a product that will guarantee principal and all previous gains?  Yes, in some products there are penalties for early withdrawals, but as long as you play by the rules… all will be safe.  Some of these products will allow you to take income immediately, and some you can defer payments. Yes, these are annuities.  I suggest that it could just be the vaccine that your retirement income account needs.  Stay safe, do your homework… but do investigate an annuity.  No, I am not giving investment advice.  I’m just giving you an additional tool to help you sleep at night.

This article was written by Raymond J. Ohlson CLU, CRC, CEO & President of The Ohlson Group, Inc. and SMP International, LLC     
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Mr. Ohlson entered the insurance business while completing his Bachelor of Science Degree at Ball State University.  He quickly qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) of which he is a Life Member.  He also received his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
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Mr. Ohlson, a former life insurance company president, currently sits on college and hospital boards and is a published author.