Are you trying to figure out which annuity will offer the best way to grow your money and safely generate income that you can count on as long as retirement lasts (without depleting your initial principal) to reduce financial stress or even unexpected financial failure during retirement?

There are hundreds of insurance companies offering thousands of annuities — but how do you know which annuity is best for you? It’s really pretty simple. The best annuity is an annuity that fulfills your financial objectives. However, don’t be surprised if your best retirement annuity option includes a portfolio of traditional financial assets while simultaneously leveraging a few strategically selected annuities to meet your retirement income and growth goals.[Continued below video…]

[Continued] …Annuities do not **guarantee the highest income levels; they **guarantee a lifetime of income regardless of stock market results which may result in the highest income level, if the stock market performs poorly. In a prior video, we highlighted the study done by Wade Pfau, a professor at American College, where he determined that retirees greatest chance for a successful income in retirement came from a blend of annuities and equities. He has been cited as emphasizing the strength that annuities provide in their ability to safely cover the foundational income need for retirees.

As Annuity Guys®, we know firsthand the benefits and peace of mind that clients enjoy when they know that their foundational income need is **guaranteed. Structuring a retirement portfolio to provide the highest level of secure and **guaranteed success should be goal number one for both clients and advisors.

Two choices: Probability-based or safety-first and both require open-mindedness from advisers

In the debate over whether it is better to base a retirement income withdrawal rate on predictable historical returns or one that focuses on basic retirement needs, it appears that the jury is still out.

“Do you want to focus on the probability of failure or the magnitude of failure?” said Wade Pfau, associate professor of economics at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.

Mr. Pfau, who has championed the conversation over new ways to manage a retirement income portfolio, presented his food for thought yesterday in Chicago at the InvestmentNews Retirement Income Summit.

The two schools of thought, as he explained them, include a “probability-based” approach of establishing a 4% withdrawal rate, and the “safety-first” approach that involves taking defensive measures to ensure that basic retirement needs are met.

The investment approach for the probability-based approach, for example, relies on systematic withdrawals and typically applies a total-return perspective.

In the safety-first approach, by contrast, the portfolio assets are matched to goals, and lifetime spending potential is the focus, as opposed to maximizing wealth.

Videos are educational and conceptual only and not a solicitation. They are not to be considered investment, insurance, tax or legal advice. It is recommended that you work with licensed professionals for individualized advice before making any important financial decisions. Annuities are not FDIC insured and their guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company. State Guarantee Associations, while offering specific protections, are not the same as FDIC insurance.