New Blogs This Week:
🏡 Case Study: Meet Ron & Veronica: Retiring with Confidence
Ron and Veronica, both 62, had one goal: retire today with $17,000/month of predictable income — without worrying about market swings or running out of money.
Here’s how they did it:
✅ $5,200/month from Social Security (starting at 62)
✅ $2.1M in IRAs + $450k in savings
✅ A strong desire for predictability, safety, and long-term growth
Step 1: Secure a Market-Independent Base 🔒
They rolled $1M into an immediate income annuity paying $5,050/month for life — guaranteed.
Combined with Social Security, they now have $10,250/month in market-proof income covering essential needs.
Step 2: Smart Withdrawals for Flexibility 📊
With $1.55M left, they used a guardrail withdrawal strategy:
➡️ Drawing 5.22% annually for an extra $6,750/month
➡️ Flexibility to adjust if markets rise or fall — without panic
The Result:
💰 $17,000/month total retirement income
💡 61% of their assets still growing in the market
🛡️ Predictable cash flow + growth potential + peace of mind
Final Thought:
Retirement confidence isn’t about timing the market — it’s about building income you can count on, then supplementing it smartly.
📈 Annuities vs. The Market: Why It’s Not Either/Or
One of the biggest misconceptions in retirement planning?
That you have to choose between annuities or the stock market.
The truth: they’re not competing — they’re complementary.
Here’s the real story:
✅ The stock market is great for growth — but unpredictable when you need steady income.
✅ Annuities are built for guarantees — steady income, downside protection, and peace of mind.
Annuities aren’t designed to beat the market — they’re designed to do what the market can’t reliably do:
- Provide guaranteed lifetime income
- Offer market-like growth without market risk
- Protect against running out of money
The smartest retirement strategies use both:
🔹 Growth assets to keep your wealth growing
🔹 Annuities to create a rock-solid income foundation
Bottom line:
A strong retirement plan isn’t just about chasing returns — it’s about building confidence, knowing your lifestyle is protected no matter what the market does.
If you’re 5–10 years from retirement (or already there) and wondering how to balance growth with income, let’s chat. 💬