Variable Annuity Watch - Registered Investment Advisor

Perils of the Free Dinner

By Scott Burns Q. My wife and I recently went to a "free dinner" to get educated on the best way to manage our money for retirement. I'm 66 and my wife is 65. Together we get a little over $50,000 a year in Social Security and pensions from...

Posted Jun 30 2010, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Q&A (from print), Variable Annuity Watch

The High Cost of a Guaranteed Income

By Scott Burns Fidelity Investments has joined the rush to “Living Benefits.” Partnering with Metropolitan Life, it now offers a variable annuity that guarantees 4 to 6 percent distributions from your original investment each year for life—...

Posted Dec 04 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Variable Annuity Watch

The Facts of Life, Death and Annuity Yields

By Scott Burns Q. I am a widow of 89. I’ve put $100,000 out of $200,000 held in a money market at 0.34 percent into a lifetime income annuity from a major life insurance company. This annuity pays $1,102 per month for life. At my death, if there...

Posted Sep 16 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: Q&A (from print), Variable Annuity Watch

Variable Annuity Watch, 2009

By Scott Burns I feel a twinge when I start to write this particular column because I'm pretty sure I won't have anything good to say. This year, as with many preceding years, variable annuities are a good deal for insurance companies but a lousy...

Posted Sep 04 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Variable Annuity Watch

Variable Annuity Watch, 2008

By Scott Burns Variable annuities have a tough row to hoe. Doomed to being measured against better alternatives, they simply can’t overcome the burden of their fees or the higher tax rates investors must pay on their returns. The last year has been no...

Posted Aug 22 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Variable Annuity Watch

Recognizing the Different Annuities

By Scott Burns Q. I would like to know the difference between a variable annuity and a life annuity. A few years ago I invested $100,000 in a tax-deferred variable annuity. Later, I came to know there is a surrender charge for 7 years. Is a life annuity...

Posted Aug 20 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: Q&A (from print), Variable Annuity Watch

Immediate Annuities Can Be a Useful Tool

By Scott Burns Q. I wonder if single-premium immediate annuities (SPIAs) are for me. I am 75. My wife is 73. We have no debt, $850,000 in IRAs (mostly in the American Fund family) and $150,000 in a ROTH, again with American. We also have $150,000 in CDs...

Posted May 14 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 6 comment(s)

Filed under: Q&A (from print), Variable Annuity Watch

Magic in Finance, Part 3: Equity-Indexed Life Insurance

by Scott Burns Douglas R. Andrew has a new book out. "The Last Chance Millionaire: It's Not Too Late to Become Wealthy" was published in June. It is a continuation of the saga that began with "Missed Fortune" (2002) and "Missed...

Posted Nov 09 2007, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 3 comment(s)

Filed under: Retirement, Variable Annuity Watch

Variable Annuity Watch, 2007

For returns, they’re still not worth shooting. But there is an inkling of hope. The subject is variable annuities. Yes, it’s time for an update of my annual Variable Annuity Watch. This year the purchase of a simple broad index fund has again beaten a...

Posted Jul 19 2007, 04:30 PM by scottb with | with 4 comment(s)

Filed under: Variable Annuity Watch

Sales Commissions versus Reality

The most heavily marketed insurance product, the equity index annuity, is becoming the most litigated insurance product. Attorneys general in several states have filed suits against a number of EIA vendors. In addition, there are now four class action...

Posted Jun 03 2007, 12:00 AM by scottb with | with 3 comment(s)

Filed under: Variable Annuity Watch

It's Important to Know Your Tax Bracket

Q. We have three variable annuities that have matured. We have been advised to consolidate (total of $325,000) to one variable annuity. First, how can we get out of these annuities with minimum tax consequence? If we have to start a new annuity, should...

Posted May 02 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 7 comment(s)

Filed under: Q&A (from print), Variable Annuity Watch

Equity-Indexed Annuities: Long on Sizzle, Short on Steak

Are equity-indexed annuities a good investment? That's one of the top five questions in my mail bag these days. Thousands of people attend free dinners and lunches every week to learn about the miracle investment that will give them near stock market...

Posted Apr 14 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 4 comment(s)

Filed under: Variable Annuity Watch

Don't Grieve Over Not Maxing-Out Plan Contributions

Q. I am a 49-year-old engineer working at a large consulting firm. Our company has a high percentage of highly compensated employees and has limited pre tax contributions to 9 percent of gross income. In my case, this is $4,000 short of the allowable...

Posted Apr 11 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: Financial Planning, Q&A (from print), Variable Annuity Watch

A Tough Decision about a Variable Annuity

Q. We have an annuity with John Hancock. In the nearly seven years we have had it, we have received no dividends from it. It is divided into 47 percent T. Rowe Price Equity Income, 12 percent T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth, and two other funds. We contributed...

Posted Mar 07 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 4 comment(s)

Filed under: Q&A (from print), Variable Annuity Watch

Annuities: Some Are Useful, Some Not.

Q. In a recent column you said that "one of the best ways to deal with uncertainty is to turn a portion of your portfolio into a life annuity." But in the next Q&A you said, as you often do, to run fast from annuities. Why the advice to buy in the first...

Posted Jan 17 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 8 comment(s)

Filed under: Burns at Large, Q&A (from print), Variable Annuity Watch

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Registered Investment Advisor

Perils of the Free Dinner

The High Cost of a Guaranteed Income

The Facts of Life, Death and Annuity Yields

Variable Annuity Watch, 2009

Variable Annuity Watch, 2008

Recognizing the Different Annuities

Immediate Annuities Can Be a Useful Tool

Magic in Finance, Part 3: Equity-Indexed Life Insurance

Variable Annuity Watch, 2007

Sales Commissions versus Reality

It's Important to Know Your Tax Bracket

Equity-Indexed Annuities: Long on Sizzle, Short on Steak

Don't Grieve Over Not Maxing-Out Plan Contributions

A Tough Decision about a Variable Annuity

Annuities: Some Are Useful, Some Not.

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