Annuities
How Much Does a $500,000 Annuity Pay Per Month?
Payout ranges by age and contract type, why joint-life costs roughly 10%-15% of income, and how to compare quotes on the only number that matters.
8 min read · Updated September 2026
For pre-retirees
Retirement Income Planning for Ages 50-70
If you are within fifteen years of retiring, the question stops being "what return can I get?" and becomes "what income can I count on?" These guides work through that math.
Start here
Annuities
Fixed Indexed Annuity vs CD: Which Is Better for Retirement Money?
CDs win on simplicity and liquidity. Annuities win on tax deferral and lifetime income. Here is how to tell which your money actually needs.
7 min read · Updated August 2026
Annuities
Annuity Fees and Surrender Charges, Line by Line
Fixed and indexed annuities can have almost no explicit fee. Variable annuities can run past 3% a year. Know which one you are being shown.
6 min read · Updated July 2026
Annuities
QLACs: Using a Deferred Annuity to Cut RMDs and Delay Taxes
A QLAC lets you move a slice of IRA money out of required minimum distributions until as late as age 85 — useful for tax control, not for everyone.
6 min read · Updated June 2026
Annuities
Building a Guaranteed Income Floor for Retirement
Cover the bills you must pay with income that cannot stop. Invest the rest. This one structural decision removes most sequence-of-returns risk.
8 min read · Updated September 2026
Annuities
Annuity vs IUL for Retirement Income: Which Produces More?
One gives you a contractual paycheck that is partly taxable. The other gives you a flexible, tax-advantaged stream that depends on policy performance.
8 min read · Updated July 2026
Whole Life Insurance
1035 Exchange Rules: Replacing a Policy Without a Tax Bill
A 1035 exchange moves cash value from one contract to another without triggering tax — if you follow the direction rules and handle loans correctly.
6 min read · Updated June 2026
Protecting a family instead of planning a paycheck? Read the family protection guides.