Before I look at a single number, before I pull up any product, before we talk about rates or returns or any of that — I ask one question:
"What's your biggest fear about retirement?"
That's it.
And the answers I get are rarely about money. They're about things like:
- "I'm afraid of being a burden to my kids."
- "I'm worried about outliving my savings."
- "I don't know if I can afford to stop working."
- "What happens to my spouse if something happens to me?"
These aren't financial planning questions. They're life questions. And they matter more than any spreadsheet.
Here's why I start there: when I understand what's actually keeping you up at night, I can show you whether there's a solution that addresses it. Sometimes that solution involves an annuity. Sometimes it doesn't. But at least we're solving the right problem.
Too many people sit down with a financial professional and immediately get hit with products, projections, and jargon. That's backwards. The conversation should start with you — your concerns, your goals, your situation.
So I'll ask you the same question: what's the one thing about retirement that worries you most? That's where every good plan starts.
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Author of Indexed Annuity Secrets and founder of Pacific Ridgeway Insurance Solutions in San Diego. Navy veteran. Licensed financial professional, CA #4132743.
Fixed indexed annuities are insurance products, not investments. Guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial, investment, tax, or insurance advice.