Your 401(k) helped you save for retirement. Retiring in the next 1–3 years? Explore whether an annuity could help a portion of your savings support growth, dependable income, or family protection.
See My Retirement OptionsStart with five retirement questions. A complimentary, annuity-focused report review. No obligation to purchase.
You do not need to become an annuity expert to start asking the right questions. Begin with your retirement goals—and what to understand before comparing options.
For years, your focus may have been on contributing, investing, and building your retirement savings. As retirement approaches, the questions become more personal: how will you create income, what money should remain accessible, and how do you balance your own needs with your family’s?
An annuity may be one tool for part of that plan. Start with the job the money needs to do: Safe Growth, Lifetime Income, or Protection + Legacy. Five questions begin the conversation. Then review possible approaches, features, costs, and restrictions together before deciding.
You do not have to change everything. Before you choose an annuity, choose its job. Start with the questions that matter to you.
An annuity may be one tool for part of your plan. Your goals, access to money, and the trade-offs come first.
Consider which savings you are comfortable leaving exposed to market changes—and which portion you would like to evaluate differently.
Look at how Social Security, pensions, and personal savings could work together to support your monthly spending.
Think beyond the first few years, including changing expenses and the possibility of a long retirement.
Consider the savings you may need for emergencies, planned purchases, and unexpected changes.
Explore possible care needs, support for a spouse, and what you would like to leave to beneficiaries.
Choose the goal closest to yours. It is a starting point for a conversation—not a commitment to a product.
Growth, with protection from market-driven losses.
Explore fixed and fixed indexed annuities: how they credit interest, what limits apply, and what access to your money would look like.
Market-loss protection does not eliminate every risk or cost. Early withdrawals, charges, and contract adjustments can affect the amount available to you.
Explore Safe GrowthA paycheck designed to last.
Explore how a portion of your savings could provide income for life. Compare starting dates, payment options, and coverage for one person or both spouses.
Lifetime payments depend on the contract and income option selected. Understand the effect on access to your money before committing.
Explore Lifetime Income
Future care and family goals, together.
Explore care-related features and beneficiary options alongside what you hope to leave your family—and where separate planning may be needed.
Care-related features are not included in every annuity. Selecting this path does not establish coverage or eligibility.
Explore Protection + LegacyNot sure which goal comes first? Select Not Sure Yet in the questionnaire. No product or allocation is assigned from your answer.
Protecting their progress
Ages 63 and 61 · $420,000 in retirement savings · Retiring in two years
They are considering how much market exposure they want as retirement approaches. They do not want to move everything or overlook money they may need soon.
Safe Growth: Their comparison would explore growth options for a portion of their savings, interest-crediting terms, withdrawal restrictions, and money to keep accessible.
Planning their retirement paycheck
Ages 65 and 63 · $350,000 in IRA savings · Retiring within one year
They expect Social Security to cover part—but not all—of their monthly spending. Their question is how to address the remaining income need.
Lifetime Income: Their comparison would explore potential starting dates, single-life versus joint-life options, and the trade-offs of committing part of their savings.
Thinking about care and her children
Age 64 · $300,000 in IRA savings · Retiring in three years
She wants to consider possible care needs without losing sight of her wish to leave something to her children.
Protection + Legacy: Her comparison would explore available care-related features, beneficiary provisions, and whether additional planning outside an annuity is needed.
Hypothetical examples for illustration only.
Your complimentary Retirement Options Report
An annuity-focused comparison that starts with your retirement goals. It is a discussion aid—not a comprehensive financial plan or a comparison of every investment.
The review also considers when an annuity may not fit the job you want your money to do.
See My Retirement OptionsWork through five retirement questions to organize what matters most to you.
Discuss the amount you are considering and the money you need to keep accessible. Your account total is not an annuity allocation.
Talk through relevant options, features, costs, and restrictions in a phone or video conversation.
You decide whether to take another step. No obligation to purchase an annuity or move any money.
Five retirement questions start the conversation. You do not need to choose a product or decide how much to commit today.
Work through the questions at your own pace. Your answers stay in this tab; you can request a conversation through our homepage chat.
Do not enter account numbers, account credentials, or medical information.
Review your answers below. They stay in this tab and are not sent to the chat.
To request a follow-up, open the chat bubble on our homepage and send Mark a message.
Go to homepage chatMark Rogers is the person behind Talking Turning 65. Bring your priorities, your questions, and anything you want explained in plain English.
A report request is the beginning of a conversation. It is not an application, a rollover instruction, or a commitment to buy.
Get to know Mark
You can be curious about an annuity without being ready to choose one.
No. Start with the job you want your money to do. Choose a planning path or select Not Sure Yet.
No. Requesting a report does not authorize a transfer. The conversation includes whether any portion of your savings belongs in an annuity and what should remain available elsewhere.
Access depends on the contract. Some withdrawals can involve surrender charges, adjustments, or reduced benefits. Review the withdrawal terms before making a purchase decision.
No. An IRA is a retirement account; an annuity is an insurance contract that may be held within one. An annuity inside a tax-deferred retirement account does not add another layer of tax deferral. Consider whether its features justify its costs.
No. It identifies goals to explore, not benefits you have qualified for. Care-related features and beneficiary provisions need separate review.
No. A report request starts a conversation. Mark first confirms the details needed for a meaningful comparison, then reviews the options with you in a phone or video conversation.
Start with the contract you already own. Our five-point review has a checklist specifically for existing annuity owners.
Review my existing annuityStart with your goals. Explore the options. Understand the trade-offs.
See My Retirement OptionsAnnuities are long-term insurance contracts. Guarantees depend on the issuing insurer’s financial strength and claims-paying ability. Withdrawals may involve surrender charges, contract adjustments, and taxes, and may reduce benefits. Features, costs, and availability vary. Examples are hypothetical and do not predict results. This is educational information, not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice.
Learn more: Investor.gov: annuities · Washington insurance regulator: long-term care insurance · Our disclosures