"Fun With Annuities" The Annuity Man Podcast

The Annuity Man
  • 4.5 (52)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

Fun With Annuities® Podcast is hosted by America's Annuity Agent, Stan The Annuity Man®. Hear brutal annuity facts with no sales pitches from the top independent agent in the country, licensed in all 50 states. Author of 7 books, Stan dives deep on all annuity types and strategies. It's fun, learning the contractual truths on how annuities actually work and if they'll fit your personal retirement lifestyle. Listen in on how you can be livin' the reality, not the dream.

  1. 4d ago ·  Bonus

    MYGAs Are Annuity Bonds: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

    Multi-year guarantee annuities (MYGAs) might be the most overlooked "bond alternative" in your retirement plan. In this episode, you'll hear a Wall Street bond veteran break down why MYGAs behave like annuity bonds, how he personally uses them, and why guarantees—not hope—should be paying your bills.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Background in Wall Street bond management What MYGAs are and how they compare to CDs and bonds Personal portfolio strategy using MYGAs as "annuity bonds" Tax deferral, rollovers, and legacy considerations with MYGAs Why guarantees matter more than categories in retirement planning Distinction between MYGAs and indexed/variable annuities   Key Takeaways:  Multi-year guarantee annuities function like the annuity industry's version of CDs, offering a fixed rate for a specific term with no fluctuation in account value. Treating MYGAs as "annuity bonds" can provide bond-like coupons and high-quality guarantees without market volatility. Tax-deferred growth and non-taxable rollovers between MYGAs allow interest to compound over long periods, creating a powerful accumulation engine. Investment decisions should focus less on product labels and more on the strength of contractual guarantees and the financial quality of the issuing company. Indexed and variable annuities do not qualify as "annuity bonds" because their returns are not guaranteed and rely on hypothetical or projected performance.   "Stop with obsessing over the category. Obsess over the guarantees." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: Stan@TheAnnuityMan.com  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator

  2. Jul 21

    The Scars of Scarcity and Your Spending Problem: Fun With Annuities

    Most people have more than enough to live well in retirement—but still can't bring themselves to spend. In this episode, we unpack the "scars of scarcity" that keep you stuck in fear and show you how to finally enjoy the money you worked so hard to earn.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Scarcity mindset and emotional money scars Early-career financial struggles and family stories Having enough money but still fearing spending "Buy the drink" as a philosophy for retirement Enjoying Chapter Two of life and overcoming guilt   Key Takeaways:  Early experiences of not having enough money can leave deep emotional scars that continue to shape financial decisions decades later. It's possible to be financially secure and still live as if you're one emergency away from disaster, simply because old scarcity patterns were never addressed. Retirement isn't just about preserving principal; it's about intentionally using your money to create experiences, memories, and quality of life. Giving yourself permission to "buy the drink" is a simple but powerful way to practice letting go of excessive frugality and embracing the present. You can't take your money with you, and waiting too long to enjoy it often means missing the most active, vibrant years of your life.   "My job… is to remind you that life is fleeting." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: Stan@TheAnnuityMan.com  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

  3. Jul 19 ·  Bonus

    What Is The Annuity Man Trifecta?: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

    In this episode of Shooting It Straight with Stan, Stan "The Annuity Man" breaks down his signature Annuity Man Trifecta and why annuities should be bought for contractual guarantees—not hypothetical dreams. Discover how he shops all carriers, screens for top-rated companies, and layers in his three decades of experience to protect your money and your peace of mind.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Annuities as contractual, commodity products The PILL framework: Principal protection, income, legacy, long-term care The Annuity Man Trifecta: highest number, ratings, recommendation Evaluating carriers on both financial strength and administration Work ethic, team structure, and mission to "clean up" the annuity space   Key Takeaways:  Annuities should be purchased for what they are contractually guaranteed to do, not for speculative growth or hypothetical back-tested returns. The core problems annuities are designed to solve can be summarized as principal protection, lifetime income, legacy planning, and long-term care, and any use outside of these should raise red flags. Focusing solely on illustrations and projected returns leaves investors vulnerable to sales-driven hype instead of reality-based planning grounded in guarantees. A truly client-focused annuity process involves shopping all carriers for the highest contractual guarantee, prioritizing financially strong companies, and applying experienced, independent judgment on which carriers to actually recommend. Operational competence—like the ability to process paperwork efficiently and handle client service—is just as critical as an insurance company's rating when it comes to protecting clients and delivering on annuity promises.   "You buy annuities for what they will do, not what they might do… Never, ever, ever buy them for growth." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: Stan@TheAnnuityMan.com  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

  4. Jul 12 ·  Bonus

    Annuity Companies Want Your MYGA to Auto-Renew: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

    Annuity companies are counting on you to forget about your MYGA so they can quietly roll it into a low-paying renewal. In this episode, Stan The Annuity Man breaks down how the auto-renewal game really works—and exactly what you should do instead to lock in the highest contractual guarantees.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  What a MYGA is and how it functions like a CD How auto-renewal works with MYGAs Why renewal rates are often uncompetitive by design Using an agent of record to avoid bad auto-renewals Shopping for the highest-paying MYGA or SPIA at maturity   Key Takeaways:  Multi-year guarantee annuities operate much like CDs, but with the advantage of tax-deferred compounding when using non-qualified money. Auto-renewal rates on MYGAs are historically poor and are rarely competitive with rates available in the broader marketplace at maturity. Annuity companies benefit when contracts quietly roll over at low rates, especially when original agents leave the business and no one is actively servicing the account. Proactively working with a dedicated team to track maturity dates helps ensure policies are shopped at renewal and transferred to better-paying MYGAs or SPIAs without triggering taxes. Treat annuities strictly as contractual tools—focus on the highest guaranteed terms available rather than vague possibilities or marketing promises.   "Historically, the auto renewal rates are horrible." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: Stan@TheAnnuityMan.com  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

  5. Jul 7

    The Planned "Stickiness" of Annuity Riders: Fun With Annuities

    Discover why annuity income riders are designed to keep you "stuck" with your carrier—and why that isn't always a bad thing if you understand the contractual guarantees. This episode cuts through the sales hype to explain the real math, the "monopoly money" side of riders, and how to decide whether to stay or move your annuity.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Four primary ways to guarantee lifetime income Income riders vs. indexed annuity accumulation value The "monopoly money" nature of income benefit values How annuity companies design product "stickiness" When you should stay put and just turn on the income   Key Takeaways:  Lifetime income planning should be grounded in contractual guarantees, not hypothetical projections or sales-driven illustrations. Income riders often produce a higher "benefit value" than the actual cash value, creating a deliberate disparity that makes annuities hard to leave. The income rider value is typically not transferable, cashable, or available for partial withdrawals; its main purpose is to price and pay a lifetime income stream. Because rider fees are taken from the real money side for the life of the policy, carriers are heavily incentivized to keep policyholders from moving their contracts. In many situations, the most rational move is to stay with the current annuity and simply turn on the income stream, rather than chasing bonuses or "better" products.   "The income rider side is monopoly money." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: Stan@TheAnnuityMan.com  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

  6. Jul 5 ·  Bonus

    The Best Income Riders Are Not Annuitized: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

    Learn why locking yourself into irreversible annuity payments isn't the only way to secure lifetime income. In this episode, you'll hear how non-annuitized income riders can give you contractual guarantees and the flexibility to turn income on and off when life or tax laws change.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Annuitization explained and "water faucet" analogy Single premium immediate annuities, DIAs, and QLACs Income riders as flexible, non-annuitized lifetime income Turning income on/off and adjusting start dates Importance of A+ rated carriers and avoiding low-rated "high quote" products   Key Takeaways:  Annuitization creates an irrevocable income stream—once it's turned on, the payments keep flowing for life or the contract period, like ripping the knob off a water faucet. Income riders provide a contractual path to lifetime income while allowing you to maintain control over the asset and the timing of your payments. The best income riders are "drawdown" products, where each lifetime payment is simply subtracted from the policy rather than locking you into a traditional annuitization. Lifetime income levels are driven primarily by life expectancy at the time you start payments; interest rates play only a minor role. It's critical to use strong, A+ or better carriers for income riders because they are not backed by state guarantee funds, even if a lower-rated company offers a higher quote.   "We use the indexed annuity as a delivery system for the income rider, but the best income riders are not annuitization products." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: Stan@TheAnnuityMan.com  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

  7. Jun 28 ·  Bonus

    Annuity Guarantees Don't Change With Account Types: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

    Confused about how annuities work inside IRAs, Roths, and non-qualified accounts? In this episode, Stan the Annuity Man breaks down why annuity contractual guarantees never change with account type—and why using annuities for growth is a big mistake.   In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Annuity contractual guarantees vs. account types Using traditional IRAs for annuity income strategies Roth IRAs, tax-free income, and where growth should live Non-qualified (cash) accounts and entrepreneur realities Common annuity misconceptions and industry messaging   Key Takeaways:  The contractual guarantees of an annuity are identical regardless of whether it's held in a traditional IRA, Roth IRA, or non-qualified account; only the taxation of distributions changes. Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts (QLACs) are strictly for traditional IRA-type accounts and can help with required minimum distribution (RMD) planning and pension-style income. Roth IRAs are often best reserved for true growth assets, but they can still be used to create tax-free lifetime income streams with certain annuity products. Many entrepreneurs end up using non-qualified cash for annuities because their capital is tied up in their businesses rather than in retirement plans. Annuities should be purchased solely for their contractual guarantees—such as principal protection and lifetime income—not for market returns or speculative growth.   "Contractual guarantees don't change regardless of the type of account that you use." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: Stan@TheAnnuityMan.com  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

  8. Jun 21 ·  Bonus

    Why You Should Never Annuitize a MYGA: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

    If you own a multi-year guarantee annuity (MYGA) or are thinking about buying one, this episode could save you from a costly mistake. Discover why annuitizing a MYGA internally is rarely in your best interest—and how a simple MYGA-to-SPIA strategy can unlock the highest contractual guarantees for your retirement income.    In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:  Definition and purpose of a MYGA (multi-year guarantee annuity) Why internal annuitization quotes are usually uncompetitive The MYGA-to-SPIA strategy using a 1035 exchange Focusing on contractual guarantees over brands and brochures Using an independent quoting process across all carriers   Key Takeaways:  A MYGA is best used as a principal protection tool with a guaranteed interest rate, not as a product you annuitize internally for lifetime income. Internal annuitization quotes from MYGA and other deferred annuity carriers are typically uncompetitive compared to independently quoted single premium immediate annuities. A MYGA-to-SPIA approach—using a 1035 exchange to move from a matured MYGA into the highest paying immediate annuity—can help secure superior lifetime income guarantees. The smartest annuity decisions are made by focusing on contractual guarantees instead of company names, product labels, or glossy marketing materials. Relying on a broad, apples-to-apples quote across highly rated carriers helps avoid lazy or biased recommendations that may cost you long-term income.   "With annuities, you're buying it for the contractual guarantees. Period." —  Stan The Annuity Man   Connect with The Annuity Man:  Website: http://theannuityman.com/  Email: Stan@TheAnnuityMan.com  Book: Owner's Manuals: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/how-do-annuities-work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXKKxvVslbeGAlEc5sra2g  Get a Quote Today: https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-calculator!

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Fun With Annuities® Podcast is hosted by America's Annuity Agent, Stan The Annuity Man®. Hear brutal annuity facts with no sales pitches from the top independent agent in the country, licensed in all 50 states. Author of 7 books, Stan dives deep on all annuity types and strategies. It's fun, learning the contractual truths on how annuities actually work and if they'll fit your personal retirement lifestyle. Listen in on how you can be livin' the reality, not the dream.

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