Ken Nuss

When you're planning to improve your financial future, don't procrastinate. As Mick Jagger also sang, "Time Waits for No One."

Ads touting 8% guarantees are misleading, though not quite false. Real rates around 4% range are attractive enough and much more reliable.

It's tempting to overinvest in stocks today, but everyone still needs some safe footing from other places. For part of your safe-money portion, fixed annuities offer guarantees, higher rates, and tax deferrals.

Income riders that guarantee future income have significant pros and cons. Make sure to weigh all your options before adding another layer of protection.

It's hard to look at guaranteed lifetime payments from a company pension plan and think that might not work for you. Yet sometimes, that is the case as every finical situation is unique. So, make sure to weigh all of your options before you decide between a pension or a lump sum IRA.

Part of your retirement planning may also include finding a way to leave behind a legacy for any family members that you will eventually leave behind. Leaving this legacy will require a stong plan, and there are other ways to do it besides a trust fund.

CDs and bonds have a role, but less-used annuities can offer higher interest rates, secure principal and guaranteed income choices.

Using the start of the New Year to reassess your finances is a must-do, but instead of just taking a look at the books you can also find a way to save on your taxes following these methods.

Annuities offer many benefits, like saving for retirement and cutting your taxes, that other traditional methods of finance may not offer as well. However, an annuity does not work for everyone. Make sure annuities are right for you.

An annuity stretch gives non-spouse beneficiaries a little-known way to receive income and defer taxes. Here's how you might be able to use it.

Bond yields are low. How can investors get a better return without taking on more risk?

The challenge is to get the best combination of yield and liquidity from the guaranteed portion of your retirement savings.

Buffering the risk of living to a very old age.

The right mix of growth, safety and safety-plus-growth-potential investments is determined by your risk tolerance.

CDs have one main advantage over annuities, but it's a tiny advantage, all things considered.

Ensure fairness across generations by choosing the right annuity or life insurance distribution method.

If the bull market has skewed your asset allocation, fixed-rate annuities or fixed indexed annuities can help.

When it comes to retirement savings plans, even annual maximum contributions may not be enough to allow you to retire comfortably. Ken Nuss, CEO of AnnuityAdvantage, recommends annuities for the tools they come with. Continue below to learn how annuities can benefit you.

Few people have enough income from Social Security and ever-shrinking company pensions to fully support their retirement. They need a way to get additional guaranteed lifetime income. Luckily, there are options available so pending retirees can manage their own custom-made pensions. Read on to see what our annuity expert advises.

Many would-be investors in fixed-income may be holding off because they're waiting for interest rates to improve. But this might be a bad move. Keeping too much in cash limits what you could be earning. Though rates are currently low, they aren't likely to go up anytime soon, this expert says.

Since an IRA and annuities are both tax-deferred, it might seem like including annuities in your IRA is not the best retirement savings strategy. But incorporating them might actually be a good strategy for you, depending on where you're at in your journey toward retirement.

Fixed indexed annuities offer a way to protect principal while still getting growth. They're often a good investment solution for older Americans who might be concerned about a potential market correction. Since fixed annuities are shielded from stock-market downturns, they are a good option in this regard. But they do have their complexities, too.

Fixed annuities are a bond substitute offering guarantees, safety, flexibility and tax deferral.