Russell Bailyn -

As most of my readers know, my blog is designed to inform clients about issues related to financial planning, investment products, and the economy. Lately I’ve been fielding more questions than usual about the various annuity products out there and which ones are best, the worst and potentially the most interesting. It’s also no surprise that variable annuity features and riders change frequently to correspond to changing market conditions and current client needs. It would be nearly impossible for the average investor to be fully informed about the differences between variable annuities offered by Prudential, Jackson National, Nationwide, AXA, Sun Life and Transamerica. Well, this post should provide some answers and also give you insight into how the insurance companies think about and price these products.

Continue reading " Comparing & Contrasting Variable Annuity Riders " »

Posted by Russell Bailyn at 03:59 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

Welcome to one of the most misunderstood financial products out there. It’s no surprise how little most investors know about variable annuities because they’re extremely complicated and their explanations often come from insurance brokers and financial advisors who often don’t adequately explain their potential benefits and drawbacks. Over the past year variable annuity (VA) sales have skyrocketed as investors seek guarantees which may help them keep retirement plans on track.* So, who exactly is this product right for?

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Posted by Russell Bailyn at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

In the past long-term care insurance has been purchased primarily by middle and upper-middle class people. The wealthy tend to ‘self-fund’ their long-term care needs with extra assets which would otherwise be included in their estates. But now, with long-term care costs rising dramatically and over 40% of Americans 65 and older needing some sort of long term care, better planning is needed to protect assets.* If we give further consideration to increasing life-spans and the diminishing effect the recession has had on many households in the $2-5M net worth range, it may make sense for more wealthy individuals to start purchasing long-term care insurance as both a hedge against these risks and a protective measure for future giving ability.

Continue reading " Should high net-worth individuals purchase long-term care insurance? " »

Posted by Russell Bailyn at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )