Annuities Explained: When Guarantees Help—and When They Hurt Your Retirement

Annuities are often sold as a simple solution to a complicated retirement problem. Guaranteed income. Protection from market volatility. Peace of mind that your money won't run out. But behind those promises is a much more complex set of trade-offs that many investors don't consider. Because while annuities can play a role in retirement planning, evaluating them in isolation often leads to unintended consequences (higher fees, reduced flexibility, extra taxes). So in today's episode, I break down how annuities actually work. We'll walk through the major types of annuities, how "guarantees" are structured, what you're really paying for, and where the risks tend to show up later in retirement. I'll also explain when annuities may make sense, when they don't, and how to evaluate them as part of a coordinated retirement plan so you can make informed decisions with confidence. *** 📆 BOOK A CALL: For two decades, we've have helped hundreds of families across the U.S. plan smarter retirements—from tax strategies and investments to income and legacy planning. The result? Less stress. Lower taxes. More confidence about the future. If you're looking for clarity and a proven, personalized process, we'd be honored to have a conversation. 👉 Click to Learn More and Schedule *** EPISODE RESOURCES: → Grab the Episode Show Notes → Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter → Learn About the Total Retirement System™

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Annuities Explained: When Guarantees Help—and When They Hurt Your Retirement is an episode from Stay Wealthy Retirement Show by Taylor Schulte, CFP®.

This episode is 29:19 long.

This episode was published on Feb 5, 2026.

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