🔐 Turn Retirement Anxiety Into Income Certainty

Retirement is supposed to be a reward — but for many clients, it’s a source of stress.
No more paycheck. No more predictable deposits. And often… no real plan for how their savings will pay them back.

This Annuity Awareness Month, it’s time to reframe the retirement conversation.

Because when you show clients how to trade anxiety for income certainty, you stop being a product presenter — and start being a trusted planner.

😰 What Retirees Fear More Than a Market Crash

It’s not volatility.
It’s not inflation.
It’s not even taxes.

According to a recent Allianz study, 66% of Americans say they fear outliving their money more than death. And nearly 80% of retirees say having a guaranteed income is more important than potential growth in retirement (Alliance for Lifetime Income, 2024).

That means clients aren’t asking, “What’s the return?”
They’re asking, “Can I count on this?”

💡 Income Is the Missing Piece

As advisors, we’ve been trained to help clients grow their wealth. But once the paychecks stop, the job shifts. It’s not about how much you made — it’s about how long it lasts.

Enter fixed annuities with guaranteed income riders.

These products allow you to:

• Create retirement paychecks that never stop

• Reduce the withdrawal stress on investment portfolios

• Give clients the permission to enjoy what they’ve saved

📊 Why It Matters Right Now

Let’s look at the numbers:

• A retiree with $500,000 who needs $2,500/month in income is withdrawing at a 6% rate — which most advisors agree is unsustainable.

• By using a guaranteed lifetime income annuity to cover a portion of those expenses, that same client could reduce their portfolio pressure by 30–50% (Morningstar analysis).

• And when paired with Social Security and a pension (if available), the annuity becomes a critical part of a “Retirement Paycheck Stack.”

🧠 Language That Opens Doors

You don’t need to pitch annuities.
You just need to start better conversations.

Try leading with:

“Retirement isn’t a number. It’s a paycheck plan.”
“You’ve done the saving. Now it’s time to turn that into spending — without fear of running out.”
“Let’s look at how we can guarantee at least part of your income, no matter what happens in the market.”

When you remove the jargon and speak to real-life concerns, clients listen.

👥 How to Position Yourself as the Expert

Use Annuity Awareness Month as your reason to reach out:

• Offer a complimentary “Income Clarity Session”

• Send an invite to review any existing annuities they haven’t touched in years

• Ask clients simple, planning-first questions like:

  • “What will your first month of retirement actually look like?”

  • “Which accounts will pay you — and for how long?”

Remember: most clients aren’t comparing products.
They’re comparing how you make them feel about the future.

✅ Bottom Line

When you replace retirement guesswork with guaranteed income, you deliver peace of mind — and that’s what builds lifelong client relationships.

This Annuity Awareness Month, don’t just talk about products.
Talk about paychecks.
Talk about plans.
Talk about certainty.