Ben Green discusses why annuities can be a key consideration in retirement planning.
Listen to the interview on the Business Innovators Radio Network: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-ben-green-co-founder-of-ready2retire-discussing-annuity-strategies/
The episode delves into annuity strategies and aims to address common misconceptions surrounding them. Mike Saunders and Ben Green engage in a discussion about different types of annuities, such as fixed index annuities, multi-year guaranteed annuities, and variable annuities. They shed light on the negative associations often linked to variable annuities due to their ties to fluctuating investments that can result in significant losses. Additionally, Ben highlights the impact of higher fees on variable annuities, further affecting returns.
Ben Green emphasizes that annuities are not a one-size-fits-all solution and should be carefully considered as part of an individual’s retirement plan. Ben emphasizes that at Ready2Retire
his team also takes long-term care planning, investments and IRA rollover planning, Medicare, Social Security, estate planning, liability protection, and tax planning all into consideration. He suggests that some clients who are 60 years or older and within a five-year period of retirement, and those that are currently retired, may find annuities to be an appropriate choice as part of an overall allocation strategy. Comparisons are made between annuities and other retirement savings vehicles, such as 401(k)s and Roth IRAs, to emphasize the potential benefits of incorporating annuities into a diversified retirement & wealth preservation strategy.
It also dispels the misconception that annuities are a new financial product. Ben Green clarifies that annuities have a long-standing history predating the invention of 401(k)s in 1974. This highlights the reliability and longevity of annuities as a retirement planning tool.
Ready2Retire is a firm that provides holistic and comprehensive retirement planning services. They cater to individuals in the pre-retirement phase or already in retirement, typically between the ages of 60 to 75. The firm recognizes that retirees often have misconceptions about their retirement accounts, mistakenly believing that products like 401(k)s or 457s constitute their entire financial plan. The firm’s goal is to ensure that all aspects of a client’s retirement plan are covered, rather than solely focusing on specific financial products like 401(k)s or IRAs. They have developed a 12-point checklist that they use with clients to ensure the creation of a comprehensive retirement plan so that clients can retire successfully.
Ben said: “Ready2Retire exists to make sure you enjoy your retirement, while also avoiding pitfalls like: Running out of money and having to “un-retire”, paying too much on taxes or financial fees, not factoring in the rising costs of health insurance and long-term care, failing to plan for inflation, and failing to plan for volatility in the markets.”
About Ben Green
A native of Columbia, SC, Ben is Co-Founder & President of Ready2Retire, the leading retirement planning firm for people who want to retire with confidence. Ben greatly appreciates the importance of customer service and client satisfaction, honed from over 20 years of experience, and is recognized nationwide as a top retirement, insurance, Medicare, and Social Security planner.
He has over 2,000 clients and has educated over 10,000 people. Ben is also President and COO of Insurance Advantage, an employee benefits agency he co-founded 14 years ago. Ben has previously served as COO of a human resources staffing firm and as Vice President of Asia and Europe for an American software company.
Ben has extensive experience in economic development and consulting and worked as a Business Recruiter for South Carolina. Since Ben opened the Japan office in 2012, South Carolina has received over $2.2 billion in investment. In 2014, he was hired to write The Strategic Plan for the State of South Carolina.
Based on ten years working overseas in Japan, Brazil, & Spain, he wrote the Amazon Best Seller “The Global Superstar: How Your Students Can Develop an Advantage over Global Competition” to help students prepare for careers in this changing economy. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Morehouse College, an International MBA from The University of South Carolina, and certificates from UNC and Temple University.
He’s conversant in Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. He has served on numerous boards, including the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Association, the SC Chamber of Commerce, and the Columbia (SC) Chamber of Commerce. He’s a member of the Nashville City Club and the Nashville Kiwanis Club.
