What Is a Fixed Index Annuity?

How To Invest Risk-Free for Retirement With a Fixed Index Annuity

Index Term Period in Fixed Index Annuities: How Does It Work?

Impacts of Long-Term Investment in High Interest Rate Environments

What Is An Annuity? Types, Benefits and Definition 

Fixed Index Annuity Basics

Should You Get a Fixed-Index Annuity?

How Much Interest Can a Fixed Index Annuity Really Earn?

Fixed Index Annuity Cap Rates Explained

Advantages of a Fixed Index Annuity

Understanding Fixed Indexed Annuities

Fixed Index Annuities Reasons To Consider

Retired couple

Should I Invest in an Annuity?

At Blueprint Income, we're working to make the annuity market a simpler and easier space to navigate. Each day we're focused on offering a better service and product that makes sense for you. 

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We've Created a Better Annuity Buying Process

14 Things Happy Retirees Do Well

Should I Put my 401k into an Annuity?

Understanding Rate Lock and How It Differs Between Income Annuities and Fixed Annuities

Financial Literacy 

Why is financial literacy important?

Couple on laptop

Are Annuities Insured?

At What Point Does the Beneficiary to an Annuity Acquire Rights?

We have recently identified parameters where certain indexed annuities with income riders generate more lifetime income than longevity annuities (a.k.a. deferred income annuities or DIAs). 

Longevity Annuity vs. Indexed Annuity Income Analysis

Traditionally we're told to save for retirement, but we don't have security of income and no one tells us about how much is enough, when to start spending our retirement savings or how long we should plan to make it last.  This is why at Blueprint Income we value an income-focused retirement plan.

Security of Income in Retirement is Our Secret

Unsure of the best way to save for retirement during your working years? There’s no right answer, but having a strategy and knowing of the available saving vehicles doesn’t hurt. 


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4 Smart Retirement Decisions During Your Working Years

Women tend to live longer and therefore need to prepare more for retirement. And, with most couples, women aren’t very involved in retirement planning. 


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5 Challenges Women Face in Retirement

Early in our careers, we think about retirement in terms of assets, but as we get closer to actually retiring, it’s important to shift and focus on income. Why? Assets run out. Lifetime income doesn’t.


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Planning for Retirement with Income and Assets

Household spending generally drops at retirement and then continues to decline throughout retirement. Here’s how people’s spending changes the most and how it can effect your saving plan. 

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How Your Spending Changes in Retirement

Higher life expectancies mean longer retirements. It’s important to consider these tools and strategies to ensure that you don’t outlive your retirement savings.

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Smart Planning for a Long Retirement

Understanding your current habits can give you insight into your healthy life in retirement. These calculators can help you project what you can do now to ensure a comfortable retirement later. 

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Tools to Estimate Your Longevity

An annuity can provide guaranteed lifetime income that reduces the likelihood that you’ll run out of money in retirement. Income from an annuity is predictable, steady, and cannot be outlived. This Annuities 101 article provides an overview of annuities and links to resources that will help you decide if an annuity is right for you.

Thumb - Annuities 101 — Annuity Basics for Beginners

Annuities 101 - Annuity Basics for Beginners

Retirement today isn’t what it used to be. A new retirement landscape demands a fresh approach to thinking about and planning for retirement. 


Thumb - 3 Retirement Questions You’ll Need to Address

3 Retirement Questions You'll Need to Address

Figure out if you've saved enough to support your retirement with Blueprint Income's 'Can I Retire' tool.

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Can I Retire?

Inflation risk in retirement captures the possibility that the prices of goods will increase beyond what your retirement income and savings can handle. Annuities do not do a good job protecting you from that risk, and instead are built to protect you from the other two big risks: market risk and longevity risk.

Annuities & Inflation Risk in Retirement

An annuity is a lifetime income guarantee that you purchase from an insurance company, who is overseen by state-based guaranty funds that insurers your annuity purchases. In this article, we discuss this important protection, as well as provide some helpful resources that you should be aware of.

State Guaranty Associations for Annuity Contracts

Qualified and non-qualified income annuities have differing tax treatment, meaning that once your retirement income has begun you will receive different tax forms reporting the amount of income generated from your qualified or non-qualified annuity. Here are the tax forms for your annuity and when you can expect to receive them. 


Annuity Tax Forms for Qualified and Non-Qualified Income Annuities

There are optional features you can choose so that your QLAC fits your needs. We’ve outlined how these options can affect your QLAC rates here.


These Features Can Affect Your QLAC Rates

Your personal attributes and the extra features you choose to customize your longevity annuity with will affect the income you can generate. We’ve broken down how each option will affect your rates.


These Features Can Affect Your Longevity Annuity Rates

Your personal attributes and the extra features you choose to customize your immediate annuity with will affect the income you can generate. We’ve broken down how each option will impact your rates.

These Features Will Impact Your Immediate Annuity Quotes

The recent bull market has been an attractive place for investors looking to generate sizable returns on their investment. Ongoing speculation of a potential market downturn in 2018 is now leaving investors with the challenge of finding a way to protect their recent gains.  

Taking Gains off the Table

Living to 100: Financial Security Implications

Bonds and income annuities have unique features that make them important components of your retirement portfolio. Understanding the role each plays in preparing for retirement can help you optimize the conservative, or safe, portion of your portfolio.

Comparing Bonds and Income Annuities for Retirement

You have options at the end of your multi-year guaranteed annuity (MYGA) guaranteed term. Read on to learn more and contact us if you have any questions.

What Are My Options at the End of My Fixed Annuity Guaranteed Term?

Who Should Not Buy an Annuity?

Are Fixed Annuities a Good Investment?

We answer some of the most common questions we get from potential clients regarding CDs and fixed annuities.

9 Key Differences Between Fixed Annuities and CDs

What Happens to an Immediate Annuity When You Die?

A fixed annuity provides a safe, tax-advantaged way to earn a good return on savings needed in the near future, similar to a CD. We’ve created this quick checklist so you can know if a fixed annuity is a good fit for you.

Should You Buy a Fixed Annuity?

Are There Any Good Annuities?

Planning for your retirement can be broken down into three primary objectives: liquidity, growth, and income. There are different financial products to use to meet each of those needs.

Finding the Right Financial Product for Your Retirement Objectives

Do Immediate Annuities Have Beneficiaries?

There are many features you can add to your longevity annuity so it properly fits your needs. We’ve broken down the options you can select to customize your longevity annuity.

Customize Your Longevity Annuity

To make the process of buying an annuity as seamless as possible, prepare to go through the following steps and be familiar with the following terminology. In addition to providing free, real-time annuity quotes, Blueprint Income will take care of the rest of the annuity buying process for you.

Ready to Buy an Annuity? Here's How the Process Works

There are many features you can add to your immediate annuity so it properly fits your needs. We’ve broken down the options you can select to customize your immediate annuity.

Customizing Your Immediate Annuity

Unforeseen healthcare costs are commonly overlooked in retirement planning. Here’s how you can anticipate these expenses. 


Managing Healthcare Costs in Retirement

What Is the Best Annuity?

We've expanded our real-time income annuity calculator to include Period Certain annuities. Unlike other income annuities, Period Certain annuities are not life contingent. 

Real-Time Period Certain Quotes Now Available on Blueprint Income

There are many features you can add to your QLAC so it best fits your needs. We’ve broken down the options you can select to customize your QLAC.

Customizing Your QLAC

There are many features you can add to your fixed annuity so it best fits your needs. We’ve broken down the options you can select to customize your fixed annuity.

Customizing Your Fixed Annuity

Not all annuity websites are created equal. Do your homework.

Online Annuities: How (and How Not) to Buy an Annuity Online

Should I Put My Money in an Annuity?

The rise of the 401(k) and the corresponding decline of defined benefit pension plans upended the three-legged stool model for retirement savings, leading to retirement insecurity. Blueprint Income is working to restore the broken leg of the stool by offering easy access to compare and purchase annuities.

How to Restore the Three-Legged Retirement Stool

Fixed annuities have several financial benefits to help make retirement planning simpler, but also have some drawbacks. Find out what a fixed annuity has to offer before you purchase. 

The Pros and Cons of a Fixed Annuity

We aren’t fortune tellers, but with good data we can make predictions for the future. Here we answer the question “how long will I live?” by analyzing data.

How Long Will I Live?

An immediate annuity can provide you with peace of mind during retirement. While not right for everyone, find out if an immediate annuity fits your retirement needs.

Should You Buy an Immediate Annuity?

The answers to the most important questions for when you purchase a QLAC.


Tips When Buying a QLAC

Find the answers to your questions when buying an annuity. 

Tips When Buying an Immediate Annuity

A QLAC offers you a guaranteed income stream to give you peace of mind during retirement. We’ve created this quick checklist so you can know if a longevity annuity is a good fit for you.


Should You Buy a QLAC?

For most Americans, Social Security only accounts for a portion of their retirement income. Here’s how you can fill this gap to ensure you have enough income during your golden years. 


Allocation to Social Security for Just a Part of Retirement Income

QLACs have many financial benefits which make retirement planning simpler. But, it’s important that you know all they have to offer to determine if it’s right for you.


The Pros and Cons of a QLAC

Knowing when you’re eligible to receive Social Security impacts your retirement planning. We’ve broken down the three key ages for when you can start. 

Social Security by Age of Participant

With Social Security playing an increasingly important role in retirement planning, it’s important to fully understand what you need to do during your working years to qualify for Social Security benefits.


Requirements for Social Security Benefits

The want for economic security is no new trend. We’ve laid out the evolution of Social Security and how it’s developed into the program it is today. 

History of Social Security and its Evolution

After working and saving for so many years, it’s finally time to retire. Here’s a quick to-do list to make sure you’ve done everything to prepare.


How You Can Prepare for Retirement During Your 70s

For over eighty years, Social Security has provided Americans with a stream of guaranteed income that gives certainty in retirement. But few people actually understand how the program works. Here’s what you need to know.


Basics of Social Security

With retirement approaching, reviewing your goals will ensure that you are on track for retirement. Here’s a quick checklist of the what you should be doing to prepare during your 60s.

Staying on Track for Retirement in Your 60s

The average human lifespan is increasing, and with that retirement is too. It’s important to consider these three questions so you don’t outlive your savings during retirement. 

Announcing Our Series on Longevity

People tend to think of technology as an exclusively millennial playing field. But don’t be fooled, there’s plenty of simple tech tools available to enhance how you manage your personal finances, particularly for retirement.

Using Technology to Improve Your Retirement

While you can claim your Social Security benefits at different times, there isn’t a single age that is right for everyone. It’s important to consider these facts when deciding which age is right for you. 


Claim Your Social Security Benefits Based on Your Circumstance

Should you hate annuities? Yes, some types. Others? No, not if you believe the federal government, trusted academics or Ken Fisher himself.

Should You Hate Annuities like Ken Fisher?

Taxation has a large impact on your retirement preparedness. Developing a plan to handle the differing rules and regulations on various types of retirement income is an important step to effectively plan for retirement. This article provides an overview of taxation on retirement income and links to resources that will help you understand taxes in retirement and make the decisions that are right for you.

Taxes in Retirement

The habits that help us build our retirement nest-egg also prevent us from spending as much as we can in retirement. Annuities can help solve this challenge of underconsumption in retirement. 


Annuities Can Solve the Retirement Spending Dilemma

There are two things you need to know if you’re an annuity owner or considering a purchase if you want to understand whether you can lose money. First, what kind of annuity do you own or are you considering purchasing? Second, what is the financial strength rating of the insurer? 

Can You Lose Money In An Annuity? Know These Two Things To Figure It Out

Utilizing asset-based tools to save for retirement is a great supplement to income annuities. Find out the four ways you can accumulate additional assets. 

Non-Guaranteed Retirement Income Strategies

Instructions for how to purchase a Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract (QLAC) in a 401(k), 403(b), IRA or other plan.

Purchasing a QLAC in a Tax Deferred Plan

Annuity adoption is less than would be expected in traditional economic models, as economists have shown that purchasing an annuity can lead to higher retirement income than a self-managed portfolio. Reframing annuities as a mechanism to improve consumption in retirement can improve utilization of annuity products. 

Can We Solve the Annuity Puzzle by Reframing Annuities?

The Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2018 (RESA) may finally encourage retirement plan sponsors to add annuities to their 401(k) plans. Certain provisions may promote retirement savings by encouraging annuitizations among plan participants.


Can the Retirement Enhancement Savings Act (RESA) Encourage Companies to Get on the Annuity Bandwagon?

401(k)s have become the predominant way to prepare for retirement, which leaves retirement savings exposed to market volatility. As a result, we are more sensitive to changes and drops in the markets. Knowing how stock market drops affect your retirement means it's important to protect your investments from movements in the market. 

How Stock Market Drops Affect Your Retirement

Annuities without cash value, a.k.a. income annuities, offer you protection from running out of money by providing guaranteed retirement income. These are the 5 reasons why income annuities are the best option for your retirement plan. 

5 Reasons Why Annuities Without Cash Value Is Best

To maximize your retirement, you should try to maximize guaranteed income available to you. Here are 4 ways to increase your pension check.

5 Ways To Increase Your Pension Check

For many pensioners, corporate pension de-risking and risk transfers may have a minimal impact on their lives and could ultimately promote their retirement security. Read on to understand these transactions better.

Pension De-risking and Risk Transfer, Demystified

One part of the The Retirement Plan Simplification and Enhancement Act, calls for making upward revisions of the QLAC limit. Under the new proposed rules, you could contribute up to $200,000 or 100% of your 401(k) or IRA account balance to a QLAC, but it is still up in the air as to whether this will get passed. 

New Legislation, If Passed, Would Increase QLAC Limits

QLACs’ special designation means that the income you receive can start later than age 70 1/2, reducing your RMDs and associated taxes. We’ve laid out the tax treatment your QLAC can receive. 

How Will My QLAC Be Taxed?

A QLAC provides steady, reliable income that doesn’t depend on the stock market. We’ve laid out how a QLAC could fit into your portfolio.

A QLAC in a Diversified Portfolio

The kind of savings used to purchase your longevity annuity will determine the taxes owed on the income payments you receive. We’ve broken down how you may be taxed.

How Will My Longevity Annuity Be Taxed?

History of Retirement (& Future Outlook)

Although QLACs are similar to longevity annuities, they differ in a few key ways. We’ve clarified the four unique features of a QLAC here.

Product Details of a QLAC

Longevity annuities are comparable in many ways to low-risk fixed income investments, which provide steady, reliable income that doesn’t depend on the stock markets. We’ve laid out how a longevity annuity fits well in a diversified portfolio.

Diversify Your Portfolio with a Longevity Annuity

A Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract (QLAC) is a pension-like product you can purchase with qualified savings that will provide you income for as long as you live. We’ve outlined the key components of QLACs and how they work here.

What's a QLAC?

The kind of savings used to purchase your immediate annuity will determine the taxes owed on the income payments you receive. We’ve broken down how you may be taxed. 

How Will My Immediate Annuity Be Taxed?

Longevity annuities have several financial benefits to help make retirement planning simpler, but also have some drawbacks. Find out what a longevity annuity has to offer before you purchase. 

The Pros and Cons of a Longevity Annuity

If you're thinking about an annuity purchase, keep these 9 things in mind when evaluating the financial strength of the annuity issuer.

Investing for Retirement

RETIREMENT PLANNING

3 Retirement Questions You'll Need to Address

RETIREMENT PLANNING

Can I Retire?

ANNUITIES 101

Annuities 101 - Annuity Basics for Beginners

ANNUITIES 101

Are Fixed Annuities a Good Investment?

ANNUITIES 101

9 Key Differences Between Fixed Annuities and CDs

RETIREMENT PLANNING

Tools to Estimate Your Longevity

ANNUITIES 101

What Is a Fixed Index Annuity?

RETIREMENT INCOME

How To Invest Risk-Free for Retirement With a Fixed Index Annuity

RETIREMENT INCOME

Index Term Period in Fixed Index Annuities: How Does It Work?

RETIREMENT PLANNING

Impacts of Long-Term Investment in High Interest Rate Environments

ANNUITIES 101

What Is An Annuity? Types, Benefits and Definition

ANNUITIES 101

Fixed Index Annuity Basics

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