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Annuities

Annuities are the most efficient means of generating retirement income, and perhaps the only way to mitigate longevity risk. Commission-Free annuities can quickly outperform fixed income in generating retirement income, and provide payouts long after fixed income portfolios would be depleted. Use our Guaranteed Income tool to see how a no-load annuity can address your clients' retirement income needs.

The benefits of Commission-Free annuities for guaranteed income
Fixed Income Allocation

Academic research shows Commission-Free annuities can generate income 40% more efficiently than bonds.

Downside Protection

Commission-Free annuities can help protect assets from market volatility while providing upside potential.

Sequence of Returns Risk Mitigation

Annuities can provide guaranteed income, helping clients maintain their lifestyles as they enter retirement.

Jonathan Barth
Why Annuities Are the New "Plan A"

DPL Consultant Jonathan Barth examines why advisors are using annuities — not bonds or cash — to complement equities and help improve portfolio performance for their clients.

Why stocks and annuities are the new "Plan A"

DPL's Jonathan Barth explains why stocks and bonds are no longer the best solution for clients who want to de-risk their portfolio and why using both investments and Commission-Free insurance can provide the best value for clients. 

Type Carrier Name Sort ascending Rating DPL Insights
Variable Annuity Transamerica Variable Annuity I-Share II A

Low-cost VA with an optional protected growth living benefit

Variable Annuity TIAA The Intelligent Variable Annuity® A++

Lowest-cost variable annuity on the market for accounts over $500K, includes Vanguard and DFA funds

Registered Index Linked Annuity Equitable Structured Capital Strategies® Income A

Offers a "dual crediting" strategy and an optional living benefit for income, while being fee-friendly 

Registered Index Linked Annuity Equitable Structured Capital Strategies PLUS® 21 A

Surrender-free RILA with 9 indices

Variable Annuity Jackson Retirement Investment Annuity A

Features investment freedom and a living benefit with pricing based on the phase of the policy

Fixed Index Annuity Allianz Retirement Foundation ADV® A+

Provides an increasing income option for clients who anticipate a greater income need later in retirement

Variable Annuity Protective Protective Investors Benefit Advisory Variable Annuity A+

Allows advisory fee without impacting the living benefit value

Variable Annuity Lombard International Private Placement VA A-

Non-traditional investments within a tax-deferred account for the high-net-worth client

Fixed Index Annuity Corebridge Financial Power Index Advisory® A

Fixed index annuity with two guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits

Variable Annuity Jackson Perspective Advisory II® A

Several living and death benefit options with complete investor freedom

Variable Annuity Pacific Life Pacific Odyssey® A+

ROP included in pricing, and living benefits can be added after issue

Fixed Index Annuity Pacific Life Pacific Index Advisory℠ A+

FIA with optional enhanced death benefit

Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity Pacific Life Pacific Harbor A+

MYGA with 3- and 5-year duration and $25K minimum investment. No surrender, MVA only.

Variable Annuity Pacific Life Pacific Advisory Variable Annuity A+

Advisory fee-friendly annuity with a guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit

Fixed Index Annuity Pacific Life Pacific Advisory Fixed Indexed Annuity A+

FIA with free withdrawals and customizable interest-earning options

Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity Midland National® Oak ADVantage℠ A+

MYGA with 3-, 5-, and 7-year durations, and a $50K minimum investment

Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity Integrity Life MultiVantage® A+

4, 5, 7, and 10 year MYGA with a 1% interest rate enhancement in the first year.

Fixed Index Annuity Midland National® Midland National Capital Income℠ A+

FIA with ability to double income payments for up to 5 years with health-related trigger

Fixed Index Annuity Jackson MarketProtector Advisory® A

Surrender-free FIA

Registered Index Linked Annuity Jackson Market Link Pro Advisory II A

Surrender-free RILA providing 1, 3, and 6-year terms with floor and buffer options. State availability varies.

Variable Annuity Equitable Investment Edge® 21 ADV A

No M&E annuity offers optional investment segments with defined protection, and an exclusion ratio on withdrawals

Fixed Index Annuity Midland National® IndexMax Adv℠ A+

Accumulation-focused FIA featuring a BlackRock ESG index

Fixed Index Annuity MassMutual Ascend Index Protector 7℠ A++

8% guaranteed roll-up on living benefit value, and advisory fee does not impact benefit base

Fixed Index Annuity MassMutual Ascend Index Protector 5 MVA℠ A++

Surrender-free FIA with multiple participation rate strategies issued up to age 90

Fixed Index Annuity MassMutual Ascend Index Protector 4℠ A++

FIA with no market value adjustment

Registered Index Linked Annuity Allianz Index Advantage Income ADV℠ A+

Customizable growth opportunity and downside protection with guaranteed lifetime income

Registered Index Linked Annuity Allianz Index Advantage ADV® A+

Customizable downside protection via four different blendable strategies

Registered Index Linked Annuity MassMutual Ascend Index Achiever® Advisory A++

Surrender-free RILA for managing short-term volatility

Deferred Income Annuity Integrity Life IncomeSource® Select A+

Deferred income product eligible for QLAC classification

Single Premium Immediate Annuity Integrity Life IncomeSource® A+

Issued up to age 95 with multiple annuitization options

Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity Guaranty Income Life Insurance Company Guaranty Rate Lock™ B++

MYGA with 3–10-year durations, and three rate bands based on premium

Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity American Life Fee-Based MYGA B++

MYGA with 3- and 5-year duration and $10K minimum investment

Variable Annuity Security Benefit EliteDesigns® A-

Exclusion ratio applied on withdrawals without annuitization

Fixed Index Annuity Security Benefit ClearLine A-

Provides access to exclusive Avantis Barclays VC Index. No surrender charge

Fixed Annuity Corebridge Financial Assured Edge® Advisory A

7-year fixed annuity with a GLWB

Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity Aspida Aspida Advisory MYGA A-

MYGA with multiple durations, including a 2 year option for shorter-term investment

Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity Corebridge Financial American Pathway Advisory A

MYGA with 3, 5, and 7-year durations, three rate bands based on premium, and MVA

Variable Annuity Ameritas Advisor No-Load VA A

Offers Vanguard and DFA funds and includes ROP

Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity MassMutual Ascend Advantage 5℠ Advisory A++

MYGA with 5-year duration and $50K minimum investment

Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity Security Benefit Advanced Choice A-

Provides a 4-year guaranteed interest rate, with no surrender charge

 

Video

May 18, 2020
David Blanchett, head of retirement research for Morningstar’s Investment Management group, says that among the...

Video

Feb 03, 2020
DPL Founder and CEO, David Lau sits down with Wade Pfau PhD, CFA, RICP to...
David Lau

Video

Feb 07, 2019
David Lau explains why advisors have to bill on insurance as they would on any...
David Lau

Video

Dec 10, 2019
Bond yields being low makes annuities even more appealing compared to fixed income. David Lau...

Case Study

Jan 25, 2023
Using RISA as a first step in the planning process As a holistic financial planner...

Video

Dec 06, 2021
Commission-Free annuities are designed to deliver greater benefits than commission-driven products, including lower costs, shorter...

Video

Feb 03, 2020
Wade Pfau PhD, CFA, RICP and DPL Founder and CEO, David Lau discuss the best...

Video

May 13, 2021
DPL's David Lau explains why he believes annuities belong in a 401(K) plan and how...

Video

Jun 06, 2022
DPL’s Lead Consultant, Ross McGoodwin, shares how DPL members can solve for under- performing fixed...

Common Questions

How can annuities help with wealth accumulation?

Annuities can help clients accumulate wealth in two ways: 1) through tax-deferred accumulation, and, 2) through the efficient funding of retirement income. The additional tax deferral that can be accessed through low-cost variable annuities can be beneficial to high income earners who quickly max out their 401(k)s and IRAs. Academic research shows that annuities can fund retirement income more efficiently than traditional fixed income portfolios. By requiring fewer assets to generate income than traditional fixed income strategies, allocating to an annuity to fund essential retirement expenses leaves a greater share of a client’s portfolio to be invested in long term equity strategies that leverage accumulation potential.

How can annuities improve legacies?

The basic premise is that by using an annuity to efficiently fund retirement income, more assets are available to be invested in equities to grow legacy assets. Clients with longer life expectancies will benefit most as they generate income from their annuities even after their cash balances have been exhausted.

My firm doesn’t address annuities clients already own, why should we?

Clients can often save thousands of dollars in product fees when it makes sense to move from a commissioned insurance product to a low-cost, commission-free product. In addition to providing potentially improved financial outcomes to your clients, offering insurance solutions as part of a holistic financial planning process enables you to expand services, potentially attract new clients and increase AUM.

Does DPL perform analysis of annuities my clients already own?

One of the services we provide to our members is the evaluation of clients' existing annuity policies to determine if it is possible to leverage current benefits to help meet the goals of the financial plan, or, if it makes sense to use the policy to fund a no-load annuity that may be able to achieve client goals more efficiently.

Have more questions about our insurance offering?

Call us at 888.327.0049 to speak to a DPL Consultant.