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Insured & Uninsured Income Streams: Combination to ensure security for retirement
Old 03-08-2008, 12:59 PM   #1
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Insured & Uninsured Income Streams: Combination to ensure security for retirement

A lot of discussion and historical research have been done to ascertain a Safe Withdrawal Rate. Many experts even recommend that retirees should keep their nest egg in a balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds, and withdraw around 4% pa. This rate is called the swr. I beg to differ. I argue that retirees should have two streams of income: insured stream and uninsured stream.

The insured stream consists of a few annuities. The combined annuity income provided should cover the survival needs. The reason why a few annuities is chosen over just one is to reduce the insurer risk and the currency risk. For example, the few annuities may be bought from a AAA US insurer paying in US$, a AA British insurer paying in Euro, and a Swiss insurer paying in Franc. If a retiree can expect to derive US$3,000 assuming a 4% pa withdrawal rate from his nest egg, but needs just US$1,000 to survive, then he should buy a few annuities that pays at least US$1,000 + cushion of 10-20% =US$1,200/m.

The rest can then be left in an uninsured stream consisting of a balanced portfolio, from which he withdraws at a swr.

What do you think?
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Old 03-08-2008, 01:26 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by AdventuresAddict View Post
... he should buy a few annuities that pays at least US$1,000 + cushion of 10-20% =US$1,200/m.

What do you think?
I think you need to be sure you're wearing your Kevlar vest....
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Old 03-08-2008, 01:39 PM   #3
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Ah good old annuities. Been awhile since this has been discussed.

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Old 03-08-2008, 01:47 PM   #4
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I am very fortunate to be in such a situation without having to actually buy any annuities as by my reckoning I am age 53 and have 5 annuities in the pipeline:

Soc Security (self & DW) starts any age after 62
US Company pension starts age 55
UK Company pension paid in GBP, collecting now.
2nd UK pension paid in GBP, starts age 65
UK Gov. Pension starts age 67

I definitely feel much better with so many irons in the fire (pun intended)

I can't honestly say if I would buy annuities if SS was my only source of income. I would think not.
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Old 03-08-2008, 02:03 PM   #5
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I have more than enough in "annuities" with SS and a small (really small) pension annuity off in the future. I can implement my own idea of "annuity" from my nest egg.

edited to remove nasty name calling of OP, sorry, I believe I agreed not to do that when I signed on here.
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Old 03-08-2008, 04:05 PM   #6
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I am a financial planner by training. I think it's important to have at least an insured stream of income. Leaving everything into a portfolio of just stocks and bonds and assuming a swr of 4% is quite dangerous, because, as the fine prints on the prospectuses always say, "Past performance is no guarantee of future performance." For most individuals, our nest egg is too small to self-insure the risk of the underpeformance (of a balanced portfolio), so I think it'd be logical to transfer this risk to stronger institutions, which are the insurance companies. And, if you argue that your nest egg is too small to allow an allocation to purchase annuities to insure a stream of survival income, then I'd think you really need to accumulate more savings before going for full retirement. Retiring with an insured stream of survival income is as good as not having an insurance for other areas of risk such as medical expenses, mortgage, disability, etc.
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Old 03-08-2008, 04:56 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by AdventuresAddict View Post
I am a financial planner by training. I think it's important to have at least an insured stream of income. Leaving everything into a portfolio of just stocks and bonds and assuming a swr of 4% is quite dangerous, because, as the fine prints on the prospectuses always say, "Past performance is no guarantee of future performance." For most individuals, our nest egg is too small to self-insure the risk of the underpeformance (of a balanced portfolio), so I think it'd be logical to transfer this risk to stronger institutions, which are the insurance companies. And, if you argue that your nest egg is too small to allow an allocation to purchase annuities to insure a stream of survival income, then I'd think you really need to accumulate more savings before going for full retirement. Retiring with an insured stream of survival income is as good as not having an insurance for other areas of risk such as medical expenses, mortgage, disability, etc.
Would you recommend an annuity for someone who:

Has a US fully COLA'd Payment of 110% of all living expenses.
Has another US fully COLA'd Payment (SS) that would, if necessary, cover another approximately 66% of all living expenses.

Those two cover current living expenses to the tune of close to 175%.

Additionally, a taxable CD LADDER that equals interest income that would cover about another 60% of living expenses.

Another CD LADDER in IRA's both Traditional and Roth that would pay about 35% of living expenses.

Both of the above CD ladders are phased over the next 7 years at a rate of 5.8%.

Now the total payout of all of the above is roughly 300% of living expenses.

Medical Expenses are covered 100% no copay or any other costs, home is paid for, 3 year old car is paid for, no other debt.

If your would recommend any annuity for this couple? If so, what type, size and nationality of one would you recommend, hypothetically speaking?
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Old 03-08-2008, 04:58 PM   #8
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AAddict, you registered as a new member today, posted 5 times within four hours, mentioning in the first four of them you are a financial planner (located in Singapore) and/or touting the need for ER's to purchase annuities.

By any chance you wouldn't be winding up for a sales pitch would you? If so, you can save yourself further time and effort since the mods here won't tolerate spam.
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Old 03-08-2008, 06:35 PM   #9
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I am a financial planner by training. I think it's important to have at least an insured stream of income. Leaving everything into a portfolio of just stocks and bonds and assuming a swr of 4% is quite dangerous...
Oh, my.

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Old 03-08-2008, 06:37 PM   #10
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I am thinking spam.
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Old 03-08-2008, 07:06 PM   #11
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I'm thinking Bill William and Billy Mac debates back at the old rocket plant circa 79-early eighties. We 'Provincials' used to love to pick on the Brit's - Billy Mac being a Scot(with a GE pension from previous service) took our side.

Swiss annuities - nobody would defend the British pound/onerous taxes and Margret Thatcher was new in the trenches.The debate was couched in currency term's a lot - no Euro back then, the pound was iffy, the Brit's hung their hat on the Swiss Franc immediate annuities(currency being more trust worthy than a govt inflation adjustment) whereas we Americans (aka da Provincials) were dumb for trusting the govt(SS only no inflation bonds back then) and the company(we had defined pensions plus 401k's) let alone the American buck.

So debate aside - the long run since 'the death of equities' circa 1982 plus declining interest rate long term - was a big big help.

Dumb or lucky? And how much currency defense do I need to cover my core expenses in Kansas?

heh heh heh - Billy Mac was old enough back then(he flew Mosquito's? in the Battle of Britain) - he used to get his jollies off saying it was the free Polish pilots that saved their butt. sooo - skins and shirts?
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Old 03-08-2008, 07:11 PM   #12
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Rats! - pssst Wellesley - current yield 4.26% as of Friday.

So what's the current yield of your portfolio?

heh heh heh - almost forgot.
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Old 03-08-2008, 11:07 PM   #13
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AAddict, you registered as a new member today, posted 5 times within four hours, mentioning in the first four of them you are a financial planner (located in Singapore) and/or touting the need for ER's to purchase annuities.

By any chance you wouldn't be winding up for a sales pitch would you? If so, you can save yourself further time and effort since the mods here won't tolerate spam.
Nope. I won't sell here, and it's against the US regulations anyway for people from outside US to sell to Americans many US financial products, which are marketed in Singapore. Anyway, the reason I suggested having some annuities has been explained: it's an insured stream of income source. Whether you agree or not really depends on yourselves. And, if you are looking for some financial products like annuities, please don't ask me to recommend any company. I won't sell and I won't recommend. You've got to ask your own financial planner for advice.
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Old 03-08-2008, 11:11 PM   #14
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Would you recommend an annuity for someone who:

Has a US fully COLA'd Payment of 110% of all living expenses.
Has another US fully COLA'd Payment (SS) that would, if necessary, cover another approximately 66% of all living expenses.

Those two cover current living expenses to the tune of close to 175%.

Additionally, a taxable CD LADDER that equals interest income that would cover about another 60% of living expenses.

Another CD LADDER in IRA's both Traditional and Roth that would pay about 35% of living expenses.

Both of the above CD ladders are phased over the next 7 years at a rate of 5.8%.

Now the total payout of all of the above is roughly 300% of living expenses.

Medical Expenses are covered 100% no copay or any other costs, home is paid for, 3 year old car is paid for, no other debt.

If your would recommend any annuity for this couple? If so, what type, size and nationality of one would you recommend, hypothetically speaking?
As I said, for specific recommendations, please find your own financial planner and do a comprehensive assessment. My general argument is that for people who are retiring, putting everything into an uninsured portfolio may not be a good strategy from a risk management perspective.
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Old 03-09-2008, 05:48 AM   #15
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So why are your here? Not to sell, not to recommend, not to suggest, maybe you could explain the why? I am not a FA and have no training as such, but putting all your eggs in one basket has NEVER been a good strategy IMHO.
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Old 03-09-2008, 05:55 AM   #16
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Thanks for enlightening us! Please share your creds.
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Old 03-09-2008, 06:43 AM   #17
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You've got to ask your own financial planner for advice.
You've really not spent any time at all reading this forum have you? If so, you'd realize the typical poster here is a DIY type who views financial planners/advisers as an unnecessary expense item.
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Old 03-09-2008, 06:46 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by R Wood View Post
Would you recommend an annuity for someone who:

Has a US fully COLA'd Payment of 110% of all living expenses.
Has another US fully COLA'd Payment (SS) that would, if necessary, cover another approximately 66% of all living expenses.

Those two cover current living expenses to the tune of close to 175%.

Additionally, a taxable CD LADDER that equals interest income that would cover about another 60% of living expenses.

Another CD LADDER in IRA's both Traditional and Roth that would pay about 35% of living expenses.

Both of the above CD ladders are phased over the next 7 years at a rate of 5.8%.

Now the total payout of all of the above is roughly 300% of living expenses.

Medical Expenses are covered 100% no copay or any other costs, home is paid for, 3 year old car is paid for, no other debt.

If your would recommend any annuity for this couple? If so, what type, size and nationality of one would you recommend, hypothetically speaking?
No annuities, you already own two, however, I would not consider SS a "fully COLA'D" annuity..........
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Old 03-09-2008, 06:49 AM   #19
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Nope. I won't sell here, and it's against the US regulations anyway for people from outside US to sell to Americans many US financial products, which are marketed in Singapore. Anyway, the reason I suggested having some annuities has been explained: it's an insured stream of income source. Whether you agree or not really depends on yourselves. And, if you are looking for some financial products like annuities, please don't ask me to recommend any company. I won't sell and I won't recommend. You've got to ask your own financial planner for advice.
Then why are you here? Besides, you need to learn how to use the "search function" on here, this topic has been discussed ad nauseum for some time..........

I am sure there are MANY THINGS available in Singapore that are not available in the USA............I'll just leave it at that.........
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Old 03-09-2008, 06:53 AM   #20
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Rats! - pssst Wellesley - current yield 4.26% as of Friday.

So what's the current yield of your portfolio?

heh heh heh - almost forgot.
Just curious, why did you get out of Wellesley?
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