3 Reasons Annuities Make Sense for Retirement Right Now

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1 3 Reasons Annuities Make Sense for Retirement Right Now Weekly Update March 14, 2018 Annuities have been a hot commodity in recent years but can sometimes get a bad reputation. While annuities aren t for everyone, there are situations where annuities may be the best option available, especially as you near retirement. Here s three situations where annuities may work best. 1. You want to have guaranteed income for life*. A lot of annuities give the option for get guaranteed income until death. What s more, these income levels don t decrease from market volatility, so you won t lose out on income as you age. 2. You want your assets for retirement protected from taxes**. Other retirement account options, such as a traditional 401(k) or IRA are nice in the beginning as they grow tax- deferred, but once you begin withdrawing that money, taxes start on it as well. If you aren t planning on taking all your money out for at least a few years, an annuity may reduce your tax load in retirement. 3. You prefer safety in a retirement portfolio over risk. If you see the market s volatility and get spooked, an annuity may be the answer. Annuities tend to even outperform bank certificates. So, if you re not one to risk losing your money when you need it most, an annuity will guarantee you income for the long haul. i Still not sure an annuity is right for your financial future? Give us a call today at and we can help you make the right decision for your situation. *Guarantees are based upon the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company. **Customers should consult a tax or legal advisor regarding their own situation. If we are bold, love strikes away the chains of fear from our soul. Maya Angelou 1

2 Jerk Chicken and Mango Lettuce Cups Check out this low- carb lunch or dinner that features tasty ingredients like basmati rice, seasoned ground chicken, red onion, bell pepper, and mango. Ingredients: 1 cup basmati rice 1 cup chicken stock 3/4 cup coconut milk Salt and pepper 1 lb. ground chicken 1/2 chopped red onion 1/2 chopped red bell pepper 1 head lettuce 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 teaspoons jerk seasoning 2 chopped garlic cloves 1 teaspoon fresh ginger 3/4 cup chopped mango 1/4 cup chopped cilantro Butter for lettuce leaves Directions: Combine basmati rice, chicken stock, coconut milk, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover; cook until liquid is absorbed, 14 to 16 minutes. 1. Meanwhile, cook ground chicken, red onion, and red bell pepper in 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a large skillet over medium- high heat until chicken is cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. 2. Stir in soy sauce, jerk seasoning, chopped garlic cloves, and fresh ginger. Cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Fold in mango and cilantro. 3. Season with salt and black pepper. Serve rice and chicken mixture in butter lettuce leaves and enjoy! Recipe adapted from Country Living ii 2

3 In the Military? Receive Free Tax Help If you re in the military, then you have free support available to you when you address your taxes. Military members and their families can receive the complimentary tax help through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), whether they are at home or overseas. Worldwide, the Armed Forces Tax Council oversees the support offered through VITA. Here s some insight into how the federal military tax support works. Are the VITA employees trained to understand military needs? Yes. Every VITA employee receives in- depth training that addresses the unique financial and tax issues relating to the military. They can help guide you through the specific items you may need to address, such as receiving tax benefits when serving in combat zones. Do I have to bring any documents onsite? You will need to bring specific documents in order to receive tax assistance through VITA. Some of these documents include: Valid photo ID Taxpayer, spouse, and dependents Social Security numbers and birth dates Forms claiming wages and earnings, such as Forms W- 2 and R What if I file jointly and my spouse is unavailable to sign? Should you or your spouse be in a different location and unable to sign documents in person, you typically still need to address the signature. You can do so by bringing a Power of Attorney form to VITA. Some exceptions do apply, so be sure to know what applies to your unique situation. Other details apply, and you can find more information on the IRS website. *This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor. Tip courtesy of IRS.gov iii Clean Your Golf Grips for Their Longevity To get the most out of your golf grips both in longevity and performance a good cleaning is in order a few times a season. You can do it in a few simple steps with household items. Here s how: 3

4 1. Fill a bucket with warm water and mix in mild detergent. Dip a scrub brush into the water and scrub the grip. 2. Next, dip a rag into the soapy water and wipe the grip to remove all residue. 3. Take a new rag and dip it in non- soapy water and ring out over grip, wiping the grip to remove soap. 4. Lastly, wipe the grip dry with a clean, dry rag. Repeat these steps for each club in your bag. Tips adapted from Steve Silverman Golfweek iv Push on Pressure Points When you re feeling stressed, relax your nerves by applying pressure to one of your body s many pressure points. Perhaps the easiest pressure point is in the meaty part of your hand, between your thumb and forefinger. Simply apply pressure to it for a few seconds whenever you need to relax a bit (it really does work). Tips adapted from Prevention.com v The Eco- Friendly Pet Owner Living a green life doesn t stop when it comes to pet care. You can do your part to help the environment while caring for your beloved animals. Here are a few tips to help your pet and the earth: Pick up waste with biodegradable bags: Using a plastic bag to clean up pet waste is a common go- to. However, unless the bag s biodegradable, it will take at least 100 years to break down. You can reduce your impact by using a compost- friendly bag that will return back to the earth quicker. Buy natural or organic foods: Heavily processed by- products fill most commercially available foods. By choosing natural or organic options, you buy products typically grown or raised more sustainably, such as free- range meats. You also remove other factors such as pesticides, hormones, and artificial preservatives added to the food. 4

5 Adopt from a shelter: In the U.S., we abandon roughly 70,000 puppies and kittens every day. Rather than create a demand for new animals, you can help keep populations down and off the streets by choosing to adopt from your local shelters or rescues. Tip courtesy of The Nature Conservancy vi Share the Wealth of Knowledge! Please share this market update with family, friends or colleagues. If you would like us to add them to our list, simply michelle@jftwm.com. We love being introduced! By clicking on these links, you will leave our server, as they are located on another server. We have not independently verified the information available through this link. The link is provided to you as a matter of interest. Please click on the links below to leave and proceed to the selected site. This document is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice. One should consult a legal or tax professional regarding their own personal situation. Any comments regarding safe and secure investments and guaranteed income streams refer only to fixed insurance products offered by an insurance company. They do not refer in any way to securities or investment advisory products. Fixed insurance and annuity product guarantees are subject to the claims paying ability of the issuing company. Variable annuities are considered securities products and require one to have proper FINRA registrations, in addition to proper state insurance licensing, prior to selling or discussing such products. i ii iii tax- help- available- for- the- military iv v vi your- pets.xml 5