(866) 615-7250
Make sure the money you spent a lifetime building lasts as long as you do
Retirement changes the question. It stops being how much you can grow, and starts being how much you can count on. We help you look at the part of your savings meant for long-term security, and decide what belongs somewhere protected.
Call (866) 615-7250Speak with a licensed agent. No cost, and no obligation to move anything.
Naming it plainly
The tool most often used for this is an annuity. It is a contract with an insurance company: you place a portion of your savings with them, and in return they agree to protect it and, depending on the contract, to pay you income.
There are good ones and there are bad ones. Some are simple and do exactly what they say. Others are expensive, hard to understand, and sold to people they were never right for. That difference is most of what our job is about.
Nothing on this page is a recommendation. It is here so you can decide whether the conversation is worth having.
Your whole working life, you were taught to ask "how much can I make?" Once you are living on a fixed income, the smarter question flips: "how much can I afford to lose?"Sit with that question honestly. Your answer changes everything about what makes sense for you.
The two main types, in plain terms
Most annuities our clients look at fall into one of two categories. Neither is better; they fit different goals.
- Works much like a CD from an insurance company
- A fixed rate, locked in from day one, for a set number of years
- No market exposure at all; the rate is the rate
- The simplest option to understand
- Often used for money sitting in CDs or savings that the owner wants working harder without adding risk
- Growth tied to a market index, without being invested in the market
- A 0 percent floor, so a down year does not reduce your principal
- Upside limited by a cap or participation rate; that limit is the price of the floor
- Many contracts can add an option for income that lasts as long as you do
- Often used for retirement money the owner wants protected from the market's losses while keeping the chance to grow
Guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Product availability and features vary by state.
The situations we see most
Annuities are not for everyone or for every dollar. These are the situations where one tends to earn a closer look.
A CD is maturing. The money is already sitting safe. The question is whether it can earn more without giving up that safety.
An old 401(k) or IRA is still fully in the market. Close to retirement, a drop right before you need the money can leave lasting damage. Some of it may belong somewhere protected.
You are within about ten years of retirement, either side. This is the stretch where a market loss hurts most, because there is less time to recover and withdrawals may have started.
You want income you cannot outlive. Retirement can last 25 or 30 years. Some annuities are built to turn a portion of savings into income that lasts as long as you do.
You want a plan for the one left behind. When one spouse passes, part of the household income usually goes with them while most of the bills stay. An annuity can be structured with the survivor in mind.
When we tell people no
Part of our job is telling you when an annuity is the wrong move. These are the most common reasons we say so.
Money you may need soon
Annuities are long-term contracts, and most carry surrender charges in the early years. Money for near-term plans should stay liquid.
Your emergency fund
That money's job is to be reachable tomorrow morning. It should never go into an annuity.
Money that is decades from being needed
Withdrawals before age 59 and a half may face an additional tax. Younger money with a long runway usually has better places to be.
Chasing maximum growth
An annuity trades some upside for protection. If your goal for a given dollar is the highest possible return and you can stomach the losses along the way, an annuity is the wrong tool for that dollar.
If any of the situations above sound like yours, that is what the call is for. No cost, and you will get a straight answer either way.
What the call covers
Where your money sits today
What you have, what it is doing, and which portion is meant for long-term security rather than near-term spending.
What you want it to do
Income you cannot outlive, protection from a bad year at the wrong time, something left for the people you name, or some mix of the three.
Whether anything fits
We compare options across multiple insurance companies and walk you through them. If nothing fits, that is the answer we give you.
Why families work with Complete Family Protection
Complete Family Protection is a licensed, independent insurance agency based in Lehi, Utah. Because we are independent, we are not tied to one insurance company. We compare options across multiple carriers and explain the trade-offs in plain language.
We already help families nationwide with Medicare and life insurance. Retirement savings is the same job seen from a different angle: understanding what you have, protecting what matters, and making sure nothing important gets decided by accident.
You will not be asked to decide anything on a first call. Deciding how to protect money you spent a lifetime building is something you should be able to sleep on.
Not sure if this applies to you?
You do not need to know what a MYGA or an FIA is before you call. That is what we are here for.
Tell a licensed agent what you have and what you are worried about, and you will get a straight answer.
(866) 615-7250Rated 5 Stars by More Than 1,400 Clients
Real Google reviews from the families we have helped. Read them in their own words below.
Honest Answers
Can I still get to my money if I need it?
Yes. These are built for retirees, so most let you take out a portion each year without penalty, many give you full access if a serious health need comes up, and whatever's left always passes directly to the people you name. It doesn't get stuck.
What happens to my money if the market drops?
With the kind of options we focus on, a market downturn doesn't take your principal down with it. The simplest way to say it: in the good years your money has the chance to grow, and in the bad years you're protected from the market's losses. That protection is the entire point.
Can I think about it?
Of course. In fact, we won't even ask you to make a final decision on the first call. Deciding how to protect the money you spent a lifetime building is something you should be able to sleep on. No matter how that first call goes, we'll send you more information afterward so you can fully understand your options on your own time. At minimum, you'll walk away better informed than you are right now.
Do I have to move all of my money?
No, and in most cases you shouldn't. A good plan almost always keeps a healthy portion of your money sitting right where it is: liquid, accessible, and ready for whatever life throws at you, or simply there for the peace of mind of having cash on hand. What we're talking about is taking a portion of your savings, the part set aside for long-term security and income, and making sure it's both protected and working for you. How much depends entirely on your situation, and that's something you and your licensed agent work out together on the call.
Important Disclosures
Guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Product availability and features vary by state. This page is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy any product; any recommendation is made only after a review of your individual circumstances by a licensed agent.
Annuities are long-term contracts intended for retirement purposes. Most carry surrender charges during the early contract years, and withdrawals above the contract's penalty-free amount during that period may reduce the value of the contract. Withdrawals before age 59 and a half may be subject to an additional tax. Annuities are not bank products, are not FDIC insured, and are not deposits or obligations of any bank.
A fixed indexed annuity is not an investment in the market and does not directly participate in any stock or equity investment. Index-linked interest is subject to caps, participation rates, or other limits set by the issuing insurance company, and those limits may change over time.
Complete Family Protection is a licensed insurance agency. We are not a bank, and we do not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult your own tax or legal professional about your particular situation.