Stress Free Annuities Can Improve Your Health

Annuities maybe just what your Doctor would prescribe to calm your nerves and diminish your STRESS-LEVELS.

Persistent stress can kill you like poison, a drive-by shooting or getting struck by lightning. You are likely to experience only one on any given day.

We all like to think that we are tough minded, mature and "can deal" with the harsh realities of life.

Most of us do a good job of keeping cool on the outside by putting up a good front. We say things like "whatever" or "it is what it is" or " I can't change it."

But on the inside, our little voices whisper questions and raise doubts about our competency. We feel anger, worry, fear and self-doubt. We try to stuff these negative feelings down and use our logic to deal with our problems like a reasonable person should.

At least that is what we think we can do.

But, "feelings" or emotions rule us all. We all decide emotionally and rationalize later.

As emotional beings, we crave comfort in our lives. Everything we do, on some level, is to increase pleasure or reduce emotional or physical pain. Stress causes pain - physical and emotional pain. Doctors tell us that stress is medically linked to depression, heart conditions, obesity, migraine headaches and a host of other ailments too numerous to list.

We all see behaviors that are meant to help alleviate stress but often result in even more discomfort. Examples of this include overindulgence in alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, people, shopping, and even prescription medications.

What does all of this have to do with your choice of investments?

Well, if you agree that most people prefer to be comfortable rather than uncomfortable, then your investment choices play a significant role in your future health, happiness and even longevity.

Medical researchers in numerous studies in different countries have concluded that when we have more control, even if only perceived control, over our respective environments which include our residence location, job, people, property and money, then we feel more comfortable.

Brilliant!

Few things are more uncomfortable than lack of money or constant worry about money.

If we were gamblers, a good bet would be that given a choice, people would rather give up a few toes than give up a few hundred thousand dollars.

The stock market can and recently has wiped out years of diligent savings via systematic investing plans and 401k salary deferrals in just a few days.

Tremendous wealth has been lost for so many involved in the stock market through mutual funds, stock accounts and retirement plans that are funded with stock based investments.

Daily market volatility causes stress for most account owners that are middle aged and within sight of retirement. Employees under 40 seem to be less bothered since they plan to work another 27+ years so they rationalize that the markets will come back.

A problem with stock market based investments, offered through mutual funds like the kind available in most 401k accounts, is that they offer no control.

It is this lack of control that causes turmoil for so many. It wouldn't be so bad if markets went up fairly predictably over time. However, there are periods of time, historically, that the market has been down for several years.

What happens to the account owner retiring during a prolonged, depressed market cycle? Do you know anyone like this? I bet you do! Not the life of the party!

Market research shows that a very large percentage of investors use stable value funds and low yielding money market instruments to fund retirement accounts. Unfortunately, after accounting for management fees and inflation, no real growth is achieved.

Studies indicate time and again that a properly allocated stock based investment portfolio outperforms nearly every other investment given enough time.

But how much time is enough time?

Don't get me wrong. We feel that equities belong in a well structured and diverse asset allocation, but not in the disproportionate amounts that we normally see upon review of total holdings.

What is the personal cost to our bodies and relationships with our significant others and family members? We have witnessed marriages fall apart after the Dot.com bubble burst. These are a few extreme cases to be sure, but still, a final straw for an already unstable situation that might have been avoided.

What if long life doesn’t run in your family? Is the daily stress worth the possibility of a few extra percentage points if you’re not healthy enough to enjoy it?

The majority of rollover 401k accounts wind up in 100% based equity plans because we learn from popular publications, manic media personalities and our favorite stock broker that the market is the place to make the real money.

Well, what happens to your plans when the market doesn't cooperate? Where does the money come from to make up for your losses? Do you want to go back to work in your late 60s or 70s to make up the difference?

Not every person over 60 that works at a retail store or fast food chain is there for the social interaction as the socially progressive magazines would have you believe. Rather, some are there out of fiscal necessity.

The market is uncertain. The stock markets are a tumultuous, ever changing reflection of the opinions of millions of people. People are driven by emotion - mostly greed and fear. People reacting to daily aggravation and personal stress are trying to make money to sustain their lives in some fashion.

If we could eliminate sources of uncertainty and aggravation in our lives such as worry about our money, then medical research shows our overall stress levels drop. Seems simple enough, right?

Reducing stress improves overall health. Better health leads to a longer life. So, if we can improve our health, happiness and longevity by choosing an investment vehicle that will give us back control, shouldn’t it be considered?

You can transfer or rollover your regular or tax sheltered accounts (401k, 403b or similar type salary deferral accounts) and fund it with guaranteed investments that don't go down but only up.

Wouldn’t that type of control help eliminate one big worry? Wouldn’t this type of investment holding make you feel pretty safe because you would "know" what you would earn every day?

No surprises!

Imagine turning on and tuning in to CNBC as a source of great entertainment rather than a cause of your blood pressure rising. Wouldn’t it be great to feel sympathetic but not personally concerned over, investment bank failures, government bailouts, political upheavals or uncontrollable weather that wipes out a year’s worth of crops which feeds livestock that creates food stock for the country? OMG!

An investment that delivers a predictable guaranteed rate of return will allow you to more predictably plan your financial future. Knowing what you can count on is comforting and solid.

It is relaxing.

Knowing your financial future reduces stress. Less stress, more happiness. Happy people are healthier. Healthy people live longer.

It is that simple.

So, what investment can do all of the above?

Traditional Fixed Annuity contracts offered from highly rated insurance companies can deliver all of the above.

An annuity is guaranteed. An annuity is stable. An annuity is predictable and does not suffer from market loses. A fixed annuity offers security because it does not lose money. Interest rates are normally higher than bank issued CDs.

You can sleep at night when you know that your hard earned money is gaining value every day.

Want guarantees with more upside potential? No problem!

A Fixed Equity Indexed Annuity tracks the S&P 500 or Dow Jones 100 but doesn't directly involve you in the market. Positive gains earn higher rates of return on your principle. Negative market setbacks do not impact your principle. You get all of the stability and guarantees with a Traditional Fixed Annuity but no downside risk.

Want more information? Fill out the Request Form below to order your complimentary copy of "A Buyer's Guide to Fixed Annuities with Appendix for Equity-Indexed Annuities".

Read it.

If it makes sense for a percentage of your holdings then give us a call to discuss your situation. Ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable.

For other valuable stress reducing tips read through this list.