WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — After the financial pummeling investors have endured over the last decade, there is a palpable loss of confidence in the stock market – and a loss of patience. In response to the demand from increasingly conservative consumers, safer financial strategies are slowly evolving, even as riskier propositions are dying out. Financial advisors have not always sought to protect client portfolios from market risk, preferring a "wait and hope" approach to investing that relies in the market to bounce back up when it dips. But now, an entire generation of investors is looking for a safety net for their capital in retirement – and that's exactly what today's savvy financial advisors, like John Convery, aim to provide.
As founder and CEO of The Educated Wealth Center, LLC in West Palm Beach Florida, John describes himself as an advocate and educator for retirees. "You shouldn't have to lose sleep at night wondering if you'll have enough to live comfortably. There are proven strategies that align your resources properly to ensure you will always have enough," he says. One of those proven strategies lies in knowing how to use annuities to ensure a constant flow of income – a pitch that isn't always popular.
Annuities have developed a bad reputation, and some of it is deserved. Once you've heard one horror story, it's hard not to treat every one of the dozens of different types of annuities as suspect. You've probably heard the story of the retiree died before pulling his money out of his annuities – and the insurance company kept the money. It's the black sheep in the Annuity family that everyone talks about. But annuities deserve a second look. When it comes to protecting capital while still maintaining steady cash flow, fixed indexed annuities especially can be a central component of a solid portfolio.
When advising his clients, John Convery lists the safest types of investments: certificates and deposits with certain banks, US Treasury Notes, Fixed and Indexed Annuities. The problem with all of those investments, he says, is that interest rates are so low that "You die a death of a thousand cuts." Indexed annuities are the notable exception.
"We like to see clients using indexing so they can benefit from the gains of the market without risking the losses. Over time, indexing should allow them to keep their incomes in pace with inflation." However, he warns, "It's not going to allow you to make a fortune in the market. But over time, it should allow you to outperform inflation. If you can accomplish that, then you're going to be all right. Modest goals for a modest time, but in a market this volatile, feeling financially secure is worth a fortune."
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