Featuring Wade D. Pfau, Ph.D., CFA, RICP®, this webinar examines how guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits can fit within a broader retirement income strategy—and why advisors should evaluate more than a product’s roll-up rate or equity allocation in isolation.
Drawing on historical market data spanning 1871–2024 and research developed for MassMutual, Dr. Pfau will explain how withdrawal rates, benefit-base growth, investment exposure, deferral periods, and access to assets work together to influence the amount of guaranteed income a client may ultimately receive. He will also explore how annuities with living benefits can complement non-annuity assets by reducing pressure on the rest of a client’s portfolio and potentially improving long-term growth and legacy outcomes.
MassMutual’s Alex Samoila will provide an educational overview of variable annuity income options, illustrating how different designs may align with clients who have varying views about market risk, guaranteed growth, liquidity, and retirement income. Advisors will see comparisons across historical bull and bear markets and learn why the interaction among withdrawal rates, roll-ups, market performance, and client timing may matter more than any single headline feature.
This program is designed to help financial advisors ask better questions, evaluate guaranteed-income solutions more thoughtfully, and determine when a variable annuity with a living benefit may—or may not—fit within a client’s comprehensive retirement plan. Product guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company, and suitability must be evaluated based on each client’s individual circumstances.
Key takeaways