Plain-English explainers · Licensed in all 50 states · 20+ years

Fixed indexed annuities, in plain English: the good, the catch, and who they’re for.

Protected principal, growth linked to the market, income for life. Understand how they actually work so you can decide for yourself, including when the answer is no.

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No rush. The right time to buy an annuity is when you're ready, not before.

How it actually works: a fixed indexed annuity, in four plain ideas.

Protection Your floor is zero A down market doesn't cost you principal. You don't lose money to losses.

Growth Linked to an index Gains track a market index, up to a cap or a participation rate.

The trade Caps are the cost of safety You give up some upside in exchange for never having a down year. That's the catch.

Income A paycheck, if you want it An optional rider turns it into income for life, at a cost I'll always name.

Plain English, from a licensed human who’ll tell you the catch.

No jargon, no hype, no pretending an annuity is a miracle. Just twenty years explaining this honestly, to couples at the kitchen table, on the podcast, and to anyone who asks. An annuity is a tool, not a religion.

— Bryan J. Anderson

20+ years, one focus

Retirement income and annuity strategy.

Licensed in all 50 states

Works with retirees nationwide.

Featured in Forbes

A recognized voice on annuities.

Leading annuity podcast

Plain-English teaching, every week.

The questions everyone asks first.

Aren't annuities a rip-off?

Some are: the hyped, fee-loaded, locked-in ones absolutely can be. That’s exactly why I show the strategy before the contract and tell people when to walk away. An annuity is a tool: right for some jobs, wrong for others.

Is this better than just staying in the stock market?

It’s not a market substitute, and I won’t pretend it is. It’s protection plus some growth plus income you can’t outlive. The question isn’t "which wins in a good year." It’s what a bad year does to you once you’re living on the money.

Won't inflation eat a fixed income?

It can, so we don’t design around a frozen number. Flexible income with growth linked to the market handles it better than a flat payout. We’d stress-test it against inflation before you commit.

What if I die early?

Depends entirely on how it’s structured. There are ways to keep the money in your estate for your spouse and heirs, and ways that don’t. I’ll show you both so it’s your choice.

I need to talk to my spouse first.

Of course. This should feel right to both of you. Watch the series, read the guide, talk it through. There’s no deadline, and I’m happy to walk through it with both of you when you’re ready.

You’ve worked your whole life for this. You don’t want to gamble it. You want to understand it, then sleep at night.

So I explain it the way I’d explain it across the kitchen table: plain words, the real numbers, and the catch named out loud. No jargon, no pressure, and no pretending it’s right for everyone.

Learn how it works first. If it fits, I’m here. If it doesn’t, I’ll tell you that too.

Bryan