35. Are Annuities the New Bonds for Retirees?

Like what you heard in this episode? 🗓️ Schedule a Retirement Income Q&A call with Dr. Amanda:calendly.com/rsf-dramanda/initial-consultation🎥 The YouTube version of this video is here: www.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool✍🏼 The Blog Version of this video is here: www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/blog /////////////// 35. Are Annuities the New Bonds for Retirees? Bonds are supposed to be the safe part of your portfolio… …but what if they’re not? Today, many retirees are discovering that the part of their portfolio they thought was stable can still lose value at exactly the wrong time. So in this lesson, I’m breaking down what retirement research actually says about “safe money”—and why that’s leading some retirees to rethink bonds and consider alternatives like MYGAs and fixed index annuities. We’ll walk through the real risks in retirement, including sequence of returns risk and investor behavior, and then compare how different “safe money” tools actually function inside a portfolio. Because this isn’t just about returns—it’s about predictability, stability, and making sure your money is there when you need it most. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Are bonds really safe? 00:30 – The real question retirement research is solving 01:15 – What the research actually found (Pfau, Milevsky, Mitchell) 02:15 – Why volatility matters more in retirement 03:15 – Behavior: the hidden risk most retirees overlook 04:15 – What actually improves retirement outcomes 05:00 – What “safe money” is supposed to do 05:45 – The reality: why safe money isn’t always safe 06:30 – The traditional 60/40 portfolio explained 07:15 – The assumptions behind bonds 08:00 – Where bonds break down today 09:00 – The real risk to your retirement plan 09:45 – What the research points toward instead 10:30 – Safe money comparison: Bonds vs MYGAs vs FIAs 11:30 – How retirees are rethinking their portfolios 12:15 – Where annuities fit (beyond income) 13:00 – Portfolio shift: 60/40 → Stocks / Annuities / Cash 13:45 – Final takeaway: upgrading your safe money 📅 Want to Find Out More?:Schedule a Q&A Call with Dr. Amanda 💰 Join Us in the Retirement Income School™:www.RetirementIncome.School 📽️ Watch Retirement Income School™ Content on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool 💰 Watch The Guaranteed Income Blueprint™:www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/guaranteed-income-blueprint 📬 Contact Dr. Amanda:Email: [email protected]: @RetirementIncomeSchool About Dr. Amanda Amanda Barrientez | PhD, RICP®, RSSA®, NPN #19460436IBC Practitioner®, Ed Slott's IRA Advisor Group Member®Court of the Table Member MDRT®  Dr. Amanda is the founder of Retirement Solutions Financial™ and creator of the Retirement Income School™. After losing her father and helping her mom navigate retirement, she felt called to help others avoid the stress and confusion of planning alone. She specializes in safe money strategies using dividend-paying whole life insurance, fixed index annuities, long-term care coverage, and Social Security claiming strategy. Her mission? To help you protect your wealth and enjoy a secure, stress-free retirement with confidence. ⚠️ DISCLAIMER The information in this podcast is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Retirement Income School™ and Dr. Amanda Barrientez do not provide individual investment recommendations. Always consult with a licensed advisor or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed.