Is a RILA a Variable Annuity?

In this completely unfiltered video, Shawn from The Annuity Expert explains why he considers RILAs to be a gimmick. Shawn describes a RILA as a hybrid created "if a variable annuity and a fixed index annuity had a baby." While RILAs are marketed as offering higher stock market upside with a loss "buffer," Shawn exposes how buffer strategies still expose you to significant losses before protection kicks in. When you stack market losses on top of contract fees and advisor management charges, a RILA can rapidly erode your retirement savings. Shawn also exposes the absurdity of paying an advisor an ongoing management fee on a self-managed, annual-reset RILA contract. Instead, he outlines his "Separation of Church and State" retirement strategy: keep your growth money in a separate market portfolio, and use a true Fixed Index Annuity (FIA)—such as the Athene Performance Elite series—to capture index gains while locking in 100% downside protection and guaranteed lifetime income. 👉 Read our full comparative guide on RILAs, FIAs, and Variable Annuities here: https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/comparisons/rila-vs-fia-vs-va/ 📞 Call our team for free, no-obligation advice to evaluate your annuity options at: 770-755-1565 ⏱️ Video Chapters: 0:00 - Intro: Is a RILA a variable annuity? 0:21 - Insurance-based vs. Securities-based annuities 0:38 - What is a RILA? (The hybrid between a VA and FIA) 1:04 - Shawn's Verdict: Why RILA annuities are a gimmick 1:30 - The Fee Trap: Comparing RILA fees to Fixed Index Annuities 2:13 - The Strategy: "Separation of Church and State" in retirement planning 3:00 - Enhanced Fixed Index Annuities (Athene Performance Elite example) 3:47 - How buffer losses and fees stack against you 4:29 - Why paying an advisor a management fee on a RILA makes no sense 5:24 - Final Verdict: Why FIAs beat RILA annuities for safe growth