CASH

MONEY

MARKET

CDs

IMMEDIATE

ANNUITIES

FIXED

ANNUITIES

FIXED INDEXED

ANNUITIES

VARIABLE

ANNTUITIES

MUTUAL

FUNDS

STOCKS & BONDS

OTHER & ALT INVESTMENTS

Principal & Growth Protection

G

G

G

G

G

G

R

R

R

R

Insured*

G

G

G

G

G

G

R

R

R

R

Market Protection

G

G

G

G

G

G

R

R

R

R

Liquidity

(Accessibility)

Y

Y

Can be limited

Can be limited

Can be limited

Can be limited

Can be limited

Y

Y

Can be limited

Lifetime Income Rider

R

R

R

G

G

G

G

R

R

R

LTC Rider

R

R

R

Some

G

G

G

R

R

R

PROS

 

 

Always Available

Always Available

Guaranteed Interest Rate

Guaranteed Income for Life

Guaranteed Interest Rate; Usually higher than CDs

 

Participation in Market Growth without the Risk

Uses Mutual Funds to

High Upside

Potential

High Upside

Potential

High Upside

Potential

 

CONS

 

 

 

No interest, Never grows

Minimal Interest

Low Growth

Loss of Control of Your Money

Low Growth rate; Surrender Schedule

Surrender Schedule

Very High Fees, Market Risk, Surrender Schedule

Large

Downside

Risk

Large

Downside

Risk

Large

Downside

Risk

*Check with the Bank or the State Insurance Guaranty Fund for Rates

TITLE OF THE CHART TO BE PUT ON THE TOP:

There are two categories of investments: Risk Money and Safe Money.  You need to decide where to put your money and what your retirement goals are.  This chart can assist you in making the challenging decisions that you face.