Retirement Annuities · Independent & Objective
Annuities aren't one product — they're a category. The wrong one is expensive. The right one (or combination of a few) can turn a retirement portfolio into a paycheck you can actually count on.
We shop 12+ leading carriers to match you with the exact contract features that fit your situation — not the one that pays us the highest commission.
Free Guide
Which annuity type fits your situation? Get our plain-English guide + a 1:1 personalized recommendation.
Start Here
An annuity is a contract with a life insurance carrier. You deposit money. In exchange, the carrier commits contractually to either grow your money on defined terms, pay you income for a defined period, or both. That's it.
The complexity isn't the concept — it's the choices. Fixed rate or market-linked? Income now or later? For life or for a set term? Which carrier? Which rider? That's where an independent advisor pays for themselves.
The Four Types
Most retirement plans use a mix of these — not just one.
Certainty. Locked-in rate.
A contractually defined interest rate for a specific term (typically 3-10 years). Like a CD, but issued by a life insurance carrier with tax-deferred growth.
Best for: Savers who want a known outcome and predictable growth without market risk.
Tradeoff: Lower upside than market-linked strategies.
Market-linked growth. Downside floor.
Interest credits tied to a market index (like the S&P 500) with a 0% floor designed to help limit losses in a down year. Optional income riders can add lifetime income.
Best for: Pre-retirees who want participation in market gains without absorbing market losses.
Tradeoff: Growth is capped or participation-limited by contract.
Turn savings into a paycheck. Today.
Deposit a lump sum and receive contractually defined monthly income beginning within 12 months. Can be structured for life, or for a set number of years.
Best for: Retirees who need income to start now and want it structured to continue for life.
Tradeoff: Once purchased, the principal typically isn't accessible outside the payment schedule.
Buy income today. Turn it on later.
Similar to an immediate annuity, but income starts at a future date (5-20+ years from purchase). The delay creates significantly higher lifetime income per dollar.
Best for: Pre-retirees 45-60 who want to lock in a future income floor at today's rates.
Tradeoff: Money is tied up until the income start date.
Our Approach
We're appointed with 12+ carriers. That means we can shop your situation across the market — not push whichever product a single carrier is promoting.
We start with your income needs, timeline, and risk tolerance. The product comes last, once the plan is clear.
Every annuity has a cost. We tell you what it is — liquidity, upside cap, commission — so you make the decision with your eyes open.
Common Questions
Neither, on their own. Like any financial product, annuities are the right answer for some situations and the wrong answer for others. The question isn't 'annuity yes/no' — it's 'which annuity, from which carrier, with which features, at what percentage of your total portfolio.' That's the conversation we have.
Commissions are baked into the product and vary by carrier and contract type. What matters is whether the product's features justify the cost for your specific situation. We show you the tradeoffs plainly — you decide.
Every annuity has liquidity rules — most allow annual withdrawals of 10% without surrender charges, with full liquidity available after the surrender period (typically 5-10 years). We match the surrender schedule to your actual timeline, not the carrier's preferred one.
Yes. When you submit the form, we send you the Annuity Decision Guide by email within one business day, and a Ridgemont advisor personally follows up to answer questions. No auto-drips, no bots — a real conversation, only if you want one.
Annuity contract features are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. That's why carrier selection matters — we only work with A-rated (or higher) carriers.