Annuities can be incredibly confusing, but they don’t have to be. Once you understand the most common annuity acronyms, it’s a lot less scary. Each annuity contract will be unique to your needs, the insurance company, and the optional riders available.

When buying an annuity, it’s best to zoom out and look at your entire financial picture first, and then decide if an annuity is right for you. We don’t want you to get excited about one particular type of annuity first, and then figure out how to make it fit your goals. Your life and retirement goals should drive all your retirement decisions.

If we're not careful, we can easily fall victim to pushy sales tactics to buy expensive annuities. Annuities and other life insurance products are often sold using your fears against you. There is a tendency for annuities to be oversold because of the handsome commissions paid to sell them.

To be clear, there are times when an annuity might make sense, but many retirees have other guaranteed income sources like Social Security. There are various annuities (fixed, single premium, deferred, etc.), so it can get confusing.

Choosing between a lump sum or annuity payout is one of the largest decisions an Evergy retiree will make. Evergy has many pension payout options, but which one is best for you? A lump sum payout is an option for all the different pension programs under the Evergy umbrella.

It’s important to know exactly what options you have and what you can or can’t control regarding a lump sum payout. Doing your research and really thinking through your options is absolutely necessary.

This post was last updated on January 02, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

Retirees who work with a financial advisor are happier and more confident – in their finances and in life. Many of us have concerns about money. So, it makes sense that getting expert help would increase happiness by reducing financial stress.

The right financial planner does so much more than just help you with a 401k rollover. A true expert takes the time to get to know you and craft a detailed, thought-out plan around your hopes and dreams. The process should center around you, not your money.

Not everyone can qualify for a traditional life insurance policy. Depending on your health and lifestyle, an insurance underwriter might be reluctant to approve your application for a policy.

If you have only applied to a company or two, don’t give up on a traditional life insurance policy yet. Every company has different standards that they follow, and something that disqualifies you from one might not disqualify you from another. 

Annuities can be as confusing as any product on the market. However, they can be a handy tool for the right individuals. Don’t let all the ambiguous and confusing terms discourage you from learning about annuities.

A general understanding of how annuities work, the types of annuities available, and the tax implications is helpful. We’ll also analyze the costs and fees, how annuities can insure against longevity risk, and whether an annuity product might be right for you.

This post was last updated on January 07, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

Although defined benefit plans (pensions) are less common today, many people will still rely on them for retirement. There are some very specific rules governing how these plans are calculated for payout either over the course of retirement or in a lump sum.

This post was last updated on January 15, 2021, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

If you’re stashing away cash for your golden years, you’re ahead of the game. A study conducted in late 2020 found that 56% of Americans have $5,000 or less in savings, while a third has $1,000 or less. What’s worse is that another study showed that almost 25% of adults in the U.S have no retirement savings or pension at all. 

The business world uses the term 401(k) often. Many employers offer their employees these retirement accounts as a benefit to working there. 

Some employers even offer 401(k) matching. This benefit is exactly as it sounds. An employer matches the amount of money that you contribute to your 401(k). So, you put money into your 401(k), and then your employer does the same. 

This post was last updated on July 24, 2024, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

Retirement accounts grow from pre-tax (deductible) contributions during employment. During retirement, account withdrawals, or distributions, are then taxed as ordinary income. To many entering retirement, it would make sense to let these accounts sit, accruing tax-deferred value to further build their savings and/or inheritance to pass on.

This post was last updated on January 16, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

Are you looking for a way to supercharge your retirement savings? You might want to look into after-tax contributions to your 401k. Larger employers offer this option more often, but some smaller employers may also offer it.

This post was last updated on October 27, 2022, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

If the company you work for has an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) or profit-sharing plan, you’ll want to pay close attention. Company stock in your 401(k) you could potentially be eligible for tax rules to help you save money on your taxes.

This post was last updated on January 08, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

It seems like Roth conversions are all the rage, but are they really the right thing for you? There are many potential benefits, but there are some trade-offs to consider as well. The decision to use a Roth conversion incorporates a much longer timeline than many other tax-saving strategies.

The last decade has seen some major changes and events, but a lot remains the same. Reflecting on 10 years in business at NextGen Wealth has been a remarkable experience. We’ve accomplished so much, but there’s still much more to come!

We’ve continually added services and enhanced the client experience. It’s amazing to see how much we’ve accomplished navigating successful retirements.

Roth IRA conversions are a valuable tool in long-term tax planning. This method might save you tens of thousands of dollars or more on your taxes. But is there a best time of year to complete Roth conversions?

You must consider many variables to determine what’s best for you. Life happens, and your tax-saving strategies must be adjusted accordingly. This is why we typically evaluate and complete Roth conversions annually.

This post was last updated on January 04, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

A 403(b) plan or tax-sheltered annuity (TSA) is a retirement account for public schools, colleges, and universities as well as for churches and non-profit organizations. While the account works similarly to other retirement plans like a 401k, there are some differences.

When it comes to investing, the hype seems to be around the next hot investment and the incredible returns it will surely produce. While that is all good and well (not really), no one ever seems to talk about what not to do when it comes to a good investment strategy.

I truly believe, if you can avoid making dumb decisions, then that will ensure you’re making the right decisions. Investing isn’t about finding the next Apple; it’s about not making those common mistakes so many people can’t seem to avoid.

This post was last updated on June 24, 2023, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

Whether you’re retiring early or your financial circumstances shift unexpectedly, a “72t” withdrawal strategy might be useful. Knowing the full arsenal of penalty-free withdrawal options can help you make your money work for you regardless of what life throws at you.

Retirement isn’t an individual sport. It takes many key players and essential tools to make the most of your golden years. As the saying goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

As we watch our beloved Kansas City Chiefs continue another great season, it’s important to understand what it really takes to make a great team. The Chiefs took a long-term approach to success when they signed a $503 Million, 10-year contract with Patrick Mahomes. They understood the value of keeping key teammates in place long-term.

Warren Buffett is one of the greatest investors and philanthropists of all time. What can we learn from his charitable giving, and how can we apply it to our own giving strategies?

The main point of charitable giving is making the biggest impact. However, when we plan our giving carefully, we can save on taxes and put even more money to good use. There are many considerations, such as when, how much, and which charities and causes to support.