interest rates Archives - Jerry Golden on Retirement

How History can Help with Your Retirement Plan Decisions

September 24, 2025 By Jerry Golden in Annuity Tags: HECM, interest rates, Jerry Golden, QLAC, retirement

In my articles about how to build a better retirement plan, I often point out that homeowners who include home equity as an asset in their retirement plan can meet more of their retirement objectives.

The number of retirees who take advantage of a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage or HECM, however, has never equaled retirement experts’ expectations. It’s not the design or pricing of the product, but rather, in my view, the limitations on how performance of HECM is presented, and the challenges of integrating HECM as part of a broader retirement plan.

How You Might Need to Adjust Your Retirement Plan in 2024

January 11, 2024 By Jerry Golden in Annuity Tags: Income annuities, Inflation, interest rates, Retirement Planning

Here are some of the challenges that could lie ahead this year, plus some suggestions for how you might deal with them to help secure your financial future.

Looking forward to the new year, my advice is to be, well, flexible. It’s difficult to foretell the future, even when the future is tomorrow. So, predicting (guessing) what the next year will bring has historically been proven wrong, often by a lot. As we review ideas about 2024 from several market observers, remember that we will undoubtedly need to adjust and rework our retirement plans.

Americans face retirement income shortfalls

How Finances Can Improve for Retirees — and the Next Two Generations

January 11, 2024 By Jerry Golden in Annuity Tags: Income annuities, interest rates, Retirement Planning

Hypothetical retirees from 2017 are in much better financial shape today, thanks to annuities and higher interest rates. Their kids and grandkids stand to also reap the benefits.

Who knew the holidays would result in a reordering of family financial plans? One minute we sit down for turkey and all the fixings, and the next we’re planning how to pay for the rest of our lives, along with a critical portion of our kids’ and grandkids’ futures.

What you were really looking forward to was one or three of those homemade rolls, but of course you enjoyed the family, too, and as a side dish, you came away with an understanding of how to build a solid plan for retirement income.

A Plateful of Financial Topics That Might Come up Over Turkey Dinner

January 11, 2024 By Jerry Golden in Annuity Tags: Financial conversation, Income annuities, interest rates

From higher prices and mortgage rates to AI planning our retirements: These are some of the conversations you might have as multiple generations gather for the holiday.

The joy of the holidays means gathering everyone around the dining room table. Three or more generations might get together at this time of year and no other. We have a chance to catch up and reacquaint ourselves with stories and companionship and maybe talk about topics that are best discussed in person.

One of my first articles for Kiplinger.com, 8 Financial Conversation Starters for Thanksgiving Table Talk, was a reverie in 2017 for what we could (mostly) be thankful for. My primary audience was then and continues to be the Baby Boomer and grandparent — now six years older but statistically in the Boomer age range of about 58 to 77.

Annuity Payments Are 30% to 60% Higher: Time to Reconsider

January 11, 2024 By Jerry Golden in Annuity Tags: Income annuities, interest rates, retirement income

When interest rates rise, so do payments on new annuity contracts. Maybe it’s time to take another look at how annuities can fit into your retirement income.

Yes, interest rates are up, and that hurts new home buyers and other borrowers.

Yes, short-term interest rates paid on your bank account are higher.

Yes, long-term interest rates paid on new bond investments are up, too.