Tag: Annuities

The Potential of Annuities (Ep. 18)

The Potential of Annuities (Ep. 18)

Annuities are financial products that offer an income stream, usually for retirees.

However, annuities also have some drawbacks, such as fees, surrender charges, and tax implications. 

How can attorneys help their clients in this subject? Can they fit into their estate plans?

In this episode, Greg DuPont explores the world of annuities. He dives into the reasons behind the hesitation towards annuities, highlighting the disconnect between the product’s benefits and public perception. Additionally, Greg also touches on the evolution of annuities, distinguishing between variable and fixed indexed annuities, and emphasizes the importance of understanding annuities as a tool for preserving, protecting, and transferring assets.

Greg discusses: 

  • The negative perception of annuities and the high demand for the product
  • The various types of annuities, including fixed, variable, and indexed annuities
  • Important factors to consider when selecting annuities
  • A potential market disruption and the role of fixed indexed annuity in providing a financial safety net
  • The importance of providing certainty and control to clients, especially during uncertain market times
  • The importance of continuing to learn annuity principles and incorporating them into estate planning 
  • And more!

 

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Simplifying the Complexity of Indices with Laurence Black (Ep. 13)

Simplifying the Complexity of Indices with Laurence Black (Ep. 13)

Choosing the right index for your investment goals can be a daunting task, especially when there are millions of options available.

How do you know which one is best suited for your risk tolerance, time horizon, and expected returns? How do you evaluate the performance and design of different indexes and ETFs?

These are some of the questions that many investors face when they enter the world of index-linked products.

In this episode, Greg DuPont chats with Laurence Black, Founder of The Index Standard®,  a company that rates and evaluates ETFs and indices used in the insurance and structured product space. They explore the challenge of choosing the right index among the many available and the importance of forward-looking due diligence. Laurence emphasizes the need for diversification and preparing for unforeseen events in the investment world.

Together they discuss: 

  • The importance of taking a forward-looking approach when choosing an index
  • The Index Standard’s three-step forecasting process
  • The significance of diversification in dealing with unknown risks and protecting oneself in the investment world
  • The benefits of exchange traded funds (ETFs) compared to mutual funds
  • How The Index Standard evaluates and categorizes the largest index-linked ETFs based on their robustness and design
  • The valuable insights you’ll gain from the training with Laurence, simplifying the complexity of insurance indices for informed decision-making
  • And more!

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About Our Guest:

Laurence Black is the founder of The Index Standard® and an index advisor to Robert J. Shiller, Sterling Professor of Economics at Yale University.

Before founding The Index Standard®, Laurence was Managing Director and Head of Quantitative Indices and Strategies at Barclays, where he oversaw the development of the Barclays index family. In addition to designing some of the first smart beta/factor indices, Laurence spearheaded Barclays’ index partnerships with Professors Robert Shiller and Nouriel Roubini, as well as Novus Partners.

Before Barclays, Laurence was Head of Indices at ABN AMRO in London, where he successfully launched indices with well-known investors such as Jim Rogers and Joel Greenblatt. Before ABN AMRO, Laurence worked at Lehman Brothers, Deutsche Bank, and Credit Suisse.

Laurence holds an MBA from the University of Warwick and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Cape Town. When not thinking about financial matters, he can mostly be found on a tennis court.

The Second Pillar of Financial Advocacy: Wealth Preservation (Ep. 4)

The Second Pillar of Financial Advocacy: Wealth Preservation (Ep. 4)

In an era where it has become more complicated to save for our future and maintain our lifestyles, it becomes vital for attorneys to explore various perspectives and learn strategies to navigate their clients to preserve their wealth.

In this episode, Greg DuPont talks about the second pillar of financial advocacy, wealth preservation and challenges traditional teachings in the financial industry. He touches on the importance of identifying patterns to determine the right strategies for clients and how annuities and life insurance can be powerful tools for wealth preservation when used effectively.

Greg discusses: 

  • The challenges faced by individuals who have finished their savings journey and are looking to preserve their wealth and legacy
  • The three secrets involved in wealth preservation
  • The importance of understanding the changing rules and increasing personal income tax rates in wealth preservation
  • The fact patterns that drive strategy in wealth preservation
  • How attorneys can analyze their existing client base to identify patterns to provide solutions for their clients’ wealth preservation needs
  • His interaction with an attorney about what can be implemented to generate revenue and deliver better outcomes to clients
  • And more!

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