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Annuity Sales Hit a New Record: What It Signals
- January 23, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Categories: Retirement Income, Retirement Insights
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Annuity sales can serve as a practical “signal” for what retirees are prioritizing—especially when the market and inflation environment makes predictable retirement income more valuable. LIMRA reported that total U.S. annuity sales reached a new quarterly record in Q3 2025, surpassing $120 billion for the first time. While sales numbers alone do not determine what is right for any one household, they do highlight broader themes: demand for income stability, interest in risk-managed growth structures, and a continued focus on retirement income planning that can hold up across volatility. This post explains what the record tells us (and what it doesn’t), why retirees care about guaranteed-income interest, and the practical questions to ask when evaluating retirement income needs.
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Pension Buy-In Growth: Why Employers Are Transferring Risk
- January 16, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
“Pension risk transfer” can sound technical, but the core idea is simple: employers sometimes pay to move pension obligations off their balance sheet and into an insurer-backed structure. LIMRA reported that single-premium pension risk transfer buy-in sales surged in Q3 2025, reaching the highest quarterly total on record. For retirees and near-retirees, this matters because it reflects a broader theme in retirement planning: the value of predictable, contract-based income and the desire to reduce long-term financial uncertainty. This post explains what a pension buy-in is (in plain language), why employers do it, how it differs from other pension changes, and what retirement households can learn from the trend.
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BlackRock LifePath Paycheck Growth Signals Rising Demand for Lifetime Income
- December 12, 2025
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
Guaranteed lifetime income is moving closer to the mainstream inside workplace retirement plans. BlackRock reported continued growth for its LifePath Paycheck solution, reflecting a broader shift: retirees want the confidence of consistent income, not just market exposure. As lifespans extend and retirement timelines span decades, “income durability” becomes the central question. The significance isn’t the product name—it’s what demand signals. Workers and plan sponsors are increasingly exploring structures that can convert part of retirement savings into a predictable income stream, while still allowing flexibility for other needs. For households approaching retirement, the planning takeaway is clear: build an income framework that is designed to last, and coordinate it with your account types and timing decisions.
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Allspring Study: Retirement Confidence Slips for Near-Retirees
- December 5, 2025
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
New survey findings from Allspring suggest retirement confidence is slipping—particularly among near-retirees and certain demographic groups—highlighting how fragile “feeling ready” can be when markets, inflation, and life expectancy all remain uncertain. The study points to practical planning gaps that often show up late: unrealistic withdrawal expectations, misunderstandings about when to claim Social Security, and uncertainty about how to coordinate accounts for income. For retirees, these aren’t academic issues; they determine whether a plan stays consistent year-to-year. The central lesson is coordination: align withdrawal expectations with real spending needs, understand timing decisions that can permanently affect income, and build a structure that can adapt across decades.
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The Stop-and-Start Reality of Saving for Retirement
- November 28, 2025
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
Retirement saving is rarely a straight line. A Principal study highlights how frequently workers pause contributions due to real-life financial pressures—and how many later resume when they regain stability. This “stop-and-start” pattern matters because small interruptions can compound over time, especially when they coincide with other stressors like debt payments, rising living costs, or an unexpected expense. The practical takeaway is not guilt; it’s design. Strong retirement planning often includes a buffer strategy—emergency reserves, clearer savings priorities, and income planning that can absorb setbacks without derailing long-term goals. When saving becomes consistent again, coordination (not just catching up) is what helps the plan stay durable.
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Why Retirement Anxiety Is Rising and What Planning Can Do
- November 21, 2025
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
Retirement confidence is under pressure—and the concerns are increasingly emotional as well as financial. Allianz Life’s 2025 Annual Retirement Study reports that many Americans worry more about running out of money than death, reflecting how inflation, uncertainty, and long retirements can strain planning assumptions. The findings underscore a key shift: retirement planning isn’t only about “having enough,” but about having a structure for income that can hold up through market changes, rising expenses, and longer lifespans. For households approaching retirement, the most practical response is not panic—it’s clarity: identify income sources, stress-test how withdrawals behave in down markets, and build a plan designed to stay consistent year-to-year.
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DC Plans Shift Toward Personalized Retirement Income Solutions
- November 14, 2025
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
T. Rowe Price’s 2025 DC Consultant Study highlights a clear trend in workplace retirement plans: the conversation is moving beyond accumulation and toward retirement income outcomes. Consultants are paying closer attention to how target date solutions support the transition into retirement, where personalization is increasingly needed, and which tools help manage volatility when withdrawals begin. The study also reflects ongoing interest in managed accounts as a way to tailor planning to individual needs rather than relying solely on one-size-fits-all defaults. For retirees and near-retirees, the implication is straightforward: long-term success depends on how savings convert into reliable income—and how well that income strategy holds up across market cycles.
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Morningstar: HSAs and Retirement Healthcare Costs
- November 7, 2025
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
Morningstar’s 2025 HSA Landscape report reinforces a planning reality many retirees discover late: healthcare costs don’t behave like a one-time expense—they recur, fluctuate, and often rise over time. The report highlights continued growth in HSAs and evaluates leading providers, showing meaningful differences in transparency, usability, fees, and investing access. For long-range planning, the key takeaway is that an HSA isn’t just “a place to pay bills.” How the account is structured—and where it’s held—can impact flexibility and net results. For households thinking about retirement income durability, a well-run HSA can function as a dedicated resource for future medical spending, helping reduce pressure on other income sources later.
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A Key Retirement Cost: Fidelity’s 2025 Healthcare Estimate
- October 31, 2025
- Posted by: August
- Categories: Healthcare & Medicare, Retirement Insights
Healthcare expenses remain one of the most underestimated variables in retirement planning, and Fidelity’s 2025 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate puts a clearer number behind that risk. The estimate suggests a 65-year-old retiring in 2025 could spend $172,500 over retirement on healthcare and medical expenses, reflecting a continued upward trend. The release also points to a planning gap: many Americans have not meaningfully considered healthcare needs when preparing for retirement. Fidelity highlights how Medicare-related costs and out-of-pocket expenses can add up over time, and notes that Health Savings Accounts may play a larger role when used strategically and understood as part of long-term readiness.
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Vanguard’s 2025 Retirement Outlook Highlights Evolving Income Challenges
- October 24, 2025
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
Rising costs, longer life expectancies, and changing work patterns continue to reshape how Americans think about retirement. Vanguard’s 2025 Retirement Outlook highlights how these forces are influencing savings behavior, income expectations, and long-term confidence. The report emphasizes that while participation in retirement plans remains strong, many individuals are uncertain about how future income will align with spending needs over time. Inflation, healthcare expenses, and market variability are cited as ongoing concerns, particularly for those approaching retirement. Together, these findings reinforce the growing importance of understanding how retirement income sources work together across different stages of retirement.
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