Variable Annuities: A Steady Income Stream, but First Read the Fine Print
As you plan your retirement investment portfolio, does the idea of a financial product that provides a guaranteed monthly payout, no matter how long you live, sound appealing? If so, you might want to consider buying an annuity.

But first make sure you understand the details.

An annuity is essentially an insurance product that can grow indefinitely on a tax-deferred basis, but which has the ability to provide a steady income stream when you reach the retirement years.

In other words, they are investments that grow in value over time, but which pay regular dividends once they are "annuitized." Unlike an IRA or 401(k), annuities are designed for people (over the age of 59 1/2 ) who want their money to grow but are more concerned with receiving regular payments they can use to cover living expenses than watching their investment continue building value for a future cash out. Click here to read full article

Teaching Wives About Marital Finances
For many women, the prospect of ending up alone and poor is a sobering reality. This is particularly true in community property states like California, where assets and liabilities acquired during marriage are the joint responsibility of both spouses. “Too many wives just let their husband handle all the financial matters in the marriage,” says Helga Hayse, a writer who teaches women to talk with their husbands about money, mortality and planning for the future. Click here to read full article

A Conversation with Rosanne Angel
How to pay for long-term care is a question on a lot of people’s minds these days. As a result, interest is rising in long-term care insurance, which can be used to cover the cost of caring for people with chronic physical or cognitive illnesses and disabilities. For answers to some of the most common questions about this insurance, Bay Area Summit spoke with Rosanne Angel, the owner of Golden Benefits Insurance Services. Click here to read full article

Loans That Can Turn Your Home into a Cash Flow
If you’re a homeowner who’s thinking about retirement, you may have considered that at a certain age you’ll sell your home and move someplace cheaper, using the difference to make ends meet. But there’s another way to tap the equity in your home: a reverse mortgage. These loans, which are just starting to become widely known, allow you to borrow substantial amounts of money against the equity in your home. Click here to read full article