Income Riders the Good the Bad the Ugly

Sunday, April 19, 2026

In this episode of “My Money is Safe,” Greg Ellie of Prosperity Group and his vice president Patti Jaynes explore the good, bad, and ugly of income riders on annuities. These optional features allow retirees to generate guaranteed lifetime pension-like income for both spouses without surrendering the principal to the insurance company, with any remaining account value passing to beneficiaries. Using examples like turning $500,000 into $30,000–$40,000 (or more with deferral and roll-ups) of annual income, they highlight strong riders that offer compounded growth on the benefit base (e.g., 8%), potential long-term care doublers, and better performance than high-fee variable annuity riders. They stress the importance of choosing the right rider, locking in higher rates now, following the Rule of 100 for asset allocation, and getting a second opinion on existing annuities, as many agents don’t fully understand them. The hosts encourage listeners facing market volatility to call 1-800-297-5755 or visit mymoneyissafe.com for safe-money strategies that protect principal while building reliable retirement income.

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