Safe Harbor Loo

Safe Harbor Retirement Blog

QLACs Explained: Using Part of Your IRA to Guarantee Income Later in Retirement

QLACs Explained: Using Part of Your IRA to Guarantee Income Later in Retirement

QLACs Explained: Using Part of Your IRA to Guarantee Income Later in RetirementJohn Anderson
Published on: 10/13/2026

QLACs let you move part of your IRA into guaranteed future income while lowering today's RMDs. Here's how they work and who they fit.

annuitiesretirement incomeqlacira
Market Headlines Got You Nervous? What Midterm Election Years Actually Do to Stocks — and Your Retirement Income

Market Headlines Got You Nervous? What Midterm Election Years Actually Do to Stocks — and Your Retirement Income

Market Headlines Got You Nervous? What Midterm Election Years Actually Do to Stocks — and Your Retirement IncomeJeff Frankenfield
Published on: 10/08/2026

Midterm election years have a history of making markets jumpy. Here's what the data actually shows this year, and why your retirement paycheck doesn't need to ride on it.

retirement incomemarket volatilityannuities
Cap Rates, Participation Rates, and Spreads: How Fixed Indexed Annuities Actually Calculate Your Interest

Cap Rates, Participation Rates, and Spreads: How Fixed Indexed Annuities Actually Calculate Your Interest

Cap Rates, Participation Rates, and Spreads: How Fixed Indexed Annuities Actually Calculate Your InterestJeff Frankenfield
Published on: 10/06/2026

Cap rate, participation rate, spread: the three terms that determine how a fixed indexed annuity actually calculates your credited interest, explained in plain language.

annuitiesfixed indexed annuityretirement income
Income Riders Explained: How to Turn an Annuity Into a Guaranteed Paycheck

Income Riders Explained: How to Turn an Annuity Into a Guaranteed Paycheck

Income Riders Explained: How to Turn an Annuity Into a Guaranteed PaycheckJohn Anderson
Published on: 09/29/2026

What is an annuity income rider, and how does it actually work? A plain-language breakdown of the feature that turns retirement savings into lifetime income.

annuitiesincome riderretirement income
Annuity Surrender Periods: How They Work and Typical Lengths

Annuity Surrender Periods: How They Work and Typical Lengths

Annuity Surrender Periods: How They Work and Typical LengthsJeff Frankenfield
Published on: 09/22/2026

Surrender periods are one of the most misunderstood parts of an annuity contract. Here's how they work, how charges decline over time, and what free withdrawal provisions allow.

annuitiesretirement incomeannuity basics
Annuity Laddering: A Strategy for Balancing Access and Guaranteed Income

Annuity Laddering: A Strategy for Balancing Access and Guaranteed Income

Annuity Laddering: A Strategy for Balancing Access and Guaranteed IncomeJohn Anderson
Published on: 09/15/2026

Annuity laddering spreads your money across contracts with staggered maturity dates, so you get guarantees and flexibility instead of choosing between them. Here's how it works.

annuitiesretirement incomefinancial strategy