Retirement Income Strategy: Laddering Annuities For Guaranteed Income

Retirement isn't about chasing returns—it's about engineering income. In this episode, Marty Becker shares a real client case study that demonstrates one of the clearest retirement income frameworks he's ever seen. Dave, one of Marty's clients, responded to the previous week's episode on CDs versus MYGAs with a simple but powerful statement: he uses 2, 3, 4, and 5-year MYGAs and FIAs to build an income ladder that funds his annual expenses—and he believes it's far better than CDs or bond ladders. Marty breaks down Dave's strategy step by step: Year 1: Money sits in a high-yield money market for immediate access Years 2-4: Funds are in high-yield MYGAs with guaranteed rates and known maturity dates Year 5+: Money is in fixed indexed annuities with principal protection and growth potential What Dave created is a 5-year runway that emotionally insulates him from market volatility and bad decisions. The markets can fluctuate all they want, but his next five years of income are secure. This isn't just a ladder—it's a system. A strategy that prioritizes peace of mind, predictability, and protection over chasing long-term averages.