What comes to mind when you think of "Safe Money"? What most retirees think of are the accounts that they have that they cannot lose, savings, CDs, cash on hand, and their checking account. These accounts are usually safe from market risk but do not typically provide much in earnings, so sometimes we neglect to keep enough of our money safe. 

Many retirees worry whether they'll have enough income generated from their savings to last through retirement. Day-to-day living expenses, medical expenses, and long-term care costs are on the rise and we need to find a balance between planning for those expenses as well as enjoying retirements luxuries such as travel, hobbies, and entertainment. If you have a gap between the guaranteed income (such as Social Security and any pensions) you'll receive in retirement and your monthly needs, you really have to plan for that by having a Safe Money foundation.

You can get the income you'll need if you build a Safe Money foundation by choosing conservative, income-generating vehicles with guarantees. There are many low-risk options that offer protection for your money, but only annuities can offer market protection and guaranteed income for life!

Unlike other low-risk instruments, annuities provide contractual guarantees like guaranteed income for life. For retirees and pre-retirees interested in money growth opportunities, many people choose a fixed index annuity. Fixed index annuities also tend to offer stronger growth potential with earned interest than bonds, CDs, or other low-risk options. You can let your money grow on a tax-deferred basis and enjoy a steady income stream in retirement with the fixed index annuity's contractual guarantees.

When deciding on whether an annuity is right for you, focus on the contractual guarantees offered by different annuity contracts.