Fixed Index Annuity: The Retirement Tool That Grows With the Market Without Losing When It Falls

Michael Trefel

Published on: 11/08/2026

Most people have heard of annuities but few understand what a fixed index annuity actually does. It grows with a market index, protects your principal, and can guarantee income for life. This post breaks down how it works in plain language.

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Annuity vs IUL: They Are Not Competing. They Are Cooperating.

Michael Trefel

Published on: 22/07/2026

Most comparisons of annuity vs IUL try to pick a winner. That is the wrong question. These two products serve different jobs in a retirement plan. This post clarifies which job each one does and how they work together.

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IUL vs 401k for Retirement: The Comparison Your Financial Advisor Has Never Actually Run

Michael Trefel

Published on: 18/06/2026

Everyone says max your 401k. Almost nobody shows you the full comparison. This post runs the IUL vs 401k math across four layers most advisors never address, and the results are not what conventional wisdom suggests.

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IUL Pros and Cons: Why the Critics Are Aiming at the Wrong Target

Michael Trefel

Published on: 05/05/2026

IUL pros and cons: the real story is about structure, not product. Here is what most advisors miss.

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