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

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

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

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

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