Episode 130: The Case for Replacing Bonds with Annuities

If you want to maximize the amount of money you can safely spend in retirement some economists say that you should sell some of your bonds and replace them with annuities. According to Tom Hegna, there is only one mathematically ideal retirement plan and annuities are a key component. While you are working, a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds is the most efficient way to save for retirement, but once you retire the rules of the game change and you need to start thinking about distribution. Tax rate risk is not the number one risk in retirement, longevity risk is more frequently cited by retirees as the number one risk they are most concerned about. In retirement, you should not have a lot of bonds in your portfolio. There is a simple guideline that you can use to determine how much income you need to guarantee with an annuity. Look at your lifestyle and subtract your guaranteed streams of income, like social security or rental income, and whatever is left should be guaranteed w...