Welcome Atlas Annuity Podcast, where your host, Marty Becker, turns the heat up on retirement planning! As a career firefighter, Marty's journey from battling blazes to safeguarding nest eggs offers a different look at protecting retirement assets than you've seen from any other advisor. His pension got smoked, but he found a flame-resistant strategy: annuities. Each episode, Marty dives into riveting case studies, peels back the complex layers of annuities, and has candid chats about the power of annuities to shield your retirement from the unpredictability of the stock market. Whether you're approaching retirement, or have been retired for years, Marty’s mission is clear - to give you the tools and tactics to fortify your retirement. No jargon, no fluff, just unbiased insight and solid strategies from a guy who's been in the hot seat and came out cooler than ever. Subscribe to the Atlas Annuity Podcast for a regular dose of insights that could change the way you think about protecting and growing your assets in retirement. Ready for more? Light the way to a secure future at www.atlasannuity.com and book your appointment with Marty Becker today. Don't just retire, retire with confidence.
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August 20, 20269 min
$1 Million Decision: Annuity vs Portfolio — Which Actually Pays More?
Marty Becker goes head-to-head with the numbers: annuity vs portfolio, using a $1 million retirement as the test case. A 65-year-old couple needs $95,000/year in income, with Social Security covering $45,000 — leaving a $50,000 gap. This episode compares two ways to fill it: pulling the full gap from a traditional portfolio at a 5% withdrawal rate, or moving $400,000 into a guaranteed income annuity paying $29,750/year for life. The result is an honest, side-by-side look at what each path really means for a retiree's income and risk. This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.
August 12, 202618 min
Should You Buy a Rate-Lock Annuity? Watch This First
Have you been offered a rate-lock annuity? Before you sign anything, you need to hear this. In this episode of the Atlas Annuity Podcast, Marty Becker — owner and founder of Atlas Financial Strategies in St. Louis, Missouri — breaks down exactly what a "rate lock" on a fixed indexed annuity really means, and why it's not automatically the better deal most people assume it is. Marty explains the basic FIA story: your money isn't directly invested in the market, so if the index falls, you don't lose value — but if the index rises, the insurance company credits interest based on a formula. The problem? The cap, participation rate, or spread you're quoted today may not be the same one you get at your next anniversary. That's where "rate lock" products come in — but the term gets used in at least three completely different ways, and most people don't know which one they're actually being offered. In this episode, you'll learn: Why insurance companies change crediting rates in the first place The real difference between a new business rate lock, an index lock, and a cap rate lock Why a rate lock guarantees only ONE part of the formula — not your actual return The exact questions to ask your advisor before agreeing to a "locked" rate A breakdown of how annual point-to-point crediting actually works, with real numbers If you've been handed an illustration with the words "rate lock" on it, this episode will make sure you know exactly what you're signing up for before you commit a dollar. Have questions about your own annuity or retirement strategy? Book a call with Marty today.
August 7, 202612 min
The Retirement Risk Even Millionaires Can't Escape
There's a popular belief that annuities are only for people who are afraid of the market or haven't saved enough. But what if an annuity could actually improve the retirement outcome of someone worth several million dollars — even when the market performs well? In this episode, Marty Becker, owner and founder of Atlas Financial Strategies, walks through a real case study of a client worth over $4 million in combined assets who still had a $172,000 per year income gap heading into retirement. Marty breaks down exactly where that gap came from, why more wealth doesn't automatically mean more retirement income, and how a single guaranteed income annuity closed the gap completely — without touching the rest of the portfolio. If you've ever assumed that having "enough" money means you don't need to plan for guaranteed income, this episode will change how you think about retirement risk. In this episode, you'll learn: Why net worth and retirement income are two completely different problems How a real client with $4M+ in assets still faced a six-figure income shortfall How a guaranteed income annuity with deferral closed the gap for a fraction of the portfolio's value Want to see what your own income gap looks like? Book a free call with Marty at Atlas Financial Strategies.
July 23, 20269 min
TIPS vs MYGAs: Why Most Retirees Choose the Wrong One
Most retirees assume TIPS and MYGAs are basically the same thing. Both are conservative. Both preserve your principal. Both appeal to people who want stability in retirement. But here's the truth — they solve two completely different problems. And choosing the wrong one for the wrong job can quietly cost you. In this episode, Marty Becker breaks down exactly how TIPS and MYGAs work, what makes each one unique, and — most importantly — how to know which one is right for your situation. Here's what Marty covers: What a MYGA is and why its predictability makes it one of the most reliable retirement tools available How TIPS actually work — including the part most retirees never hear about Why TIPS can lose value during deflation and what that means for your retirement money The one question every retiree needs to ask before putting money into either one Why the TIPS vs MYGAs debate isn't really about which one is better — it's about what job you need your money to do If you're looking for safe, stable retirement income and want to make sure you're using the right tool for the right job, this episode is for you.
July 15, 202611 min
Annuity in a Trust: The Mistake That Could Cost You Everything
Most people think putting their annuity in a trust is a smart move. Their attorney told them to do it. So they did it. But that one simple paperwork change could trigger a massive tax bill — and most attorneys don't even realize it. In this episode, Marty Becker breaks down the trust mistake that blindsides retirees every day. You'll learn the critical difference between a revocable and irrevocable trust, why it matters for your annuity, and how one wrong signature could make $150,000 in deferred gains immediately taxable. What you'll learn: Why trusts are not the tax shield most people think they are The two types of trusts and how each one affects your annuity differently The real-life example that shows exactly how much this mistake can cost you What to ask your attorney before you transfer anything If you have an annuity and an estate plan — this episode is a must listen.
June 27, 202612 min
Can You Really Buy Your Mortgage at a Discount With an Annuity
In Episode 108 of the Atlas Annuity Podcast, Marty Becker, owner and founder of Atlas Financial Strategies in St. Louis, Missouri, explores one of the most creative retirement strategies he has come across in recent memory — using an annuity to pay your mortgage at a discount. It all started with an email from one of Marty's sharpest clients, Dave, who asked a simple but brilliant question: could an insurance company essentially take over his mortgage payments for the next five years, and do it for less than he actually owes? After running the numbers, Marty breaks down exactly how a 5-Year Term Certain Single Premium Immediate Annuity works, why the math makes sense, and how retirees can potentially lock in years of guaranteed mortgage payments while putting thousands of dollars back in their pocket — with zero market risk. In this episode, Marty covers: What a 5-Year Term Certain SPIA is and how it works How Dave's strategy turned $115,000 into $129,000 worth of mortgage payments When this strategy makes sense and what most people overlook Why guaranteed income can be one of the smartest tools in a retirement plan If you are approaching retirement or already retired and still carrying a mortgage, this episode is a must listen.
May 15, 20269 min
Record Highs Are Hiding a Dangerous Retirement Risk
Record highs are hiding a massive retirement risk—and most people headed into retirement have no idea. In this episode, Marty Becker breaks down what is really happening beneath the surface of today's market and why the old retirement playbook may not work the way people expect. The stock market is at all-time highs. Tech stocks are booming and Wall Street is acting like the future is perfectly clear. But underneath that optimism, nearly half of major indexes are still technically in bear markets. Oil prices are surging. Inflation may not actually be under control. And some of the smartest macroeconomic minds out there are now comparing today's environment to one of the strangest economic periods in modern history — the late 1970s. Marty references The Wellington Letter, written by Bert Dohmen — a man who has called nearly every bull and bear market over the past 40 years — and his team's belief that we are entering a market environment very similar to 1978 through 1980: Inflation was soaring and interest rates were rising fast Commodities like gold and silver were exploding higher And yet — stocks still pushed upward as investors searched for inflation hedges Money flowed into stocks, energy, precious metals, and other hard assets The big takeaway? Markets and economies rarely behave the way people expect. If you are approaching retirement and still relying on the same old strategy, this environment could catch you completely off guard. This isn't just a market update — it's a warning. And for anyone close to retirement, it's one worth hearing.
March 16, 20268 min
AI Annuity Advice: Don't Make This Costly Mistake
Artificial intelligence can write essays, analyze data, and answer almost any question you throw at it. So it's no surprise that people have started asking AI about their retirement money. But here's the truth — AI annuity advice can actually be very helpful. Or it can be a very expensive mistake. And knowing the difference could save your retirement. In this episode, Marty Becker shares a real client story that sparked this conversation — a client who came to him ready to buy a specific annuity because AI recommended it. The problem? That product wasn't even available in their state. Marty then does something different — he actually asks AI three questions directly: When does it make sense to use AI for annuity advice? When does it NOT make sense? How will AI change the annuity industry in the future? The answers might surprise you. What you'll learn in this episode: Why AI is a great tool for learning about annuities — but a dangerous one for making decisions The difference between annuity education and annuity advice Why there's no such thing as "the best annuity" — and why AI doesn't know that What AI gets right, what it gets wrong, and what that means for your retirement If you're using AI to research your retirement options — this episode is a must listen before you make any moves.
March 10, 202614 min
Do Income Annuities Just Return Your Money Back To You?
In this episode, Marty Becker tackles one of the most common misconceptions retirees have about annuities — the belief that annuity companies are simply returning their own money back to them. He explains why this flawed thinking may actually be causing retirees to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars less than they safely could in retirement. Marty breaks down the risks associated with the traditional Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP), including sequence of returns risk, longevity risk, withdrawal rate risk, and behavioral risk — such as panic selling during volatile markets. He uses a compelling real-world example of two retirees, Ben and Susan, who retired just three months apart in 1968, yet ended up with nearly a million dollar difference in their retirement outcomes due to sequence of returns risk alone. He also addresses how today's markets are even more volatile than in previous decades due to high-frequency trading and algorithmic manipulation, making this risk more relevant than ever for those approaching retirement. Marty then explains how income annuities can serve as a powerful tool to mitigate these risks and allow retirees to spend more confidently throughout their retirement years.
February 26, 202616 min
Retirement Planning: The Psychological Transition Nobody Prepares For
In this episode, Marty Becker explores the often-overlooked psychological side of retirement that has nothing to do with 401(k)s, Social Security timing, or interest rates. He discusses the multi-year psychological transition that occurs when someone leaves a lifelong career and explains why financial preparation alone isn't enough if retirees aren't mentally prepared for this major life change. Marty walks listeners through the research on retirement as a process rather than a single event, breaking down the phases many retirees experience during this transition. He then explains how financial structure—particularly income annuities—can help stabilize the psychological shift and provide the emotional security needed during this critical period. This episode is essential listening for anyone approaching retirement who wants to understand not just the financial mechanics, but the mental and emotional journey that lies ahead.
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