Like what you heard in this episode? 🗓️ Schedule a Retirement Income Q&A call with Dr. Amanda:
calendly.com/rsf-dramanda/initial-consultation

🎥 The YouTube version of this video is here: www.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool
✍🏼 The Blog Version of this video is here: www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/blog

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23. Q&A: Annuities, LTC, Roth & Social Security Featuring Roy Snarr

In this Retirement Income School™ lesson, Dr. Amanda sits down with nationally recognized LTC and safe-money strategist Roy Snarr to show how annuities and long-term care planning work together. You’ll hear Roy’s personal “why,” what most retirees get wrong about LTC, and when to use MYGAs, FIAs with income riders, DIAs/SPIAs to build a guaranteed income floor. We also dig into asset-based LTC, tax-free benefits under the Pension Protection Act, Social Security timing, and how Roth conversions can be staged inside annuities to control taxes and IRMAA.

Timestamps:
00:00 — Welcome and why LTC + annuities belong in the same plan
01:00 — Roy’s backstory and “safe money first” mission
03:30 — The biggest retirement risk: extended care and what Medicare actually covers
06:30 — How modern LTC works: traditional vs. asset-based vs. annuity/LTC benefits
09:30 — Using annuities to build an income floor: MYGA, FIA + rider, DIA/SPIA basics
12:30 — Inflation resilience: COLA options, indexing, and laddering strategies
15:00 — Pension Protection Act strategy: repurposing old non-qualified annuities for tax-free LTC benefits
17:30 — Coordinating Social Security timing with a guaranteed annuity paycheck
19:30 — Roth conversions: using a MYGA/FIA as a safe staging area to manage brackets and IRMAA
22:00 — Due diligence checklist: carrier strength, surrender schedule, rider costs, liquidity
24:00 — Common myths and red flags in annuity/LTC proposals
26:00 — Roy’s #1 takeaway: guarantee enough lifetime income to cover your fixed expenses
28:30 — Wrap and next steps

🔗 Show Links

📅 Want to Find Out More?:
Schedule a Q&A Call with Dr. Amanda

💰 Join Us in the Retirement Income School™:
www.RetirementIncome.School

📽️ Watch Retirement Income School™ Content on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool

💰 Watch The Guaranteed Income Blueprint™:
www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/guaranteed-income-blueprint

📬 Contact Dr. Amanda:
Email: DrAmanda@RetirementSolutionsFinancial.com
Phone: 1-866-444-2997
LinkedIn: @RetirementIncomeSchool

👩‍🏫 About Dr. Amanda

Dr. Amanda is the founder of Retirement Solutions Financial™ and creator of the Retirement Income School™ and Guaranteed Income Blueprint™. After losing her father and helping her mom navigate retirement, she felt called to help others avoid the stress and confusion of planning alone.

She specializes in safe money strategies using dividend-paying whole life insurance, fixed index annuities, long-term care coverage, and Social Security claiming strategy. Her mission? To help you protect your wealth and enjoy a secure, stress-free retirement with confidence.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER

The information in this podcast is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Retirement Income School™ and Dr. Amanda Barrientez do not provide individual investment recommendations. Always consult with a licensed advisor or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed.

Like what you heard in this episode? 🗓️ Schedule a Retirement Income Q&A call with Dr. Amanda:
calendly.com/rsf-dramanda/initial-consultation

🎥 The YouTube version of this video is here: www.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool
✍🏼 The Blog Version of this video is here: www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/blog

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In this episode of Retirement Income School™, I sit down with Steve Hutchinson — creator of the Roth Blueprint software — to dive deep into Roth conversions. We cover why the 2018 tax law changes made conversions riskier, how phantom gains can devastate your retirement, why the 4% rule breaks down during conversion years, and how annuities can create stability and protect against losses. If you’re serious about building tax-free income in retirement, this lesson is a must-listen.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Welcome + Why Roth Conversions Are Hot Right Now
1:00 – Meet Steve Hutchinson & The Roth Blueprint
2:00 – Why Roths Provide Certainty in Uncertain Tax Futures
3:00 – The $37 Trillion Debt Problem & The 8-Year Conversion Window
5:00 – Why Steve Built Roth-Specific Software
6:00 – The 4% Rule & Why It Fails During Conversions
8:00 – Abigail vs. Melinda: Stable vs. Volatile Market Conversion Case Study
12:00 – Sequence of Returns Risk Magnified in Conversions
13:00 – The Phantom Gains Problem After TCJA 2018
16:00 – Why You Can’t Afford Losses During Conversions
17:00 – How Simplified Accumulation Annuities Create Safe Growth
19:00 – Locking in Gains & Eliminating Downside Risk
20:00 – Marginal Tax Bracket Management Explained
22:00 – Converting Without Out-of-Pocket Costs
24:00 – The Widow’s Penalty & Ease of Annuities in Roth Planning
25:00 – Why Annuities Guarantee Tax-Free Lifetime Income
27:00 – Why NOW Is the Roth Conversion Window of Opportunity
28:00 – Closing Thoughts & How to Book a Roth Blueprint Call

🔗 Show Links

📅 Want to Find Out More?:
Schedule a Q&A Call with Dr. Amanda

💰 Join Us in the Retirement Income School™:
www.RetirementIncome.School

📽️ Watch Retirement Income School™ Content on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool

💰 Watch The Guaranteed Income Blueprint™:
www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/guaranteed-income-blueprint

📬 Contact Dr. Amanda:
Email: DrAmanda@RetirementSolutionsFinancial.com
Phone: 1-866-444-2997
LinkedIn: @RetirementIncomeSchool

👩‍🏫 About Dr. Amanda

Dr. Amanda is the founder of Retirement Solutions Financial™ and creator of the Retirement Income School™ and Guaranteed Income Blueprint™. After losing her father and helping her mom navigate retirement, she felt called to help others avoid the stress and confusion of planning alone.

She specializes in safe money strategies using dividend-paying whole life insurance, fixed index annuities, long-term care coverage, and Social Security claiming strategy. Her mission? To help you protect your wealth and enjoy a secure, stress-free retirement with confidence.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER

The information in this podcast is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Retirement Income School™ and Dr. Amanda Barrientez do not provide individual investment recommendations. Always consult with a licensed advisor or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed.

Like what you heard in this episode? 🗓️ Schedule a Retirement Income Q&A call with Dr. Amanda:
calendly.com/rsf-dramanda/initial-consultation

🎥 The YouTube version of this video is here: www.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool
✍🏼 The Blog Version of this video is here: www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/blog

///////////////

Can an insurance company actually go bankrupt — and take your money with it? The short answer is yes, but the full story is very different from what most people think. In today’s lesson, I’ll walk you through the history of life insurance and annuities, how insurance companies are regulated, and the multiple layers of protection that make them some of the safest financial institutions in the world. If you’ve ever wondered whether your retirement paycheck is truly secure, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Can insurance companies really go bankrupt?
01:00 – Why safety matters for retirement income
02:00 – Annuities: predictable, lifetime cash flow
02:30 – Dividend-paying whole life and Infinite Banking
03:00 – Life insurance’s 150+ year legacy of stability
03:45 – Annuities: from Rome to modern retirement income
05:00 – Safe money vs risky money: how contracts guarantee security
06:00 – Regulation, reserves, and how insurers stay solvent
07:00 – Oversight, guaranty associations, and protection layers
08:00 – Why annuities and whole life are “stay-rich” tools
09:00 – My mom’s story: why safety is non-negotiable
11:00 – The bottom line: safe money solutions you can trust
12:00 – How to explore your options at Retirement Income School

🔗 Show Links

📅 Want to Find Out More?:
Schedule a Q&A Call with Dr. Amanda

💰 Join Us in the Retirement Income School™:
www.RetirementIncome.School

📽️ Watch Retirement Income School™ Content on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool

💰 Watch The Guaranteed Income Blueprint™:
www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/guaranteed-income-blueprint

📬 Contact Dr. Amanda:
Email: DrAmanda@RetirementSolutionsFinancial.com
Phone: 1-866-444-2997
LinkedIn: @RetirementIncomeSchool

👩‍🏫 About Dr. Amanda

Dr. Amanda is the founder of Retirement Solutions Financial™ and creator of the Retirement Income School™ and Guaranteed Income Blueprint™. After losing her father and helping her mom navigate retirement, she felt called to help others avoid the stress and confusion of planning alone.

She specializes in safe money strategies using dividend-paying whole life insurance, fixed index annuities, long-term care coverage, and Social Security claiming strategy. Her mission? To help you protect your wealth and enjoy a secure, stress-free retirement with confidence.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER

The information in this podcast is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Retirement Income School™ and Dr. Amanda Barrientez do not provide individual investment recommendations. Always consult with a licensed advisor or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed.

Like what you heard in this episode? Schedule a Q&A Call:
🗓️ Schedule a Retirement Income Q&A call with me:
calendly.com/rsf-dramanda/initial-consultation

🎥 The YouTube version of this video is here: www.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool
✍🏼 The Blog Version of this video is here: www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/blog

///////////////

Sally retired at 65 with a $1M IRA and felt proud—until she realized how much the IRS could eventually claim. In this lesson, I walk through her real case using my Roth Blueprint software to show how a smart, staged Roth conversion can protect your wealth, reduce future RMDs, and head off IRMAA surprises. You’ll also learn what the OBBBA tax brackets mean for planning and why rising national debt matters for IRA millionaires.

Timestamps:
00:00 — $1M IRA and the “tax time bomb”
01:05 — Why consider a Roth conversion now (OBBBA update)
03:10 — National debt and why IRA millionaires are exposed
05:15 — Case study setup: Sally (65, MFJ, AGI $150k, $1M IRA)
06:45 — Live software walkthrough: guardrails and bracket choices
10:30 — Year-by-year conversion path and tax impact
12:40 — IRMAA tradeoffs vs long-term RMD relief
14:20 — Pairing Roth with A-rated annuities for safety
16:00 — How to take the next step with your own plan

Other Episode Referenced: 17. Roth Conversions for IRA Millionaires: Avoid These 6 RMD Tax Traps

🔗 Show Links

📅 Want to Find Out More?:
Schedule a Q&A Call with Dr. Amanda

💰 Join Us in the Retirement Income School™:
www.RetirementIncome.School

📽️ Watch Retirement Income School™ Content on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool

💰 Watch The Guaranteed Income Blueprint™:
www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/guaranteed-income-blueprint

📬 Contact Dr. Amanda:
Email: DrAmanda@RetirementSolutionsFinancial.com
Phone: 1-866-444-2997
LinkedIn: @RetirementIncomeSchool

👩‍🏫 About Dr. Amanda

Dr. Amanda is the founder of Retirement Solutions Financial™ and creator of the Retirement Income School™ and Guaranteed Income Blueprint™. After losing her father and helping her mom navigate retirement, she felt called to help others avoid the stress and confusion of planning alone.

She specializes in safe money strategies using dividend-paying whole life insurance, fixed index annuities, long-term care coverage, and Social Security claiming strategy. Her mission? To help you protect your wealth and enjoy a secure, stress-free retirement with confidence.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER

The information in this podcast is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Retirement Income School™ and Dr. Amanda Barrientez do not provide individual investment recommendations. Always consult with a licensed advisor or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed.

Like what you heard in this episode? Schedule a Q&A Call:
1. Schedule a Retirement Income Q&A call with me:
calendly.com/rsf-dramanda/initial-consultation

🎥 The YouTube version of this video is here: www.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool
✍🏼 The Blog Version of this video is here: www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/blog

///////////////

IRMAA might sound like just another government acronym — but it’s a hidden cost that can quietly drain thousands from your retirement income. It’s based on your income, deducted from your Social Security check, and it increases your Medicare premiums without ever being called a tax.

In this episode, I explain:

• What IRMAA is and how it’s calculated

• The triple compounding effect that makes it so dangerous

• And how Roth conversions, whole life insurance, and income planning can help you avoid it altogether

If you’re thinking about how to protect your income in retirement, this lesson is a must-listen.

⏱ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – What IRMAA really is and why it’s called a stealth tax
01:00 – How IRMAA is calculated and which income sources count
03:00 – 2025 IRMAA income brackets (Married Filing Jointly)
04:00 – The real cost of IRMAA for high-income couples
05:00 – The triple compounding effect: how IRMAA grows over time
06:30 – Roth conversions, whole life, and how to reduce surcharges
07:30 – Why planning early makes all the difference
08:00 – How to get personalized help with your income strategy

🔗 Show Links

📅 Want to Find Out More?:
Schedule a Q&A Call with Dr. Amanda

💰 Join Us in the Retirement Income School™:
www.RetirementIncome.School

📽️ Watch Retirement Income School™ Content on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool

💰 Watch The Guaranteed Income Blueprint™:
www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/guaranteed-income-blueprint

📬 Contact Dr. Amanda:
Email: DrAmanda@RetirementSolutionsFinancial.com
Phone: 1-866-444-2997
LinkedIn: @RetirementIncomeSchool

👩‍🏫 About Dr. Amanda

Dr. Amanda is the founder of Retirement Solutions Financial™ and creator of the Retirement Income School™ and Guaranteed Income Blueprint™. After losing her father and helping her mom navigate retirement, she felt called to help others avoid the stress and confusion of planning alone.

She specializes in safe money strategies using dividend-paying whole life insurance, fixed index annuities, long-term care coverage, and Social Security claiming strategy. Her mission? To help you protect your wealth and enjoy a secure, stress-free retirement with confidence.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER

The information in this podcast is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Retirement Income School™ and Dr. Amanda Barrientez do not provide individual investment recommendations. Always consult with a licensed advisor or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed.