If you've ever wondered why retirement feels more complicated than it should, you're not imagining things. For decades, people were told to save enough, invest wisely, and then withdraw 4% every year. But new research from Morningstar tells a very different story—one that explains why so many retirees feel uneasy, and why guaranteed income tools like annuities are becoming more relevant than ever.

In this milestone 100th episode, Marty Becker breaks down Morningstar's latest 2025 research showing that the safe withdrawal rate has dropped to just 3.9%—with a 10% chance of failure even then. That's only $39,000 per year for every $1 million in your portfolio. Marty explains why most retirement failures don't happen because markets are bad forever, but because something goes wrong early.

Discover what this means for your retirement strategy, why sequence of returns risk is the silent killer of retirement plans, and how guaranteed income can provide the stability that market-based withdrawals simply can't guarantee.

What if you could convert your traditional IRA to a Roth without feeling the tax pain? In episode 99 of the Atlas Annuity Podcast, Marty Becker reveals a little-known strategy that uses deferred income annuities to make Roth conversions virtually painless—and could save you over $110,000 in lifetime taxes.

Most retirees wait until they're forced to take distributions from their IRAs, which means paying taxes when the government decides—often at higher rates. But there's a smarter way. Marty walks through a real-world example of a 60-year-old couple who funds a deferred income annuity with $500,000 from their traditional IRA, creating $80,000 per year in guaranteed lifetime income starting at age 70.

Here's where it gets interesting: during the 10-year deferral period, they systematically convert $50,000 per year to a Roth IRA using internal partial withdrawals from the annuity. The result? They pay just $110,000 in taxes over 10 years at a controlled 22% bracket. If they had waited and let the IRS force distributions, they would've paid over $220,000 in taxes—literally double.

Marty breaks down the math, explains how internal partial withdrawals work, and shows why the years between retirement and age 70 are the golden window for this strategy. If you have a traditional IRA or 401(k) and want to take control of your tax future, this episode is a must-listen.

5 Reasons Smart People Resist Annuities (At First) | Episode 98

Here's a strange truth: annuities solve one of the biggest problems in retirement—not running out of money. And yet, they're one of the most emotionally rejected financial tools that exist. That's the paradox.

People say they want certainty. They say they want peace of mind. They say they want income they can't outlive. But when you offer them guaranteed income, something in their brain short circuits.

In this episode, we're not talking about rates, fees, or products. We're talking about why your brain resists annuities, even when they make sense.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

✅ The "What If I Die Early?" Trap – Why loss aversion makes you obsess over the wrong risk (and why dying early isn't actually a financial problem)

✅ The Control Illusion – How you've already given up control in retirement, and why delegating risk isn't the same as losing control

✅ The Overconfidence Bias – Why believing "I can do better in the market" is more emotional than logical—and what retirement math really looks like

✅ The Complexity Shutdown – Why annuities feel complicated (and why you don't need to understand how they work to benefit from them)

✅ The Legacy Question – Should you prioritize leaving money behind or avoiding becoming a burden while you're alive?

The Big Reframe:

Annuities don't replace investing—they quiet the fear that interferes with investing. When your basics are covered with guaranteed income, you can actually invest more confidently, spend without guilt, and sleep better at night.

I'll share a real client story about Mark and Susan—a couple who went from resisting annuities to discovering how guaranteed income gave them MORE freedom, not less.

Key Takeaway:

Guaranteed income doesn't reduce flexibility—it creates it. Annuities don't replace the growth part of your portfolio. They support it.

About the Atlas Annuity Podcast:

Hosted by Marty Becker, owner of Atlas Financial Strategies in St. Louis, Missouri, this podcast specializes in safe money retirement strategies. Each episode breaks down complex retirement concepts into simple, actionable insights so you can make confident decisions about your financial future.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Video Series: "20% More Spendable Income in Retirement" at AtlasAnnuity.com
• Book a free consultation call at AtlasAnnuity.com

Connect With Marty:

• Website: AtlasAnnuity.com
• Subscribe for weekly episodes on retirement planning, annuities, and safe money strategies

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

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