Your married clients are partners who depend on each other and have built a life together. So when one of those clients is no longer there, and his or her Social Security checks stop coming, how will that impact the surviving client’s lifestyle?
Fortunately, the surviving spouse will receive the larger of the couple’s two Social Security checks as a survivor’s benefit. But that still means the loss of one check.
Here are some strategies to help ensure the survivor continues to have the needed level of income to maintain his or her lifestyle.
Scenario 1
Decide how many years of replacement income the surviving spouse feels he or she may need. Let’s assume it’s 17 years. By doing some simple math, you’ll be able to determine the total amount the surviving spouse needs to withdraw from savings over those years:
$9,000 per year x 15 years = $153,000 in total withdrawals
An immediate annuity is a financial product that provides your clients with immediate (that is, within one year of contract issue) and steady income payments guaranteed to last their entire lifetime. The possible advantages of using an immediate annuity versus savings/investments to replace income include the following items.
It would take only $141,330 to purchase an immediate annuity with a Life with Cash Refund Payout option to generate $9,000 in income per year.1 Based on the calculation above, that’s $11,670 less than saving or investing may require.
Once the annuity is purchased, the income payments are guaranteed for life. No matter how long the surviving spouse lives, his or her income will never run out.
The Life with Cash Refund Payout option of an immediate annuity means that, if a client dies shortly after purchasing the annuity, his or her estate or beneficiaries would receive the initial $141,330 purchase payment minus any income from the annuity already received.
Scenario 2
Before or during retirement, clients such as these might consider purchasing a variable annuity with an optional guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit. If one spouse dies, the optional benefit can be used for replacing lost Social Security income, enabling the surviving spouse to:
Pacific Life offers two optional guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits that can be considered when this strategy is employed. These benefits do not guarantee a rate of return or growth rate, and only one can be purchased with any variable annuity for an additional cost.
Enhanced Income Select provides two levels of income for surviving spouses:
Plus, Enhanced Income Select offers annual resets to capture market gains on any contract anniversary. This can increase the client’s income amount.
CIA Select is another optional guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit that can start any time after age 65. It provides your client with:
The Retirement Strategies Group, subject-matter specialists with advanced degrees and designations such as CFA®, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, and JD, are ready to help.
Call
(800) 722-2333
In New York, (800) 748-6907
Email
RSG@PacificLife.com
Investors should carefully consider a variable annuity’s risks, charges, limitations, and expenses, as well as the risks, charges, expenses, and investment goals of the underlying investment options. This and other information about Pacific Life are provided in the product and underlying fund prospectuses. These prospectuses should be read carefully before investing.
Annuity withdrawals and other distributions of taxable amounts, including death benefit payouts, will be subject to ordinary income tax. For nonqualified contracts, an additional 3.8% federal tax may apply on net investment income. If withdrawals and other distributions are taken prior to age 59½, an additional 10% federal tax may apply. A withdrawal charge also may apply. Withdrawals will reduce the contract value and the value of the death benefits, and also may reduce the value of any optional benefits.
Pacific Life, its distributors, and respective representatives do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. Any taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayer's particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor or attorney.
Pacific Life is a product provider. It is not a fiduciary and therefore does not give advice or make recommendations regarding insurance or investment products.
Pacific Life refers to Pacific Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, including Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Insurance products are issued by Pacific Life Insurance Company in all states except New York and in New York by Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Product availability and features may vary by state. Each insurance company is solely responsible for the financial obligations accruing under the products it issues.
Variable insurance products are distributed by Pacific Select Distributors, LLC (member FINRA & SIPC), a subsidiary of Pacific Life Insurance Company (Newport Beach, CA) and an affiliate of Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Variable and fixed annuity products are available through licensed third parties.
No bank guarantee • Not a deposit • Not FDIC/NCUA insured • May lose value • Not insured by any federal government agency
For financial professional use only. Not for use with the public.