Hans Goldstein, EA: the death and taxes guyLife insurance, annuities, and the tax math most agents never learned.Admitted to practice before the IRS.Death & Taxes with Hans: guides, free books and videos ›
The largest independent annuity-review library on the web. Every MYGA, FIA, SPIA, DIA, and FIA+GLWB product graded on the Goldstein Complexity Index. No carrier pays for placement here.
Pick one. See what fits your situation, with today's numbers and the downsides. About a minute. No phone needed.
Education, not a recommendation or a quote. Rates are as of the dates shown and change often. Annuity and life insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer; annuities are not FDIC insured. Hans Goldstein, CA Insurance License #4273294 · NPN 20602398 · Goldstein & Co. LLC dba Goldstein Insurance Services, CA License #6016830.
Send your email and I'll send a plain-English read on what you're holding now, what it guarantees, and whether something safer pays more. If you're already in the right thing, I'll say so.
We’ll email it to you. Hans reads every one himself and replies within one business day. Hans Goldstein · NPN 20602398.
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380+ annuity reviews across every product structure. Click your type for the full library.
Which carriers keep their renewal rates, how the §1035 flexibility play works, and what the "$80 liquidation problem" really means for structured products.
Which annuity carriers honor renewal caps and which use bait-and-switch. Worked examples on SILAC, EquiTrust, Athene over 7 years on $250K.
The 5 retirement problems and why MYGA annuities solve 4 of them. Allocation framework by age 60/65/70/75. $1M worked example over 25 years.
Tax-free §1035 annuity-to-annuity exchanges at maturity vs cashing out a CD. A $250K worked example with the full math and the IRC mechanics.
An annuity only makes sense next to the alternatives, so I review CDs, HYSAs, Treasuries, and money market funds here too.
MYGAs, FIAs, SPIAs, DIAs, RILAs from every A-rated carrier.
380+ reviews 🏦Marcus, Ally, Capital One, brokered CDs, IRA CDs vs MYGAs.
280+ reviews 💰High-yield savings: APY, FDIC, when to move to a MYGA.
90+ reviews 🏛️T-bills, T-bonds, I-bonds, TIPS, state-tax exempt.
20+ reviews 💵VMFXX, SPAXX, FZDXX. 7-day yield + tax treatment.
20+ reviews 🏥Hybrid life+LTC + traditional LTC carriers.
Full hub 🧮MYGA vs CD after-tax. IRMAA. §1035 timing. Pension.
15 tools 🎯4% rule, RMDs, IRMAA, §1035, QCDs, survivor benefits.
10+ guidesI'm a licensed independent insurance producer (NPN 20602398) appointed with 20+ A-rated annuity carriers. No carrier sponsors a review, and I take no affiliate fees.
I score every annuity 1 to 100 on transparency, fee disclosure, surrender mechanics, and rider load. A higher score means the product is harder to understand and riskier for the buyer.
No carrier sponsors this site, and there are no display ads or affiliate fees. I get paid only when a policy is placed, and the reviews tell you which carrier fits you best, even when I don't write for that carrier.
FIA caps drop over time. Some carriers stay within 0.5% of the original rate; others cut 50%+ over 5 years. I grade every major carrier A-F on its documented in-force renewal history.
Send me the product name and carrier. I'll pull the actual contract, run the math, and tell you whether it fits, usually within one business day. No obligation and no pitch.
Hans Goldstein · Retirement & income planning
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Hans Goldstein is an Enrolled Agent, admitted to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the IRS. General education, not tax or legal advice for your situation.