About Hans Goldstein, EA
Hans Goldstein: the death and taxes guy. Life insurance, annuities, and the tax math most agents never learned.
Independent licensed insurance producer. 300+ annuity and LTC reviews, and no carrier pays to be featured.
Who I am
I'm Hans Goldstein, EA, an independent retirement-income specialist licensed across multiple states. I'm also an Enrolled Agent, enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. I built this site because most annuity buyers get one quote from one agent and have no way to know if they're being shown the market or just one carrier's product. The industry runs on pressure tactics, headline rates that don't hold up, and rider fees nobody explains. I review the major products so you can see the whole market before you decide.
Why "the death and taxes guy"
Life insurance pays at death. Annuities and the money that funds them get taxed along the way. Most agents learn the products and the commission schedule, and stop there. They can tell you a rate, but not what that rate is worth after tax, how a 1035 exchange or an RMD changes the picture, or what a beneficiary will owe.
I'm a licensed insurance producer who studies the tax side. I built my own tax engine to model federal and state tax, IRMAA and Social Security taxation on real cases, I've written several books on the tax math of retirement income and of selling a business or property, and I run the numbers on every case before I recommend anything. If the after-tax answer says a CD, a Treasury or doing nothing beats an annuity, that's what I tell you.
Everything I’ve written on both halves of the old saying is in one place: Death & Taxes with Hans, with the guides, free books, calculators and videos.
Hans Goldstein, CA Insurance License #4273294 · NPN 20602398 · Goldstein & Co. LLC dba Goldstein Insurance Services, CA License #6016830. I'm an insurance producer, not a tax preparer; for tax filing advice, work with your CPA.
Credentials
| Enrolled Agent (EA) | Enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service |
| NPN (National Producer Number) | 20602398 |
| California Life License | #4273294 |
| E&O Insurance | $1M / $3M policy, current |
| Carrier appointments | Multiple A-rated carriers across MYGA, FIA, SPIA, hybrid LTC |
| Families helped | 700+ |
| Specialty | Annuity income strategy + Structured Installment Sales (separate practice at goldsteinco.net) |
How I work
Most agents are captive: they can only sell their employer's products (Bankers Life, NY Life, Mass Mutual career agents, etc.). I'm independent. When you call me, I pull quotes from 4 to 7 carriers and show you the actual comparison. I have no reason to favor any one of them.
I'm paid a commission on what I place, like any independent producer. The difference is that no employer tells me what to sell, so I place business where it fits the client.
My approach to reviews
Every review on this site covers the same ground:
- Independent third-party ratings (AM Best, S&P, Moody's, COMDEX)
- The Goldstein Complexity Index, my 5-part complexity score
- The real specs: surrender schedule, caps, rider fees and free withdrawals
- The cons the brochure leaves out
- When the product loses, and which alternatives may fit better
And no carrier-paid placements. I don't take money to feature any product.
What are your retirement dollars actually guaranteed to do?
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.
Rather talk it through? Or book 15 minutes on Hans’s calendar.
What I cover
The review library covers:
- Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities (MYGAs): 3/5/7/10-year terms across 30+ carriers
- Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIAs): accumulation and income rider versions
- Single Premium Immediate Annuities (SPIAs)
- Deferred Income Annuities (DIAs)
- Registered Index-Linked Annuities (RILAs)
- Hybrid Life + Long-Term Care
- QLACs (Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts)
- Variable Annuities
I also write guides for common retirement situations: the best annuity at age 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80, and for couples, widows, divorced women, high earners, business owners after a sale, and pension buyout decisions.
Get a second opinion
Been pitched an annuity? Get an independent comparison before you sign anything. I'll review the proposal, check the carrier's ratings, look for traps, and show you 2 to 3 alternatives from other carriers. No charge, no pressure.
Call 213-414-2808 Send a Message
Contact Hans: hans@hansgoldstein.com · 213-414-2808 · CA Insurance License #4273294
Disclosures
Hans Goldstein is an independent licensed insurance producer (NPN 20602398) appointed with multiple A-rated carriers across the annuity and long-term care insurance market. Reviews on this site reflect publicly available product materials and approximate rates as of the date stated. Annuity rates, caps, participation rates, payout factors, and product structures change frequently. Always confirm current values against the most recent carrier disclosure document before purchasing. Articles on this site are general information for educational purposes; not personalized recommendations. Past index performance does not predict future credited interest. Annuities and hybrid life+LTC policies are long-term contracts with surrender charges; not suitable for funds you may need before the end of the surrender period.