Annuities for High Net Worth Individuals: Maximizing Growth and Legacy
High-net-worth individuals usually have two separate problems. First, how do you get more upside without taking full market risk or paying variable annuity-level fees? Second, how do you take required minimum distributions from qualified accounts without draining what your beneficiaries receive? These annuities solve those problems.
Athene Performance Elite Series
- Best for: Protected growth with more upside potential.
- How it works: The Athene Performance Elite Series is for buyers willing to accept more product cost in exchange for a higher bonus opportunity, more upside potential, and several index options. You still get principal protection from direct market losses, which makes it cleaner than a variable annuity for someone who wants growth but does not want full market exposure.
- Bonus: Higher bonus-focused design for affluent buyers seeking greater accumulation potential.
- Pros:
- More upside potential than basic fixed annuities.
- Principal protection.
- Multiple index choices.
- Lower fee drag than variable annuities.
- Cons:
- The bonus is not free and involves trade-offs.
- Preference towards traditional indexes over newer engineered indexes.
- Who needs it: Someone with significant assets who wants tax deferral, protected growth, and more upside than a basic annuity.
- Who does not need it: Someone who wants simple fixed interest or someone whose top priority is income or legacy planning.
Athene Agility
- Best for: Taking RMDs while preserving more for beneficiaries.
- How it works: Athene Agility uses a separate Benefit Base for income and death benefit purposes. That creates a better legacy setup than a plain annuity when qualified money is involved.
- Bonus: 50% Benefit Base Bonus, plus interest credits.
- Pros:
- Strong death benefit design.
- Suitable for IRA money.
- Preserves more value for heirs while taking RMDs.
- Cons:
- The enhanced death benefit is not a lump sum.
- The Benefit Base is not cash value, and withdrawals reduce the value.
- Death benefit payout stretches taxes and helps protect beneficiaries from higher tax brackets.
- Who needs it: Those using qualified retirement money wanting RMD flexibility and stronger inheritance results.
- Who does not need it: Individuals seeking full lump-sum liquidity for beneficiaries.
Allianz 222
- Best for: Legacy-focused qualified money planning.
- How it works: Allianz 222 uses a separate Protected Income Value that can support a stronger death benefit structure than a plain annuity.
- Bonus: 45% Benefit Base Bonus, plus interest credits.
- Pros:
- Strong death benefit positioning.
- Ideal for qualified money.
- Can help preserve more for heirs.
- Cons:
- The enhanced death benefit is paid over time, not in a lump sum.
- Protected value is not cash value, and withdrawals reduce benefit value.
- Who needs it: Individuals aiming to take RMDs while keeping a stronger death benefit for beneficiaries.
- Who does not need it: Someone who only wants immediate access and no payout restrictions.
A Smarter High Net Worth Strategy
Use RMDs to buy life insurance: This is where the strategy gets better. Use Athene Agility or Allianz 222 to manage qualified money and take RMDs, then use those RMD dollars to buy more life insurance for generational wealth. That can turn taxable retirement account distributions into a larger and cleaner inheritance.
Who Should Consider These Annuities
- High-net-worth individuals seeking protected growth, tax deferral, and legacy planning.
- Retirees who want to take RMDs without heavily impacting their beneficiaries’ inheritance.
- Buyers desiring less fee drag compared to variable annuities.
Who Should Skip These Annuities
- Individuals who want full liquidity and no restrictions.
- Those whose goal is a large tax-efficient lump-sum inheritance (life insurance may be better).
- Those wanting simple fixed-rate products without complexity.
Other Insurance to Consider
- Life insurance: Ideal for generational wealth.
- Long-term care insurance: Protects a large estate from care costs.
- Disability insurance: Essential for high earners still working.
Bottom Line
- Athene Performance Elite Series: Perfect for affluent buyers wanting protected growth with a stronger bonus opportunity.
- Athene Agility: Best for affluent retirees wanting to take RMDs while preserving more for beneficiaries.
- Allianz 222: Optimal for affluent retirees focusing on a stronger legacy from qualified money.
Stop Guessing with Your Generational Wealth. Let Us Run the Math.
As a high-net-worth individual, your retirement strategy isn’t just about generating income—it is about tax mitigation and estate planning. We specialize in assisting affluent clients with shopping, comparing, and purchasing the best annuities on the market. We can also help you execute advanced strategies, like using your Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) to buy life insurance and create tax-free generational wealth.
Call us directly at (770) 755-1565 to speak with a specialist at The Annuity Expert, or request custom annuity quotes to see the math for yourself. Let us do the heavy lifting to guarantee your family’s financial legacy.
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