Market Snapshot
March opened with a reminder that markets don’t care about your plans.
Geopolitical tensions—most notably the escalating conflict in Iran—brought significant volatility to start the month. If you needed a textbook example of why guarantees and certainty belong in a retirement portfolio, this was it. When the headlines get loud, the guaranteed side of your plan is what lets you sleep.
The tech sector has pulled back as well, with growing speculation that AI-driven valuations may have gotten ahead of themselves. Whether that’s a healthy correction or the start of something larger remains to be seen, but it’s a good reminder that concentration risk is real—especially if your portfolio is heavily weighted in a handful of names.
Gold and silver retreated from their all-time highs earlier this year but have started to rebound. Crypto has also taken a hit in 2026. If you were relying on any of these as core retirement assets, this is a good time to revisit that assumption.
Annuity Rate Check
MYGAs (Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities): 5–7 year terms are holding strong, with rates around 5% and some slightly above. If you’re looking for a bond alternative with contractual guarantees, these continue to be competitive.
Fixed Indexed Annuities: Income rider rollup rates are ranging from 5–7% depending on the carrier and product design. Top cap rates on annual point-to-point strategies are holding around 10%, with some higher rates available under specific crediting terms.
The rate environment going forward: T President Trump has nominated Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair when Powell’s term ends in May. Warsh has not yet been confirmed by the Senate, but the administration has made its preference for lower interest rates very clear. Most economists are projecting two rate cuts in the second half of 2026.
If rate cuts are on the horizon, today’s annuity rates may not be available six months from now. If you’ve been thinking about locking in a guaranteed rate, this is a conversation worth having with your advisor sooner rather than later.
Planning Corner: Two Things Worth Knowing Right Now
IRA contributions for 2025: You still have time to make IRA contributions for the 2025 tax year. The deadline is your tax filing date—April 15, 2026 for most people. Whether it’s a traditional IRA for the tax deduction or a Roth IRA for tax-free growth, this is one of the easiest planning moves you can make. If you haven’t maxed out last year’s contribution, don’t leave money on the table.
529 plans and college planning: With spring campus visits in full swing for high schoolers and their families, it’s a great time to review your 529 plan—or consider starting one for younger children. One provision worth knowing about: under the SECURE 2.0 Act, unused 529 balances can now be rolled over into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary, up to a lifetime maximum of $35,000.*
“*Important limitations apply: The 529 account must have been open for at least 15 years. Rollovers are subject to the annual Roth IRA contribution limit. Only contributions (not earnings) made more than five years prior are eligible. The beneficiary must have earned income. This is a powerful long-term planning tool, but the rules are specific— consult with a qualified financial professional before making any transfers.”
From the AnnuityMax Library
If you missed it, one of our most popular articles is worth a read this month: “Why ‘Free’ Annuity Reviews Are Rarely Free.” If you’ve ever been offered a free second opinion on your annuity and wondered what the catch is, this piece breaks down the economics behind sales-driven reviews—and what an unbiased review actually looks like.
[LINK TO ARTICLE: /why-free-annuity-reviews-arent-free]
That’s it for this month. Short, honest, and hopefully useful. If anything here raised a question or you’d like to talk through how any of this applies to your situation, I’m always happy to have the conversation.
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