Tag: Retirement Income

Building Stronger Fixed Indexed Annuity Strategies with Tom Haines (Ep. 118)

Building Stronger Fixed Indexed Annuity Strategies with Tom Haines (Ep. 118)

Retirement planning isn’t only about finding higher returns. It’s also about deciding how different pieces of a portfolio work together over time.

What should advisors look for when evaluating indexed annuities? How can product design, diversification, and long-term thinking influence retirement outcomes?

In this episode, Jeremy Houser welcomes Tom Haines, Executive Vice President of Capital Markets and Index Solutions at Annexus, to discuss how fixed indexed annuity strategies have evolved. Tom explains the importance of portfolio construction inside FIAs, how research influences index development, why diversification continues to matter, and how product design can improve consistency for clients throughout retirement planning.

Key takeaways:

  • Building FIA portfolios around diversified index strategies instead of relying on a single allocation approach
  • Evaluating product design beyond illustrations, including renewal consistency and long-term implementation
  • Using global diversification alongside domestic exposure to improve return consistency over time
  • Looking beyond accumulation by considering income, legacy planning, and changing family needs
  • Focusing product innovation on practical retirement challenges instead of following industry trends
  • And more!

Connect with Tom Haines:

Connect with Jeremy Houser:

About Our Guest:

Tom leads the index diligence and selection process for Annexus and coordinates the firm’s relationships with asset managers, academic experts, and investment banks in conjunction with Annexus’ carrier partners. Tom is also one of the lead architects of the Lifetime Income Builder TDFs at Annexus Retirement Solutions (ARS). In his role within ARS, Tom works closely with the insurers and asset managers that partner with ARS on implementing the Lifetime Income Builder within portfolios and funds. Prior to joining Annexus, Tom led Equities Solutions Structuring at UBS Investment Bank. He began his career in index and statistical arbitrage trading within BNP Paribas’ Cooper Neff Division (Paris office) before serving as vice president in the Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) Group at NYSE Group and head of ETPs and Derivative Product Solutions at RBS. Tom’s research on index products has been published in top financial journals. He formerly served as a member of FINRA’s Investment Management Committee. Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in Quantitative Finance from James Madison University in Virginia.

Disclosure #: 5635414 – 0726

AI, Investing, and the Future of Financial Planning with Benjamin Shiller (Ep. 117)

AI, Investing, and the Future of Financial Planning with Benjamin Shiller (Ep. 117)

Technology is advancing quickly, and investors, business owners, and retirees are all trying to understand what it means for their future.

Will artificial intelligence create new opportunities, change career paths, reshape investing, or alter retirement planning? Understanding how innovation influences markets and personal finances may become increasingly important in the years ahead.

In this episode, Jeremy Houser welcomes Benjamin Shiller, Associate Professor of Economics at Brandeis University and Author. They explore how artificial intelligence could affect jobs, productivity, investing, and financial planning. Benjamin shares insights on market narratives, valuation concerns, the CAPE ratio, and the risks of chasing popular investments. 

The conversation also examines retirement planning, global investment opportunities, AI-related market enthusiasm, and why disciplined decision-making may matter more than reacting to headlines and trends.

Key takeaways:

  • How AI may reshape careers, productivity expectations, and long-term job stability for many workers
  • Why market narratives often influence investment decisions more than company fundamentals
  • How valuation metrics can help identify opportunities overlooked by popular market trends
  • Why diversification remains important during periods of enthusiasm around emerging technologies
  • How financial planning helps connect investment decisions to personal goals and risk tolerance
  • And more!

Resources: 

Connect with Benjamin Shiller:

Connect with Jeremy Houser:

About Our Guest:

Benjamin Shiller is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at Brandeis University and the author of AI Economics: How Technology Transforms Jobs, Markets, Life, & Our Future.

His research primarily focuses on the economic impacts of digitization and new technologies. Within this domain, he has analyzed questions relating to personalized pricing, resale, and supplier coordination. His research has been covered in notable publications including The Atlantic, The Conversation, The Economist, Forbes, Fortune, The Guardian, VOX EU, and The Washington Post.

Disclosure #: 5566633 – 0726