To Catch an Old Fart

31. I've got news for you know-it-alls who really DON'T know what you're talking about.

My cousin waltzed through college with the help of money from an annuity my uncle set up years ago.
I did the student loan thing and worked summers. I'm still paying on the damned loan and he's free as the breeze.

I didn't know then, but I know now that you can take out something like 10% with no penalty and the longer it's there, the more you can take out and it super protected.

Why do you think OJ Simpson has spending money even though he's lost in civil court... his money is in ANNUITIES and it can NOT be touched, even by the court that he LOST to!!!

And most annuities charge ZERO penalty for real emergencies like bad illnesses and long hospital stays and nursing homes.

If I ever make enough money, it WILL go into an annuity.

And NO I'm not an insurance agent. I a graphic designer.... who's still paying student loans and in large part poor because of it!

Posted at 5:40PM on Apr 17th 2008 by StudentLoad

32. That show was completely biased!!! I understand that there are terrible sales people out there. I am glad they were exposed, however, dateline associated a product and a company (Allianz) as "bad"because of the salepeople who sold it. That is completely wrong. EIA's can work great for several people....BUT you didn't see them interviewing anyone who liked their annuties did you?? Nope, because they want to sell ratings. EVERYTHING has surrender charges. It's like dipping into your 401k and expecting to not pay a penalty!! Chris Hansen is a rediculous hypocrite. Oh yeah, and one of the companies wanted to defend themselves and Dateline REFUSED.

Posted at 6:04PM on Apr 17th 2008 by booboo

33. Chris Hansen is a Joke! I used to think that what he reported was true, but now I know what they do is very twisted and they only do what they do for GREED, they sell for ratings. They should run a show on how media twists the truth. Anyone who reports like this is just a tabloid reporter.

For one thing he didn't even talk about the benefits of Indexed annuities. Not once was it mentioned that Indexed Annuites above all, protect the senior from losing money because of the market downturns. Not once was it mentioned that seniors will most times get an increase in value when they put their money in one.

DO YOU KNOW WHY IT WAS ABOUT INSURANCE AGENTS, It's because Indexed annuities are insurance for your money. For those of you who can't figure it out, this story was so one sided that if it would have been a boat it would have capsized. I'm not sure who funded this program, but they should do there homework about the products.

Are Indexed annuities the place for all of a seniors money? Absolutely NOT! Are they a great place for that portion of a seniors retirement savings that they are not interested in losing, and they have no immediate need for it? Absoluteley! What wasn't reported was the fact that a person can share in growth without the risk!

Most Insurance agents are good agents. Most insurance agents work in your best interest. It is crazy to me that all of you on this post trust your insurance agent with insuring your house, cars, business, liability, etc. but you snub your nose when an idiot like Chris Hansen says they are all bad. I'm willing to bet that insurance agents protect more of your hard assets than you have in your retirement accounts. In any industry there are bad people. I'm just saying that most agents are good, honest people.

By the way the majority of products don't have a 20% withdrawal charge and most are much shorter surrender terms than 16 years not to mention there is access to emergency funds if needed each year, I guess that wasn't talked about either.

When you are tired of losing your retirement money to the greed of wallstreet you should call your insurance agent and ask him about Fixed Indexed Annuities.

Don't let Chris Hansen, Lori Swanson, or the guy in Alabama manage your money!

Posted at 8:30AM on Apr 18th 2008 by JRH

34. Chris Hansen is a bigger gossip queen than TMZ. Maybe we can do a segment called, "To catch a tabloid journalist," busting Chris Hansen in his BS. We can tackle him to the ground and taze him repeatedly. Hansen is hawking a book and selling personal appearances for stuff you can get for free online. If anyone is a con artist, its Chris Hansen.

Posted at 11:41PM on Apr 23rd 2008 by UltimaHolyFlare

35. Saw the show, one sided weak inflamitory presentation but I guess that's what makes news these days. What happened to real 2 sided journalism. Hansen is nothing more than a big fat worm on a hook..... you wiggle long enough you'll temp anything to take a bite. I'd like to see the outtakes on the show, maybe some honest salesmen that did disclose everything. But those would be "under sized" or "too small to keep" ones that were "thrown back" Press on TMZ!!!

Posted at 10:43AM on Apr 26th 2008 by xlhowie