The Two Questions That Can Predict Retirement Success (And They’re Not What You Think)
Many advisors approach retirement planning with a focus on portfolio size, asset allocation, and beating benchmarks.
But the reality?
Those numbers don’t always reveal the real probability of success in retirement.
In fact, two simple, strategic questions can uncover more about a client’s long-term security than any spreadsheet — and they have little to do with how much is sitting in a 401(k).
Here’s what really matters:
🔑 Question #1: How Much Guaranteed Lifetime Income Do You Have?
This is one of the most revealing questions in any retirement planning conversation. Why?
Because guaranteed income — not account balance — is what keeps the lights on in retirement.
Why it matters:
- ✅ Predictable Income Stream: Covers core expenses like housing, food, and healthcare.
- ✅ Longevity Risk Mitigation: Helps ensure retirees won’t outlive their savings.
- ✅ Market Volatility Protection: Unlike investments, annuities aren’t tied to market swings.
- ✅ Simplified Planning: Less reliance on market timing or active portfolio management.
Whether through annuities or other income solutions, helping clients build a floor of guaranteed income creates peace of mind and reduces pressure on other assets.
🧠 Question #2: Have You Taken the Key Retirement Risks Off the Table?
It’s not just about growing wealth — it’s about protecting it from the risks that can derail a plan.
Top retirement risks to address:
- Market risk
- Withdrawal rate risk
- Sequence of returns risk
- Inflation & deflation
- Long-term care costs
- Longevity
Longevity, in particular, is a risk multiplier. The longer someone lives, the more likely they are to experience market downturns, outlive their assets, or face rising healthcare expenses.
That’s why de-risking the plan — through solutions like guaranteed income and long-term care planning — is critical.
Presenting Annuities as a Strategic Solution
This is where annuities can shine when used correctly:
- SPIAs and DIAs for lifetime income
- Indexed annuities with income riders
- Hybrid LTC-linked annuities for protection against care expenses
These tools aren’t just products — they’re planning solutions that reduce uncertainty and help make retirement more predictable.
The Bottom Line for Advisors
When you focus on these two questions:
- How much of your income is guaranteed for life?
- Have you taken the key retirement risks off the table?
…you shift the conversation from product-pushing to problem-solving.
And that’s where trust is built.
At Universal Financial Consultants, we help advisors leverage questions like these — backed by tailored solutions and modern marketing support — to turn conversations into conversions.
Let’s help clients retire with clarity, not just capital.
