Social Security, Annuity RMDs, Annuity Laddering: Q&A #2622
The Retirement and IRA Show
Jim Saulnier, CFP® & Chris Stein, CFP®
4.3 • 730 Ratings
🗓️ 30 May 2026
⏱️ 77 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on Social Security survivor and ex-spouse benefits, using annuity income to satisfy RMDs, and annuity laddering strategies for both SPIAs and DIAs and MYGAs.
(6:30) George writes in about a cousin who turns 62 in November 2026 and whose ex-spouse recently passed away — he wants to know what survivor and ex-spouse Social Security claiming options may be available.
(19:45) A listener asks whether annuity income payments from a qualified annuity can be used to satisfy the RMD requirement on a separate IRA, potentially eliminating the need to take distributions from the IRA altogether.
43:15) The guys hear from a long-term buy-and-hold investor at the start of his transition from accumulation to decumulation who is drawn to the idea of purchasing SPIAs or DIAs in multiple chunks rather than a single lump sum and is curious about tradeoffs as well as how to apply a dollar-cost averaging mindset to annuity income.
(1:01:00) Jim and Chris take a question from a listener about 2.5 years from retirement who is considering laddering MYGAs through his 401(k) and wants to know whether the yield advantage of A-rated carriers is worth the added risk compared to sticking with A+ or higher, and whether CD laddering might be a simpler alternative.
The post Social Security, Annuity RMDs, Annuity Laddering: Q&A #2622 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The retirement and IRA show represents the words and views of the show hosts exclusively and should not be construed as investment legal or tax advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources. However, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. All economic and performance information is historical in nature and is not indicative of any future results. Any indices mentioned on the show are unmanaged and cannot be invested indirectly. Diversification and asset allocation strategies do not assure profit or protect against loss. |
| 0:23.7 | Never make any investment or financial decisions based on information offered on this show |
| 0:26.8 | without first consulting your financial legal or tax advisor. |
| 0:29.6 | Financial planning services offered through Jim Solnior and Associates LLC, a registered investment advisor. |
| 0:38.3 | This is the retirement and IRA show coming to you from beautiful Northern Colorado. |
| 0:43.7 | Join us as certified financial planner Jim Sonier, as well as Colorado State University |
| 0:48.7 | Finance instructor and certified financial planner Chris Stein teach you about IRAs, 401k's, annuities, |
| 0:56.1 | Social Security, pension plans, and estate planning in a fun and enjoyable show. Whether you are |
| 1:01.9 | listening live in Colorado or streaming from their website or iTunes podcast, Jim and Chris want you to |
| 1:07.9 | know that they're available to help you plan for your retirement. |
| 1:14.0 | Just visit their website at Jimhelps.com. |
| 1:17.6 | That's Jim H-E-L-P-S.com. |
| 1:20.1 | And click the Meet the Team button on the homepage. |
| 1:23.0 | Now here's Jim and Chris with today's show. |
| 1:31.5 | Well, hello everybody and welcome to the Retirement and IRA show Q&A edition. |
| 1:37.6 | We're going to get a, I call it a two-day jumpstart on annuity awareness month. |
| 1:42.7 | That is technically the month of June each year. |
| 1:49.8 | In full disclosure, it is a celebration, |
| 1:56.0 | acknowledgement recognition that was created in the month of June by the insurance industry itself. So it's kind of self-designated awareness month. But nonetheless, for the past several years, we've been kind of taking advantage of that awareness effort in the month of June to focus a little more heavily on annuity questions on our Q&A show and annuity topics on our EDU shows during |
| 2:20.3 | the month of June. And I know this comes out. This podcast episode will release on Saturday, |
| 2:27.9 | May 30th. But that was close enough that we decided we'd probably dive in a little early this year, just a day or two. |
| 2:38.7 | And so the show will be pretty standard Q&A style just to have your focus on annuity questions that have come in from people. |
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