There are a number of things that can doom a retirement account. This is especially true as times have changed over the last number of months. What once seemed like a viable strategy may not be the smartest route to take these days. So, how do you decide what is right for your specific set of circumstances?

When it comes down to it, a lot of people can benefit from some extra financial security in their life. Think about it - in a world without those regular paychecks, shouldn’t replacing that reliable income be the first priority? However, the problem that people inevitably find out is that most forms of steady income (i.e. savings accounts, bonds, CDs, money markets, etc) do not provide the kind of rate that is capable of growing assets in any sort of tangible way. When it comes down to it, earning less than 1% on your assets just isn’t the kind of recipe for retirement success that most people desire.

The good news is that the world of annuities opens up an entirely different set of possibilities. And, while just about every annuity brings something a little different to the table, the main concepts are very similar. Annuities provide you with the opportunity for a lifetime of guaranteed income, as well as a way to grow your assets in a manner that avoids the market risk that plagues so many people.

A solid retirement plan avoids putting all of your eggs in one basket, and if you are looking for an annuity that matches this philosophy, the Equitable Life Teton Series Fixed Index Annuities may be exactly what you need. This series not only provides a number of different fixed and indexed options to help grow your money, but it also allows you to choose multiple strategies. This is a great way to ensure that you are diversified, even within the safe arena that is provided by an annuity.

The Teton Series Fixed Index Annuities from Equitable Life allows you to choose a duration of your contract, which includes 7, 10, and 14-year options. As you may imagine, the longer the duration, the higher interest crediting that is available. Additionally, Teton doesn’t tie you to a single crediting strategy, allowing you to choose the fixed and indexed options that best suit your specific needs.  Check out more information about the Teton Fixed Index Annuities by visiting the Equilife website here.

Teton annuities grow your money by focusing in on a few different strategies. The annual floor protection means that you are guaranteed to never lose money on your investments, something that will appeal to those worried about the stock market roller coaster. Teton also locks-in your interest credits, so you can’t lose those gains you make. Finally, with multiple crediting strategies to choose from such as the popular Barclays Atlas 5 annual point to point with participation rate and the S&P 500 Index with a cap rate, you can actually change your mind before each strategy term. And, if that wasn’t enough, as far as options go, the Equitable Teton Series also comes with a Bonus Series option, where premium bonuses from 2.5% to as high as 10% depending on your age, state, and contract length selected can change the game, as well.

Overall, there are a lot of positives to the Teton Series of annuities. As with most annuities, free withdrawals are available (up to 5% after the first year), but they also accumulate and allow an eventual withdrawal of up to 30% at a time. You can also choose between monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual payments if you go with a guaranteed lifetime income option. This annuity also takes a number of other factors into the equation, including providing for long-term care needs and legacy planning desires.

While Teton takes care of just about everything, it is important to realize that it can’t possibly do everything in a superlative way. With participation rates available as high as 120% on the Barclays Atlas 5 annual point to point strategy in the Teton 14yr (and 52% within the S&P 500 index), you will find some annuities out there with higher growth potential. Also, while there are considerations for those confined to long-term care situations, other annuities may bring a stronger focus to this area. Finally, while there are death benefit options, there are also annuities out there that prioritize larger bonuses there, too.  It's best to do your due diligence to thoroughly compare all of the fixed index annuities on the marketplace to determine which one best suits your needs.  Annuity Association is happy to offer a free comparison report below.