Do Annuity Owners Live Longer?

[00:00:00] Hello and welcome everybody, to the Annuity Straight Talk podcast, episode number 182. Excited to tell a story to everyone today, and I appreciate those who went back and looked at the one I reran last week, which talks about a big foundational part of my life and what Alaska has meant to me. The point of the episode was to talk about how it trained me to connect with your demographic, how I learned my communication skills that way. [00:00:24] Not intentionally, but it's just the way it happened after all the years I did that. [00:00:27] And please, like, subscribe or comment on any of your favorite podcast platforms or on YouTube. Share it with your friends. Good story. The title is something that's quick and easy to address. And I want to talk about lifestyle longevity, how long you live, plus the quality of life you live. And that's what that last trip to Alaska was about. I went up there May 31, and I got back on June 9. It's been about 10 days up there. Had an incredible time. Brand new experiences. [00:00:54] Do annuity owners live longer? I said this in a podcast. Coincidentally enough, it was another, what I call a lifestyle podcast. Hey, tell some stories. That was about an elk hunt in Montana. [00:01:05] I said it. Somebody question. [00:01:08] Okay, I would like to see your source for that. And so at the time it was the IRS or the ssa. Social Security Administration published a study on it, probably, obviously, to highlight the benefits of the Social Security system, talk everyone into delaying payments because you'll get more out of it. [00:01:26] So it's harder to find the information. I remember looking at it. I found a couple of notes to it. It's been three or four years since I did that. The Wall Street Journal published it. You can find it. [00:01:36] Anyway, I'll stand by the claim and provide some quick reasoning, but I'd rather relate this to a more personal story. To be honest with you, I thought about this a lot when I was recently in Alaska. If you're watching the video, I want to give a plug to the people who treated me to such a memorable experience. [00:01:55] You guys can see right next to me, I've got a beautiful bronze of a grizzly bear from Alaska. Frank and Sue Ensminger. This is Frank Ensminger Art, and it's titled Troubles A Bruin B R U I N ha Play on words. Right? [00:02:10] Had to bring something home as a valuable keepsake from what I do. Truly incredible people. [00:02:16] Lifelong adventurous people in Alaska. Good artists. Had a wonderful time. [00:02:22] Sue set the whole thing up. Frank had stories, and I've known several people like this, but they're just another couple who's done a lot of really cool stuff and everybody that meets him says, you guys should write a book real quick. [00:02:35] They have a book that talks about their story being in Alaska. I bought a copy from them, talks about their journey and meeting each other in Alaska, how they grew together and the stuff they shared and the artwork that made Frank famous. [00:02:49] I'm going to tell anybody listening to this or reading the newsletter. If you want this book, I will buy it for you. Respond to the email with your name and address, no strings attached. I will contact sue, buy you a book, and they'll send it to you. How's that sound? [00:03:05] So when I was up there, I thought about a lot of things because a lot of my inspiration comes from some quiet times out in beautiful places and I was remembering a lot of the old times. I was trying to write this and do a really good job at it. That's why I was pressed for time last week when I got home, I said let's run this other one. For anybody who hasn't seen it, it's a good precursor. [00:03:27] So it made me really appreciate the quality of life that I've had and very grateful for. Successful career in this industry and many of you probably know it has a very low survival rate. It's not easy to get to 22 years. [00:03:43] In fact, 99% of people fail before five. [00:03:47] So reduce stress because of consistent income and not worrying about market fluctuations. Not to mention the simplicity of direct payments later in life when you probably won't feel like making major financial decisions. Annuities make retirement easier, without a doubt, and I've shown many examples of them making it more profitable as well. Streamlined finances and increased portfolio growth sure seem to be critical components of an enjoyable retirement. [00:04:13] That makes life easier, more enjoyable, and less stressful then that would it stands to reason you might live a little bit longer or have a better quality of life at least as well. [00:04:23] So this does not mean you have to use an annuity, and it's not a suggestion to do so either. However you decide to structure your retirement, I hope it leads to a quality of life that you dreamed about during the long hard years it takes to get there. I am very fortunate to be living it along the way and and I credit that to the way I started with my family, the things the men in my life taught me from an early age. I got a job guiding fishing trips in Alaska when I was 21 years old, so at a relatively young age I was trusted with the safety of novices in some pretty remote and wild country. [00:04:55] I would not have been confident enough to do that without having handled some serious outdoor situations before. That I didn't almost die. [00:05:03] But the challenges of staying warm, dry, fed, giving yourself enough energy to be safe, and coming out happy rather than miserable, it's not something you just do right the first time. [00:05:18] The people that I guided back in those days were incredibly successful people, and I learned a lot from them. There was only one minor mishap that I remember. [00:05:27] I was wide open in a jet boat going down a river and I hit a rock in the middle of the river. [00:05:32] Everybody fell on the floor. I banged up my shins because I got lurched forward. [00:05:36] Nobody was happy about it, but we were fortunate to get out with only some minor bruises. [00:05:41] Other than that, I spent long hours in full summers exploring some truly amazing places that most people don't ever get to see. [00:05:48] And I knew it wasn't true. But I often felt like I was seeing something no one else had ever seen before. That's how remote it is. That's how pristine it is. [00:05:58] It fed a desire in me that started early, but I always wanted to be different and chase uncommon things, uncommon experiences. If any of you have ever been to Alaska, I know plenty of people have. [00:06:11] It's just a bigger experience. [00:06:14] Tourism is a big business, just like where I live in Montana. [00:06:18] And the tour buses and travel guides take you to the same spots as everybody else goes. And it's all beautiful. But I was lucky to see what only a fraction of others see in both places. Going deeper, going farther, doing stuff that was not normal. And I don't really spend much money doing because I've built that lifestyle slowly over time. The cool thing about going to Alaska on a hunting trip is I didn't have to buy any new gear. I had it all. It was fine. And the knowledge I have of doing it for so long, it's just you learn to simplify things over time. And you can do some be pretty effective with a simple set of tools. All those years ago, a seed was unknowingly planted. And I only realized it when I got back from this awesome trip. Grizzly bears are on the endangered species list in the lower 48, but are seriously overpopulated, very healthy populations in many areas of Alaska. Now, if anybody wants to talk about whether they should be on the endangered list in Montana, separate discussion. I'd be happy to have it. Go ahead and make an appointment just for that if you want to. [00:07:21] That's because I don't. I Have my opinion, but I'm not. [00:07:24] I'm not like passionate one way or the other. But I believe they maybe aren't endangered. So anyway. Hunting a bear was always on my list of things to do, but for the most part it felt like an unattainable goal. I have some really good friends who are legends in the outdoor pursuits as well. [00:07:42] And they had a contact with Frank and Sue. They knew of them, these guys are awesome. [00:07:49] And they said, hey, maybe you might be able to get in next summer. I booked the hunt and waited anxiously for about 14 months. I don't know, maybe it was only eight or nine, but I think. I don't know. I was thinking about it. I tried to find something starting 14 months ago and it was impossible to get something within two years during my summers working up there. And I talked about this. There's a podcast about grizzly bear specifically. [00:08:11] I talked about it a little bit in last week's podcast, the one that I did a few years ago, but. [00:08:18] So when I say I'm going hunting for a grizzly bear, I didn't really think it was going to be all that challenging. But I was dead wrong. [00:08:24] The bears are very intelligent and always seem to show up right after we left game cameras where we were sitting and wouldn't see anything for hours and hours. Pick up the camera car the next day. Shortly after we left, they came in. [00:08:39] So unsettling. But obviously they're wary of us. So they weren't. It's not like they're waiting to attack, but a little unsettling. Who was hunting whom is the question there? But consistently crossing in front of our trail camera so soon after we left would have to be one hell of a coincidence. [00:08:57] I was presented with the perfect opportunity on the third night. The first thing I thought was that I was so glad I didn't have to spend all night out in the woods. [00:09:04] Two prior nights we were out until very late and one of the nights the night before that we didn't get back to the lodge and get to rest until 8am My internal clock was really messed up for a few days. For anyone who doesn't have the stomach for this kind of thing, let me try to put your mind at ease. The end for the bear was as humane as possible. I have good gear and lots of experience with these things. [00:09:26] It was a really professional operation. My guy Jordy was an amazing. A really cool kid, 24 years old. Reminds me a little bit of myself. He's been doing it from a young age and the kind of thing. Just a young kid's got all the talent in the world and the knowledge of what to do up there. We had a great time and I consider him a good friend that'll probably have for a long time. I want to book another hunt with him and Frank and Sue as well. I consider it a good deed for overall wildlife management in Alaska. And we'll never know how many baby moose I say, but probably several. Oh yeah. And I even did have some bear meatloaf, I believe. [00:09:59] Wasn't bad. The final experience was surreal, as if it almost didn't happen. It took some time to soak in, but Alaska delivered on years of fantastic experiences with the latest being without a doubt the best. I got to see a new part of the state and meet some legendary Alaskans who have more stories than time. [00:10:15] New relationship with such wonderful people fill my cup even more. [00:10:20] You guys know John Ballmer. I've had him from the podcast lots of times in market analysis. He was coming for a visit when I got back. He picked up my truck from the airport a day early and then came and picked me up. He ran into the baggage claim area and he just looked at me and said, hey, how was it? And it all came flooding back to me to see one of my really good friends. [00:10:41] And I told him, I just realized that I used to help people, successful people, do uncommon things. [00:10:51] And I think it's possible that this is what I've wanted to do all along. Work as hard as I have to become successful enough to be able to afford a trip like that. I'm grateful for my clients. You guys all understand this. Many of you guys are happy for me, those who know about it, and I really appreciate that. [00:11:08] But I finally got to do something that most people only get to dream about. And I can't thank everyone involved enough. I really can't. [00:11:18] I told sue that Alaska has been a big part of my life. This is before I was leaving. I try not to get too emotional. [00:11:25] It's been such a big part of my life. To be able to come back and do add this experience to that means more than I can. I have the words to express. [00:11:34] I hope you guys know and understand all that. [00:11:38] And to get to this point in my career, it was a lot of really hard work and I had to be patient. [00:11:44] Prospects were dim at several times and I just want everybody to benefit from that, no matter what it means for me. And that's why you go back and look at the volumes of data and the things that are on the Website now and the information available. It is the best place and I'm proud to say that. And I don't care who disagrees with me. So there's other good guys. I'm not saying I'm the only good guy. [00:12:03] But a successful retirement or grand adventure takes the right kind of tools and gear. Nobody gets it right the first time without a guide. [00:12:11] I've been on backpacking trips with friends who bring college buddies. Did one with some guys from California. They walked into an REI store in Southern California and said, I'm going backpacking in Montana. What do I need? They show up with packs that weigh a hundred pounds and they're not in shape to carry it. I carry a pack because I'd done it for years and years. My pack was 30 pounds and is a piece of cake. [00:12:32] So everyone's going to bring a little too much or not enough. The result is a less than optimal outcome. [00:12:39] With the trip of a lifetime, there could be another chance. But you only get one shot at retirement. No one should buy an annuity just so they can live longer. [00:12:46] It's just a fun fact. So don't get too bent out of shape if you don't think it's true. Length of life may not be important to everyone, but quality of life should be. I get inspiration from your retirement stories and the things you're doing. They may not be the same as mine, but I respect everybody for the dreams they've always had and wish you the best in chasing those and seeing them happen because it is an incredibly rewarding experience. [00:13:11] I want to hear your stories. [00:13:13] I'll keep sharing mine. [00:13:16] It's summer in Montana, so there's definitely something good coming. You want to talk about the trip, you want to talk about grizzly bears in the lower 48 or grizzly bears in Alaska, I would be happy to to chat with you. It's fun. [00:13:30] So again, a beautiful bronze. And I told Frank and Sue I'm going to get one of his bronzes every time I take a different animal in Alaska. So I got my grizzly bear a couple of photos of the bear online. I'm not going to post stuff that some people won't like, but if you want to see anything in more detail, you guys go and shoot me an email and I'd be happy to share those with adventure Loving outdoorsman. Thanks again to Frank and Sue, their son Matt and Jordy for an incredible time. Oh, Tristan the cook. He's another guy I hope to be friends with for a long time. And sue, if you ever hear this? No. I was joking. You should not ever fire him. He's a great person and he does a heck of good job. So, kept us fed all week. Episode 182 Do Annuity Owners live Longer? I think they probably do. But regardless, do your best to live better. [00:14:18] Thank you so much. Top right corner of any page on annuitystraighttalk.com to Schedule A call. You guys have a great day, and I'll talk to you next week. Okay, bye.