August 22, 2012
--- What do crash test dummies talk about when they’re not
crash-testing vehicles? Apparently they share tips on saving for a secure
retirement. ---
“Retirement Income
Planning for Dummies” is an animated educational video aimed at retirees and
their advisers. The video is from Annuity Think Tank, a research organization
that specializes in annuities and retirement income. In plain if somewhat
stilted language, two crash test dummies discuss the benefits of saving
and investing to create a guaranteed income during retirement. The conversation
leads to a discussion about common retirement mistakes and how to overcome
them.
The younger, less-knowledgeable dummy asks about Social
Security, giving the other dummy an opportunity to detail the pitfalls of
relying solely on the government program to fund retirement. He suggests
additional ways to save, such as 401k matching plans and fixed-index annuities.
The experienced dummy also discusses the importance of tax deferral and establishing
a retirement plan early for a secure and safe outcome regarding retirement
savings and retirement income.
The younger dummy, unfamiliar with retirement planning,
expresses interest in learning more after hearing all of the benefits of saving
early and creating a lifetime income stream to protect against the longevity
risk of outliving your money.
The organization has other videos on its website.
“Retirement Income Planning for Dummies” can be seen here.
Jill Cornfield