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  • Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

    January 24, 2012 by Michael Ham

    By Michael Ham

    January 23, 2012

    News  Flash: The big investment houses on Wall Street
    and the mega no-load investment shops are all rapidly jumping into your pool of
    insurance products (namely, index annuities) and quickly adapting their
    proposals to include products with living income benefits.

    Paul  Revere I am not, but the Red Coats are coming!

    With  annual point to point cap rates on index annuities hovering near 2.5 percent
    and fixed annuity yields not any better, it’s time to step up, lead the pack
    and put your money where your mouth is. Meager returns on fixed and indexed
    annuities are leading investors to have a wider perspective of alternative
    places to invest. Hopefully, you are not solely recommending index annuities
    primarily as a place to stash cash or hoard money…but instead as an investment
    for future retirees, (baby boomers, Gen X and Y) to conservatively grow their
    assets to produce a future income stream.

    Advisors  and agents who have relied solely upon insured or guaranteed products also need
    to adapt a broader perspective of the investment spectrum and offer up to their
    clients and prospects an unbiased, professional long-term strategy and advice
    on how to build their portfolio.

    Obviously,  the “world” has realized what insurance professionals have known all along‑not
    going backwards in one’s investments is a superb way to amass wealth. Offering
    these insurance-based products is a path to generating a nice living and
    career. Although the “win by not losing” mantra has worked well the past 12
    years, pragmatism is the key to longevity and uber-success in this business.

    An  intelligent agent or advisor wouldn’t recommend an annuity issued from a
    subpar, non-profitable carrier. And looking at the past few tumultuous years in
    the financial industry, those insurance carriers that have survived and
    prospered are emerging stronger than before. Ergo, if you love the insurance
    carriers’ products and your clients love their products…you and your clients
    should own a piece of the carrier, right?

    As I  write this article, Aviva PLC (NYSE Symbol: AV‑yes, the Aviva that is a leader
    in the annuity and life industry) pays a dividend on their common stock that
    yields near 8 percent annually. Wow, that will turn a few heads. Is the
    dividend insured? No. Is stock ownership “safe?” Who knows? They’re certainly not
    as “stable” or predictable in the short term as an annuity. But, what better
    way of proving your commitment and smarts to your clients (and those pesky Wall
    Street gurus who think insurance folks are sophomoric and unsophisticated in
    their asset allocations and investment acumen) than to own a piece of the rock
    (so to speak).

    I am  not suggesting that you as an advisor or rep recommend to the public to buy
    equities. I am not recommending to you, the professional, that you purchase
    stocks either. My goal is to enlighten the licensed professionals who read this
    to the opportunities of voting with your knowledge, experience, education and
    checkbook to support what you represent and stand for as an investment
    professional. A “portion” of almost anyone’s portfolio should include ownership
    of an asset that has proven to outpace inflation over the long haul.

    And here’s the kicker: In addition to being “enlightened”
    about the ownership potential in something that you believe in and possibly buy
    or utilize often, check out the whopping dividend yields currently offered up
    by “Mr.  Market” (see Warren Buffett’s description on “him”) on other good and
    service providers. Do you use an Iphone or Blackberry, desire a Swiss bank
    account or marvel at how many people (especially overseas) still use tobacco
    products, have high blood pressure or need a boost in the male libido
    department or need Tylenol for a headache?

    Then  team up with AT&T or Verizon, Credit Suisse, Phillip Morris (aka Altria),
    Bristol Myers or Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson? Do you buy diapers, tissues
    or toilet paper; feed your children cereal, Mac and Cheese or a Big Mac, use
    toothpaste or a computer other than an Apple; drink diet cola, or send
    parcels/letters overnight via Big Brown? Then maybe owning a piece of Kimberly
    Clark, Kellogg, Kraft Foods, McDonalds, Proctor & Gamble, Microsoft, Coca
    Cola and UPS may make sense for the uninsured portion of your portfolio.

    Every  one of these aforementioned classic American enterprises are all paying more
    than 3 percent in their dividends, and have been paying dividends for eons of
    time. Better yet, over time dividends have typically increased. Do you know too
    that you can automatically have the dividends reinvested with the company for
    free? Just stop and think about how much wealth you could amass and pass to
    your family and heirs by starting a dividend reinvestment program (DRIP) with
    blue-chip, high-quality companies.

    I  won’t blow your mind with how many things you probably buy or own that General
    Electric or Dow Chemical had a hand in manufacturing. Guess what? Their
    dividend yields both exceed 3 percent. And not only do these companies have
    multi-international exposure (no need to buy riskier China or India stocks) you
    get relatively stable income and practically no currency risk. Note: Aviva and
    Credit Suisse will have special income tax treatment since they are
    foreign-based companies (see ADR, or American depositary receipt) and as
    always, do your own homework before buying anything. And then put your money
    where your mouth is…And diversify.

    Michael  Ham is an investment advisor but does not intend this to be an offer or
    solicitation to buy or sell securities. This information is not intended for
    “public use” and only for licensed investment professionals. Investments in
    publically traded securities have no insurance or guaranteed feature and can
    lose substantial portions of your money. Do not invest without seeking the
    guidance of a professional investment advisor.

    Originally Posted at LifeHealthPro on January 23, 2012 by Michael Ham.

    Categories: Industry Articles
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