Featured Training
The Happy Factor in Retirement.
Economist and best-selling author Tom Hegna's research uncovered a simple truth: retirees who own guaranteed lifetime income are measurably happier than those who rely solely on portfolio withdrawals. He calls it The Happy Factor — and it changes how we design retirement plans for the families we serve.
What the Research Shows
Guaranteed income creates happier retirements.
- Retirees with pensions or annuitized income report higher life satisfaction than those with equal or greater assets in market-based accounts.
- A dependable monthly paycheck reduces anxiety about market volatility, sequence-of-returns risk, and outliving savings.
- Guaranteed income frees retirees to spend confidently — travel, help grandchildren, give generously — instead of hoarding for the unknown.
- Longevity is treated as a blessing rather than a financial threat when core expenses are covered for life.
"Optimize retirement with guaranteed lifetime income, then invest the rest for growth and legacy."
— Summary of Tom Hegna's Happy Factor framework