Self-employed people in Costa Mesa build retirement without a pension or a company plan doing the work. If you have saved through your own retirement accounts, or plan to sell the business one day, an annuity may turn part of those savings into income you cannot outlive. Joseph Antonucci, a California-licensed independent insurance producer (CA licence #4360370) explains the options and compares fixed and indexed annuities — free, with no obligation.
Book a free annuity review for Costa Mesa
Have recent statements for your retirement accounts and a sense of when you want income to start. We meet by phone, by video, or in person by appointment in Orange County.
Retirement income when you are the whole plan
Business owners often reach their sixties with savings spread across self-directed retirement accounts, a business they may sell, and cash kept aside for lean months. What is usually missing is a steady paycheck. An annuity is one way to create part of that paycheck, backed by an insurance company rather than by the next contract you win.
It is not the right tool for everyone, and it should rarely hold all of your savings. Our job is to show you what an annuity would and would not do for you, then let you decide. We serve Costa Mesa from our Irvine office by phone, video, or in-person appointments in Orange County.
Questions Costa Mesa owners bring us
- Can I move money from my SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) into an annuity? Often, yes, through a rollover or transfer. The mechanics and tax treatment belong with your CPA or tax attorney; we handle the insurance side. Read SEP-IRA and Solo 401(k) funding an annuity.
- How is the income taxed? It depends on how the annuity is funded. Our guide to how annuity income is taxed is a starting point; confirm your situation with a tax professional.
- Do I have to pass a medical exam? Most annuities do not require health underwriting. See why annuities skip health underwriting.
- What if I need long-term care? Some annuities include long-term care features — see hybrid long-term care annuities.
The annuities we compare
- Fixed and multi-year guaranteed annuities — a declared rate for a set period.
- Fixed indexed annuities — growth linked to a market index with protection from index losses. See indexed annuities in Costa Mesa.
- Income annuities — immediate or deferred lifetime income.
Variable annuities and registered index-linked annuities are securities. We explain how they work, but we do not place them. Annuity guarantees rest on the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer; annuities are not bank deposits and are not FDIC insured. The California Life & Health Insurance Guarantee Association provides limited protection if an insurer fails.
California protections we walk you through
California requires a recommendation to be in your best interest and suitable for your age, goals, liquidity needs and existing assets, so we ask about your cash reserves before anything else — especially important when business income is uneven. Buyers aged 60 and over get an extended free-look period to review a new annuity and cancel it. Surrender charges, withdrawal rules and riders are explained before you sign. Learn more from the California Department of Insurance.
How a free annuity review works
- Book a time that fits your week.
- We map your income needs against savings, the business and any other income. Our retirement income calculator helps.
- We compare options from multiple carriers, including whether you need an annuity at all.
- You decide, with time to consult your CPA.
Costa Mesa annuity questions
Should I buy an annuity before I sell my business?
Timing depends on taxes and your cash needs after the sale. Speak with your CPA first; we can then show how an annuity might fit the proceeds.
Do you charge for a review?
No. If you buy an annuity, the insurer pays the agent.
Where can I read more?
Our longer annuities in Costa Mesa guide and the Orange County annuities hub go deeper.
Turn your own savings into steady income
Educational information, not tax, legal or investment advice. Annuity guarantees rest on the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer and are not FDIC insured. Consult a qualified tax advisor or attorney. Joseph Antonucci, CA licence #4360370, Life and Accident & Health.