Did Anyone Tell You… You Can Create Your Own Personal Pension?

May 25, 2025

5 min read

Yes, really.

You can actually design a pension for yourself—one that doesn’t depend on your job, your company, or the government. One that keeps paying you… no matter how long you live.

Sounds like a myth, right? A financial unicorn?

That’s what I used to think too—until I discovered the world of annuities.

Now before you close this tab or roll your eyes (I see you!), just hear me out for one minute.

You’ve probably heard of annuities before.

Maybe your financial advisor mentioned it once.

Maybe your co-worker brought it up in the break room.

Maybe your aunt said something about her “retirement check from an insurance company.”

Or maybe you just saw one of those Facebook ads and scrolled right past it—only to see a flood of comments like:

“Total scam.”“Trash product.” “Insurance companies are thieves.”

And you probably thought to yourself,

“Yeah… no thanks. I’m not falling for that.”

Believe me, I get it. I laughed at those comments too (just a little). Not because people are silly—but because most people have no idea what they’re reacting to. And that’s not their fault.

There’s so much noise out there. Confusion. Misinformation. Half-baked opinions from people who heard it from someone else who once read an article posted by their cousin’s barber.

So today, I want to clear things up—with no jargon, no hard pitch, and no smoke and mirrors.

Just you and me, chatting honestly.

First Things First: Not All Annuities Are the Same

When someone says “annuities are bad,” I always ask:

Which kind?

Because that’s like saying “cars are dangerous”—without distinguishing between a busted 1980s sedan with no brakes… and a modern SUV with lane assist, air bags, and a five-star safety rating.

Here’s the truth:

There are many types of annuities, and only one tends to come with the fees, risks, and complexity that make people nervous.

It’s called a Variable Annuity.

Yes, that’s the one with the fine print.

Yes, that’s the one tied directly to market risk.

And no—I’m not licensed to sell it. (Not yet.)

But I do know experts who specialize in that arena, and I’ll happily refer you if it turns out to be the right fit for you.

That said, most of my clients come to me for a different reason entirely:

They want protection, peace of mind, and predictable income.

So let’s talk about the kind of annuities I do work with—the kind that might surprise you.

Dr. Linh’s Annuities 101

(A crash course, but cozy—like we’re sitting across from each other with a cup of coffee.)

1. Indexed Annuity

This one tracks a market index—like the S&P 500—but it doesn’t invest directly in the market.

It’s kind of like riding a glass elevator in a skyscraper: You get to enjoy the view as the market rises—but if the market drops, you don’t crash. You stay on the floor you’re on.

📌 No downside loss.

📌 Growth is capped, but your principal is protected.

📌 Low to zero fees, depending on the contract.

This one’s my favorite. It gives you a nice balance of growth and safety.

Want to understand why so many people are quietly adding these to their retirement strategy?

I highly recommend reading Why I Bought an Indexed Annuity by Sheryl J. Moore. It’s an easy, real-life read by one of the most respected annuity experts in the industry—and it might just shift your perspective.

👉 Read the book here

2. Fixed Annuity

Simple. Straightforward. No stock market drama.

A fixed annuity pays you a guaranteed interest rate over a certain period—like a high-yield CD, but with tax deferral.

Great for conservative savers who don’t want surprises.

📌 Stable. Predictable.

📌 Typically guarantees for one year at a time.

📌 Less risk, lower return—but no sleepless nights.

3. MYGA (Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity)

This one’s the cousin of the fixed annuity. Same concept, but you get to lock in your interest rate for multiple years—typically between 2 to 10.

So if today’s rates look good to you? You can keep them.

📌 No market exposure.

📌 Just quiet, steady growth.

📌 Great option for pre-retirees or folks who value certainty.

(Confession: I’m too young for a MYGA, emotionally. I want a little more thrill. But for my more cautious clients? This one’s a gem.)

Funding Your Annuity: What Timing Works Best?

There are two main flavors here, and the difference is all about when you want the paycheck.

• Deferred Annuity

You fund it now, let it simmer, and start drawing income later—maybe in 5, 10, or even 20 years.

This is how you build your own pension—guaranteed lifetime income that kicks in when you retire.

Bonus? It keeps growing tax-deferred along the way.

(I have one of these for my own future. It’s my way of taking care of 60-year-old me.)

• Immediate Annuity

The classic: You give a lump sum to the insurance company today, and they start sending you monthly income right away—or within the next 12 months.

Perfect for retirees (or those right on the cusp) who want to convert a portion of their savings into guaranteed income they can’t outlive.

Let’s Address the Elephant: “How Much Do You Make?”

Real talk?

I honestly don’t know the exact dollar amount of my commission on most of these cases.

Not because I’m dodging the question—because I’m not sitting here doing math on my own paycheck. I’m calculating yours.

When I help you build a plan, the first thing on my mind isn’t how much I earn. It’s how much you keep, how much you’ll grow, and how protected you are.

That’s the job. That’s the calling.

If at any point you want to know the compensation structure, I’ll show you. Full transparency. No smoke, no mirrors.

But if you’re here reading this, you probably care less about me—and more about whether this could actually help you.