Annuitizing part or all of an IRA to purchase life insurance is an effective estate planning technique, according to financial advisor Martin Lowenthal. By converting IRA assets into an annuity, clients remove those assets from their taxable estate and secure a predictable income stream for life. The after-tax annuity proceeds can then be used to buy life insurance, often held in an irrevocable trust, ensuring the death benefit passes to beneficiaries tax-free.

Financial advisors are increasingly integrating annuities and life insurance into a single planning conversation, experts say. The trend comes at a time when the idea of creating a "retirement paycheck" is gaining traction, according to Ben Rizzuto of Janus Henderson Investors.

Ray Harris of Social Security Claiming Experts highlights the importance of managing sequence-of-returns risk in retirement planning. He suggests using Social Security as a volatility buffer by delaying benefits until age 70, thereby increasing the income floor and reducing reliance on investment portfolios during market downturns. Harris encourages advisors to stress-test the first 5 to 10 years of retirement, coordinate Social Security with withdrawals and build a cash reserve to fund the gap before benefits begin.

Financial advisors should lead discussions about policy risk to help clients prepare for potential changes in Social Security, Medicare and taxation, writes Glen Franklin of Jackson National Life Distributors. "By making policy awareness a regular part of retirement planning, financial professionals can help clients build understanding and flexibility that foster long-term confidence and successful outcomes, no matter how policy evolves," Franklin writes.

Financial advisors can enhance retirement outcomes by helping clients identify and address legacy expenses that persist beyond their working years, writes Christopher Gandy of The Legacy Wealth Group. Early retirees often maintain spending patterns from their peak earning years, leading to unnecessary fixed expenses, while those 65 and older face inefficiencies such as redundant health care coverage and misaligned housing costs, Gandy writes.

Bank of New York Mellon and Robinhood have been selected by the Treasury Department to manage the national infrastructure for Trump Accounts for the millions of eligible children who have enrolled since the accounts launched in 2025. BNY will oversee initial account management, while Robinhood will support app development and customer experience through a white-label platform controlled by the Treasury Department.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed a $1.9 billion budget for fiscal 2027, an 11% reduction from current levels, as it emphasizes fiscal discipline, efficiency and modernization. While SEC funding is offset by industry fees, the agency said it plans to support policy priorities by reallocating resources and modestly increasing staffing amid attrition. Chair Paul Atkins is advancing a broad agenda that includes crypto rulemaking, potential changes to public company disclosures and market structure reforms, with several proposals already under White House review.

Recent research from Kehrer Group challenges the long-held belief that 70% of widows fire their financial advisors within a year of their husband's death. The new study finds that only 13.7% of widows change advisors, although this is nearly three times the rate of other households. Experts recommend advisors foster open, empathetic conversations, discuss the widow's spouse, and provide reassurance about financial stability to strengthen relationships with widowed clients.

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue but a critical component of client trust and overall business operations, writes Scott Winters of Financial Gravity. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has warned that banks and financial service providers face attacks that exploit vulnerabilities and weak authentication. Financial firms should integrate cybersecurity into their operations, centralize systems, reduce email sprawl and train staff to mitigate risks, Winters writes.

The Insured Retirement Institute's 2025 Annual Report, Insured Retirement Matters, is now available, highlighting a year of strong progress and industry leadership. IRI continues to deliver measurable impact for its members and champion retirement security for America's workers and retirees. Access the report here.