If you've inherited an annuity, the insurance company is probably pressuring you to fill out forms fast. But here's what they won't tell you: once you sign certain paperwork, the decision is irreversible—and it could cost you thousands in unnecessary taxes.

In this episode, Marty Becker walks you through what really matters before you make a choice you can't undo.

What You'll Learn:
• Why inherited annuities are so confusing (and different from inherited IRAs)
• The LIFO tax trap—and why the first dollars out are the most heavily taxed
• Your 3 distribution options: lump sum, 5-year rule, and lifetime payouts
• The tax consequences of each option and who they're best for
• Common mistakes people make with inherited annuities
• Why you have 12 months to decide—not 30 days

Whether you inherited from a spouse, parent, or sibling, this episode gives you the clarity to make a smart, tax-efficient decision.

About Marty Becker:
Owner and founder of Atlas Financial Strategies in St. Louis, Missouri, specializing in safe money retirement strategies.

Get Help: Book a free consultation at atlasannuity.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Always consult with qualified tax and financial professionals regarding your specific situation.

If you've ever wondered why retirement feels more complicated than it should, you're not imagining things. For decades, people were told to save enough, invest wisely, and then withdraw 4% every year. But new research from Morningstar tells a very different story—one that explains why so many retirees feel uneasy, and why guaranteed income tools like annuities are becoming more relevant than ever.

In this milestone 100th episode, Marty Becker breaks down Morningstar's latest 2025 research showing that the safe withdrawal rate has dropped to just 3.9%—with a 10% chance of failure even then. That's only $39,000 per year for every $1 million in your portfolio. Marty explains why most retirement failures don't happen because markets are bad forever, but because something goes wrong early.

Discover what this means for your retirement strategy, why sequence of returns risk is the silent killer of retirement plans, and how guaranteed income can provide the stability that market-based withdrawals simply can't guarantee.

What if you could convert your traditional IRA to a Roth without feeling the tax pain? In episode 99 of the Atlas Annuity Podcast, Marty Becker reveals a little-known strategy that uses deferred income annuities to make Roth conversions virtually painless—and could save you over $110,000 in lifetime taxes.

Most retirees wait until they're forced to take distributions from their IRAs, which means paying taxes when the government decides—often at higher rates. But there's a smarter way. Marty walks through a real-world example of a 60-year-old couple who funds a deferred income annuity with $500,000 from their traditional IRA, creating $80,000 per year in guaranteed lifetime income starting at age 70.

Here's where it gets interesting: during the 10-year deferral period, they systematically convert $50,000 per year to a Roth IRA using internal partial withdrawals from the annuity. The result? They pay just $110,000 in taxes over 10 years at a controlled 22% bracket. If they had waited and let the IRS force distributions, they would've paid over $220,000 in taxes—literally double.

Marty breaks down the math, explains how internal partial withdrawals work, and shows why the years between retirement and age 70 are the golden window for this strategy. If you have a traditional IRA or 401(k) and want to take control of your tax future, this episode is a must-listen.