Annuity Navigator - Accumulation (FIA)

What is the Annuity Navigator?

The Annuity Navigator is a guided, client-facing tool that helps agents quickly identify and present annuity strategies based on a client’s goals.

It streamlines early-stage conversations by narrowing down options and highlighting the Top 3 recommendations, eliminating the need to manually review multiple products.

When should you use it?

Use the Navigator at the start of a client conversation to:

• Identify client goals (income, growth, protection)
• Guide the conversation in a structured, professional way
• Present tailored options without overwhelming the client

Step-by-Step: How to Use the Navigator

1. Access the Navigator

From the main dashboard, select the Qualify dropdown, then click Navigator.

On smaller screens, open the ☰ menu to locate it.

Select Accumulation

Choose Accumulation if the client’s goal is to grow their money over time rather than generate immediate income.

This path is designed for clients who:

• Want tax-deferred growth
• Are focused on long-term accumulation
• Prefer low-risk or protected strategies

Once selected, the Navigator will guide you through a few simple questions to narrow down the best growth-focused annuity options.

Step 1: Choose a Growth Strategy

Select how the client wants their money to grow:

Protected Market Exposure (FIA)

Best for clients who want higher growth potential tied to market indexes, with downside protection (no market loss).

Guaranteed Growth (MYGA)

Best for clients who prefer predictable, fixed returns with a guaranteed interest rate over a set period.

What do the colors mean?

Each color represents a different type of growth approach:

• Green (Teal) – Protected Market Exposure (FIA)

  Shows growth linked to the market with downside protection (no losses from market drops).

• Red – S&P 500 (Market Performance)

  Represents the actual market, which can go up and down higher risk, higher volatility.

• Blue – Fixed Guaranteed Growth (MYGA)

  Shows steady, predictable growth with a fixed interest rate. (No market exposure)

Step 2: Enter Premium Amount

Enter the initial premium the client plans to allocate.

This step helps refine results by aligning recommendations with the client’s investment level and available product options. You can use an estimated amount (this can be adjusted later as needed)

Step 3: Select Contribution Type

Choose how the client plans to fund the annuity.

• One-Time Contribution

  A single lump sum or rollover.

• Ongoing Contributions

  Allows the client to add funds over time.

Step 4: Understanding Fee Options

Choosing between fee and no-fee products depends on the client’s preferences and the features they need.

No-Fee Products

No explicit annual fees. Growth is structured through caps, spreads, or participation rates. Best for clients who prefer simplicity and lower visible costs.

Fee-Based Products

May include annual fees, typically for optional features such as income riders or enhanced benefits. Best for clients who want additional flexibility or features.

Step 5: Choose Access to Funds (Liquidity)

Select how much access the client may need to their money each year.

• No plans to touch the funds

  Best for long-term growth when the client does not need access.

• Withdraw 5–7% per year

  A balanced option that allows some access while keeping the account growing.

• Withdraw 10% or more per year

  Best for clients who may need more flexibility or regular access to funds.

What this means:

Annuities are designed for long-term planning, and accessing funds early may be limited. This step helps match the client with products that fit their need for flexibility.

Step 6: Choose How Long to Keep the Money

Pick how many years the client plans to leave the money in the annuity.

This means:

👉 When do you want full access to the money without penalties?

What this step does:

Matches the client with products based on how long they can leave the money invested.

Simple guidance:

• Less years (5–6) → easier access, but lower growth
• More years (10–15) → better growth, but money is locked longer

If you’re not sure, choose 7–10 years. This is the most common option.

Step 7: Choose Index Type

Select the type of index based on the client’s comfort level.

• Well-Established Indexes

  Known options with a long track record (e.g., S&P 500). Simpler and more familiar.

• Innovative Indexes

  Newer strategies that may offer higher growth potential but have less history.

Step 8: What company rating do you prefer?

Choose the minimum rating to filter which insurance companies are included in your results.

Selecting a higher minimum rating may limit available options, while a lower rating may include more products.

Ratings are assigned by independent agencies (e.g., AM Best) and may change over time.

Step 8: Review your results

Review the top annuity options based on your inputs. From here, you can explore each option further or run additional analysis.

What you can do next:

1. View an illustration

Click “Illustrate” on any option to see more details and projections.

2. Run AI analysis (GrantAI)

Click “Run AI Analysis” for a deeper breakdown and insights based on your client’s scenario.

3. Explore more options

Use the Performance Analyzer to view more than the top 3 results.

(See the Performance Analyzer video/tutorial for guidance.)

4. Start over

Click “Restart” to begin again.

This will reset your results and will not save your current selections.

Best Practices

Start with the Navigator to establish a clear income direction before running illustrations.

Use the Top 3 results as a shortlist to guide the conversation.

Review individual options using illustrations to better understand features and payouts.

Use additional tools (e.g., calculators) to compare more options if needed.

Restart the workflow if inputs change, as results are not saved automatically.

If you have additional questions, please contact us at help@annuitiesgenius.com , use the chat bubble, or call 949-600-7707.