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Additional Considerations

Single Life With Cash Refund Payment Term Option Examples

Green Pastures is a big proponent of keeping things simple. When you get to a certain point in life, there's a tendency to want to simplify your life - including your investment and retirement income planning portfolio – Deferred Income Annuities can help you accomplish this goal. 

In addition, as you grow older, it is less likely your investment portfolio will be able to recover from significant market losses. While you can hope for higher returns from your investment portfolio, and your flexible Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) to cover your retirement income and lifestyle needs, there is no guarantee the stock market will comply. 

You may consider transitioning some of your investment portfolio from shouldering all of the risk during the asset accumulation growth phase, to transferring some of that risk to guaranteed lifetime income solutions during the retirement income distribution phase. Allocating just a portion of your investment portfolio to a DIA will provide you with a "pension-like" guaranteed income stream you can count on for the rest of your life starting at a later date, regardless of how your investment portfolio performs. 

We believe the best way to utilize DIAs is in conjunction with your investment portfolio. Green Pastures complements the investment management programs with DIAs and other types of annuities to help construct retirement income portfolios. 

For example, a general rule of thumb would be to put 10% of your investment portfolio in a DIA when you are 10 years from retirement and, over time, transition to 25% to 33% of your investment portfolio in SPIAs and/or DIAs when you retire. 

With that being said, each individual's situation is different, and the best blend for you will depend on the size of your nest egg, your risk attitude, your lifestyle, where you want to live, your health, your family's longevity history and what you want to leave your heirs. 

While DIAs aren't for everyone, they are a great transfer of risk solution that specifically solves for principal protection, guaranteed lifetime income, and legacy planning. If you need to solve for one of these items, then you may want to consider adding a DIA to your long term investment and retirement income portfolio - to deliver guaranteed lifetime income - so you don't outlive your money.

One of the many advantages of DIAs is that the payment term can be customized to meet your needs, the needs of you and your spouse, and/or potential legacy options for your children, grandchildren or other beneficiary(s). 

While the amount of income you receive depends on several factors, including your age and life expectancy, gender, premium amount, your chosen payment term option, and interest rates in effect at the time the policy is issued, the income is primarily based on your life expectancy (or joint life expectancies) at the time income starts, with interest rates playing a secondary role. 

Similar to your Social Security, the older you are when the DIA income starts, the higher the payment (i.e. rate of return) because your life expectancy is less. 

You can purchase a Joint Life DIA if you want your income to also cover a loved one in retirement - like a spouse. By doing so, you can ensure that income will be paid to both of you throughout your lifetimes. 

Some of the available payment term options include: 

Single Life Annuities
> Single Life Only
> Single Life With Period Certain
> Single Life With Installment Refund
> Single Life With Cash Refund

Joint Life Annuities
> Joint Life Only
> Joint Life With Period Certain
> Joint :Life With Installment Refund
> Joint Life With Cash Refund

Period Certain Annuities

Below are two of the most popular DIA payment term options:

Single Life With Cash Refund
If structured correctly, this DIA payment term option will pay income for one lifetime (and the lifetime of one other person if a Joint Life policy), starting at a predetermined time in the future. Additionally, this option guarantees that if the annuitant(s) die(s), the beneficiary(s) will receive a lump sum equaling the premium amount less all payments made to the annuitant(s).* The Life With Cash Refund payment term option ensures that all your money will go to you or your named beneficiary(s), and not a penny to the insurance company.

Single Life With Installment Refund
If structured correctly, this DIA payment term option will pay income for one lifetime (and the lifetime of one other person if a Joint Life policy), starting at a predetermined time in the future. Additionally, this option guarantees that if the annuitant(s) die(s), the beneficiary(s) will continue to receive the annuity payments until the premium is fully recovered. The Life With Installment Refund payment term option entitles the beneficiary(s) to receive the total of the premium less all payments made on a scheduled installment basis* The Life With Installment Refund payment term option ensures that all your money will go to you or your named beneficiary(s), and not a penny to the insurance company.

DIAs are issued by life insurance companies and guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Green Pastures works with only the highest rated insurance companies in the industry. 

Annuities, with SPIAs, DIAs, QLACs and FIAs With Income Riders in the forefront, have a monopoly on lifetime income guarantees. There are simply no other financial products that can contractually guarantee lifetime income payments regardless of how long you live. 

There are two ways to determine the best DIA contractual guarantee for your situation:

(1) Provide a lump sum dollar amount to determine how much the DIA monthly income stream would be, or


(2) Reverse engineer and provide your desired monthly income amount to back into the lump sum dollar amount required to generate the monthly income figure you need. 

The reverse engineer method allows you to use as little of your money to contractually solve for your income goals. 

If you live a long life and the DIA account value goes to zero, then the insurance company is on the hook to continue paying you regardless of how long you live. For that simple reason, there is no ROI (i.e. “Return On Investment) calculation for your DIA until you die. That’s why DIA’s cannot be compared with typical investments.

Social Security And Social Security Optimization

Solve For Guaranteed Lifetime Income - Later

To Create Your Own Personal Pension Plan

You can purchase a DIA from an insurance company with a single, lump sum amount called a premium and you can make additional contributions over time (a flexible premium purchase).* Future income payments are based on rates at the time each individual premium payment is received. 

*While most DIAs allow for lump sum and additional contributions options, it is important to read the DIA Product Fact Sheet for complete information and restrictions that may apply, prior to making any decision to purchase a DIA product. 

In return, the insurance company promises to make regular payments to you starting at a specific time in the future. With a DIA, a guaranteed income stream can begin as soon as 13 months from the policy issue date and can be deferred as far out as 30 to 40 years with some carriers for the remainder of your life (i.e. “life annuity”) or for a specific period (i.e. “period certain”) – to create your own personal pension. 

Most DIA investors typically choose to receive monthly payments, however, you may choose to receive quarterly, semi-annual or yearly payments instead. These payments can be sent directly to your bank account for ease of use. 

The great thing is when you put money in, you know exactly, to the penny, how much income you will receive at any future age, depending upon what age you turn on your income. It's like getting an old-fashioned pension plan, but you build it yourself. 

For example, a 60-year-old preparing for retirement could deposit premium now, with the intention of activating a future monthly income stream for life later, beginning at age 70, when he/she plans to retire and will no longer receive a monthly paycheck from his/her employer to cover retirement income and lifestyle needs. 

In exchange for the future guaranteed lifetime income payments, you give up the right to demand the return of your original premium, so the purchase of a DIA is usually an irrevocable decision that cannot be undone once the free-look period has expired following contract issue.* 

* Some DIAs do offer a Cash Out Option that will allow you to cash out of your DIA at a discounted amount (a lower amount) before the future income stream begins. You should review a DIA Product Fact Sheet, for complete information and restrictions that may apply, prior to making any decision to purchase a DIA. 

DIAs can be funded from non-qualified monies (for example, assets held in individual or joint accounts) or qualified monies (for example, IRAs and assets rolled over from 401(k), 403(b) or employer-sponsored retirement plans). Payments are taxed depending upon the source of the funds you use to purchase it.

DIAs are an excellent complement to Social Security, the foundation block of most guaranteed retirement income plans. Any discussion regarding DIAs should include a brief discussion regarding Social Security. To that end, please click on the Exhibit F link below.

Solve For Longevity Risk - The Fear Of Outliving Your Money

If creating a guaranteed retirement income stream for a later stage in life that you cannot outlive is appealing to you, and you are prepared to commit a portion of your investment and retirement income portfolio assets to that purpose, then a DIA may be an excellent solution. 

For example, you may consider using a DIA to secure your financial future later in life, by allocating a portion of your investment and retirement income portfolio towards the purchase of a DIA that provides adequate lifetime retirement income beginning at age 80. Then, with the balance of your investment and retirement income portfolio assets, you only need to create an income plan that gets you through your current age to age 80, when the DIA guaranteed income stream for life begins. This provides you with the benefit of only having to make your non-DIA assets last until age 80, rather than the uncertainty of trying to make your assets last for your entire lifetime, which is an unknown period of time. 

Before you decide to buy a DIA, you need to fully understand the different options available, with complete information on the benefits and limitations that may apply, which may require additional expertise. 

We will utilize industry leading software to select the top three DIAs among the highest rated insurance companies that fit your financial situation and retirement income planning goals, help you make an informed decision to select the DIA with the best payment term options, then provide you with a Personalized Annuity Illustration unique to your situation. 

To learn more, email lee@greenpastureswm.com.

Non-Qualified Accounts And The Exclusion Ratio

If your investment portfolio suffers losses as you near or are in retirement, losses coupled with retirement income withdrawals can send your investment and retirement income portfolio spiraling downward, and you may suddenly find yourself in a serious dilemma on meeting future retirement income needs. 

During retirement, investors are typically conditioned to put their investments in some sort of traditional "balanced" asset allocation buy-and-hold portfolio of stocks and bonds which conventional wisdom says should perform well over the long run. But such "balanced" portfolios have failed before - and failed badly - as evidenced by the 2000-2002 and 2007-2009 bear markets which forever altered the future retirement income plans of countless investors.

Key Features And Benefits

Green Pastures complements the investment management programs with retirement income solutions that focus on principal protection, lifetime income guarantees, and legacy planning. 

DIAs (Deferred Income Annuities), also called Longevity Annuities (because they contractually solve for the fear that you could run out of money), are designed to deliver guaranteed lifetime income beginning at a predetermined future target date - lower the risk of your overall investment and retirement income portfolio - and help solve for longevity risk - so you do not outlive your money. They are straightforward and efficient in delivering these benefits.

Relax and enjoy retirement by taking some risk off your shoulders. With the certainty of guaranteed income for life from a DIA starting at a later date, you will be able to sleep better at night from not having to worry so much about outliving your money.

Investors planning for retirement want simple solutions with guaranteed income. DIAs are an important retirement income tool created to do just that - if you need income later. DIAs are the most efficient way to activate a deferred stream of guaranteed lifetime income payments even if you live to 100 or beyond.

Help Solve For Legacy Planning

We Are Here To Help You Make An Informed Decision

Lifetime income guarantees act as a transfer of risk strategy from your investment portfolio, which is subject to stock market losses, to create your own "pension-like" guaranteed income stream for life, so you don't outlive your money.

"The Only Investing Certainty Is Nothing Is Certain -

Plan For The Unplanned!"

DIA Payment Term Options Can Be Adopted To Meet Your Needs

"Lifetime income means lifestyle income -

and the peace of mind of never outliving your money."

DIA Summary

"Investors planning for retirement want simple solutions with guaranteed income."​

How DIAs Work

Delivering You Guaranteed Lifetime Income - Later


   Deferred Income Annuities ("DIA")

If structured correctly, the Life With Cash Refund payment term option guarantees that if the annuitant(s) die(s), the beneficiary(s) will receive a lump sum equaling the premium amount less all payments made to the annuitant(s). 

In certain situations, the Life With Installment Refund payment term option can also be used as a tool to control your legacy from the grave by providing installment payments over time to your heirs (instead of a lump sum inheritance). This payment term option can provide a lifetime income stream for you and your heirs - any may help you - help your heirs - save them from themselves - so they cannot access your death benefit proceeds in a lump sum and quickly squander away the money all at one time (which is oftentimes the case). 

*Note: If the total payments received prior to the annuitant(s) death equal or exceed the initial premium paid for the policy, then no further payments will be made to the beneficiary(s) upon death.

Following is a summary of key features and benefits that DIAs offer:


  • No annual fees.
  • Simple: Once a DIA is funded, the only work on your part is to collect your regular payments starting at a predetermined time in the future (which can be sent directly to your bank account).
  • Income can be deferred as short as 13 months up to 30 or 40 years: Income payments must begin by age 85; 70 1/2 for qualified policies.
  • Principal Protection: DIAs are not subject to market losses. Your principal is fully protected against stock or bond market downturns and is guaranteed by the assets of the insurer. We work with only the highest rated insurance companies in the industry.
  • Non-Correlated To The Stock Market
  • Sequence Of Returns Risk Mitigation: DIAs help protect your income from stock or bond market down turns as you near or are in retirement, lowering your stress level, and giving you Peace Of Mind.
  • DIAs Can Become A Part of Your Fixed Income Allocation Within Your Overall Investment And Retirement Income Planning Portfolio.
  • Potential Higher Income Payments: Each annuity income payment you receive is comprised of three things: (1) a return of your premium, (2) interest, and (3) a component from risk pooling (which only an insurance company can provide).
  • Can Be Used To Create Guaranteed Lifetime Income Annuity Ladders That Start At Different Ages In The Future: Similar to laddering CDs or bonds, DIAs work well in conjunction with other DIAs, SPIAs and QLACs to create guaranteed lifetime income annuity ladders.
  • Helps Solve For Longevity Risk: DIAs pay you a stream of guaranteed lifetime income payments (beginning at a later date) which can never be outlived (or which may be guaranteed for a certain period).
  • Can Be Purchased In IRA, Roth IRA And Non-IRA Accounts: Rolling some of your IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or employer-sponsored retirement plan into a DIA is an easy way to turn that money into exactly what is was intended for - a steady stream of income you can count on for the rest of your life (beginning at a later date) - like a good old-fashioned pension plan.
  • Preferred Tax Treatment For Non-Qualified Accounts (Exclusion Ratio Benefit): DIAs purchased with non-qualified funds (for example, assets held in individual or joint accounts) allow you to benefit from deferring taxation by spreading out income over time. Each payout includes interest and a return of principal which creates a tax-favored stream of income with an exclusion allowance; whereas a traditional systematic withdrawal approach will tend to front load the taxation. DIAs also differ from other types of annuities which have a "front-loaded" tax burden. DIAs may also be a good strategy to defer taxes until later in retirement when you may be taxed at a lower rate.
  • Can Help Keep Up With Inflation: Most DIAs offer inflation protection as an optional rider known as a COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment) which can be contractually added to your DIA policy at the time of purchase.COLAs increase your income stream on an annual basis by the percentage that you choose, to help protect your income from the effects of inflation throughout your retirement.
  • Lifestyle And A Smooth Transition: Lifestyle is not a five-star mutual fund. Lifestyle is knowing that you or your spouse will have enough money to live comfortably if something happens to one of you. DIAs can help provide a smoother transition for a surviving spouse who may not be as familiar with investing, so he or she can go about his or her life without having to worry about financial security.
  • DIAs Can Be Easily Structured For Legacy Planning To Create A Lump Sum Legacy Or An Income Legacy For Your Heirs: ​There is a common misconception that the insurance company keeps what's left of your money when you die. If structured correctly, a DIA can create (1) a lump sum legacy for your heirs, with 100% of the unused premium passing directly to your beneficiary(s) upon your death, or (2) an income legacy for your heirs, leaving an income stream of the unused premium to your beneficiary(s) as part of your overall legacy plan. Note: Payment term options vary and can be used to maximize your income or create a legacy. Death benefits are contingent on the payment term option you choose and the amount of income you receive over the life of the policy.
  • Protection From Cognitive Decline: DIAs can help protect you and/or your spouse from the travails of cognitive decline, which could someday limit the ability to make complex decisions about suitable investments and withdrawal strategies.
  • May Avoid Probate: If an option with a death benefit is chosen, any remainder in your DIA can usually pass outside of probate and be paid discreetly and directly to your heirs (not the insurance company) within days after all required paperwork is received in good order, in a lump sum or in installment payments over time (depending upon the selection you made when the contract was set up). That allows your loved ones to bypass the long, painful and costly probate process - saving them time, court costs, administrative costs and legal fees - and leaves your heirs money instead of family court battles and legal fees.

​​Goals Based Investing  |  Retirement Income  |  Annuities

DIAs can be purchased with either qualified funds (for example, assets held in IRA accounts) or non-qualified funds (for example, assets held in individual or joint accounts). 

When a DIA is purchased with qualified funds, the entire payment received each month from the qualified DIA is fully taxable as income, because taxes have never been paid on those funds. 

However, when a DIA is purchased with non-qualified funds, a portion of each monthly income payment is considered a return of previously taxed principal (cost basis) and therefore excluded from taxation. The amount excluded from taxation is called the exclusion and is represented as a percentage of the monthly payout that is calculated by the issuing insurance company.