Annuity Insights

Produced by The American College of Financial Services, in partnership with New York Life Annuities.  
This season of Annuity Insights: Women and Wealth has given financial advisors a research-backed look at the retirement income planning challenges that shape women’s financial lives. In this season finale, host Michael Finke is joined by executive coach Andrea Nierenberg and New York Life Annuities wholesaler Haley Wilkes to build a practical advisor implementation playbook for women and wealth practice growth — covering what makes clients feel genuinely understood, how to plan proactively for life transitions like widowhood, divorce, and caregiving gaps, and how advisors who build genuine relationships with women clients become their strongest source of referrals. Whether you’re starting with Episode 1 or picking up here, this episode translates the season’s research into action steps you can apply in your next client conversation. 
Access the Women & Wealth Advisor Toolkit: https://www.nylannuities.com/annuityinsights  
Presented By: 
Michael Finke, PhD, CFP®, Professor of Wealth Management, The American College of Financial Services 
Featuring: 
Haley Wilkes, RICP®, Regional Vice President for Retail Annuities, New York Life Insurance Company 
Andrea Nierenberg, Executive Coach, Strategic Networking Authority and Founder, The Nierenberg Consulting Group 
Annuity Insights is produced and owned by The American College of Financial Services with generous support from New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), A Delaware Corporation. Information is believed accurate as of the time of recording (February-June 2026) but is subject to change (taxes, legal, rates, etc.).  

Produced by The American College of Financial Services, in partnership with New York Life Annuities.  
Long-term care planning is a critical part of retirement resilience planning, especially for women who are more likely to serve as caregivers and may also face longer care needs later in life. Health and care risk can affect more than the balance sheet; it can reshape family roles, housing decisions, legacy plans, and the emotional realities clients and their loved ones face. In this episode, Michael Finke, Ruby Grace Reyes, and Daralee Barbera discuss why advisors should address long-term care proactively as part of a comprehensive financial plan. 
Our experts examine the financial, emotional, and family realities of care planning, including caregiving expectations, insurability, standalone and linked-benefit long-term care solutions, asset liquidation strategies, and the importance of preparing beneficiaries before a care event occurs. The conversation also highlights why planning early can help clients preserve choice, protect family relationships, and reduce stress when health changes. 
Access the Women & Wealth Advisor Toolkit: https://www.nylannuities.com/annuityinsights  
Presented By: 
Michael Finke, PhD, CFP®, Professor of Wealth Management, The American College of Financial Services 
Ruby Grace Reyes, CLTC, Head of Long-Term Care Products, New York Life 
Featuring:  
Daralee Barbera, EdD, CFP®, CMFC®, ChFC®, CPBC®, CLF®, Director of Faculty, Academics, The American College of Financial Services 
Annuity Insights is produced and owned by The American College of Financial Services with generous support from New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), A Delaware Corporation. Information is believed accurate as of the time of recording (February-April 2026) but is subject to change (taxes, legal, rates, etc.).  

Produced by The American College of Financial Services, in partnership with New York Life Annuities. 
Solo retiree planning requires more than a standard retirement income plan. For women who are divorced, widowed, single by choice, or planning for the possibility of being uncoupled later in life, longevity risk and duration, housing decisions, caregiving responsibilities, and confidence with long-term financial topics can all shape the plan. In this episode, Michael Finke, Jessica Ruggles, and Tamiko Toland discuss how financial advisors can help solo retirees plan with clarity, resilience, and support. 
Our experts examine guaranteed income for singles, Social Security claiming, housing and healthspan considerations, and ways to build a durable income floor when there may not be a partner’s income or decision-making support to rely on. The conversation also highlights why advisors should engage both spouses early, prepare clients for life transitions, and help women clients feel informed before important retirement decisions have to be made. 
Access the Women & Wealth Advisor Toolkit: https://www.nylannuities.com/annuityinsights  
Presented By: 
Michael Finke, PhD, CFP®, Professor of Wealth Management, The American College of Financial Services 
Jessica Ruggles, Corporate Vice President and Head of Financial Wellness Strategy, Distribution, and Thought Leadership, New York Life 
Featuring:  
Tamiko Toland, Founder and CEO of The 401(k) Annuity Hub and Fellow, LIMRA Retirement Income Institute 
Annuity Insights is produced and owned by The American College of Financial Services with generous support from New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), A Delaware Corporation. Information is believed accurate as of the time of recording (February-April 2026) but is subject to change (taxes, legal, rates, etc.).  

Produced by The American College of Financial Services, in partnership with New York Life Annuities.  
Women’s retirement risk tolerance is shaped by more than portfolio preferences. Household structure, income needs, longevity risk, and relationship dynamics can all affect how clients think about security, flexibility, and market exposure. In this episode, Michael Finke, Theresa Gralinski, and Lindsey Lewis discuss how financial advisors can tailor planning conversations across different groups of women clients and connect risk decisions to practical income outcomes. 
Our experts examine retirement risk tolerance, household structure planning, income vs. risk tradeoffs, and how guaranteed income can help support a more durable retirement plan. The conversation also highlights how advisors can listen more closely, avoid common planning assumptions, and build strategies that reflect how women clients define confidence, protection, and long-term financial resilience. 
Access the Women & Wealth Advisor Toolkit: https://www.nylannuities.com/annuityinsights  
Presented By: 
Michael Finke, PhD, CFP®, Professor of Wealth Management, The American College of Financial Services 
Theresa Gralinski, Head of the Advisor Advancement Institute, New York Life Investments 
Featuring:  
Lindsey Lewis, MBA, CFP®, ChFC®, Managing Director, The American College Center for Women in Financial Services 
Annuity Insights is produced and owned by The American College of Financial Services with generous support from New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), A Delaware Corporation. Information is believed accurate as of the time of recording (February-April 2026) but is subject to change (taxes, legal, rates, etc.).  

Produced by The American College of Financial Services, in partnership with New York Life Annuities.  
From divorce and death and widowhood and job loss, many unexpected life transitions can affect your clients’ financial situation. Planning for such changes in advance is an essential part of a sound strategy. In this episode, Michael Finke, Stephen Vinson, and Jodi Krausman discuss how advisors can prepare clients for major transitions by building more adaptable plans, thinking through income replacement needs, and addressing the financial and emotional realities that come with loss, divorce, and reset. 
Our experts examine survivor income planning, tax bracket changes, Social Security implications, workplace benefit gaps, and protection planning strategies to help advisors create a practical “keep-the-lights-on” approach for clients facing uncertainty. The conversation also highlights why involving both spouses, using clear action steps, and planning before a disruption happens can make every other financial decision easier in emotionally difficult moments. 
Access the Women & Wealth Advisor Toolkit: https://www.nylannuities.com/annuityinsights  
Presented By: 
Michael Finke, PhD, CFP®, Professor of Wealth Management, The American College of Financial Services 
Stephen Vinson, Head of Sales, West Central Zone, New York Life Insurance 
Featuring: 
Jodi Krausman, PhD, CPA, CFP®, PMP®, Assistant Professor and MSFP Program Director, The American College of Financial Services. 
Annuity Insights is produced and owned by The American College of Financial Services with generous support from New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), A Delaware Corporation. Information is believed accurate as of the time of recording (February-April 2026) but is subject to change (taxes, legal, rates, etc.).  

Produced by The American College of Financial Services, in partnership with New York Life Annuities.  
How can financial advisors prepare clients for caregiving responsibilities that disrupt earnings, savings, and long-term retirement planning? In this episode, host Michael Finke and guests Kaylee Ranck and Jen McCauley-Weiss explore caregiving and financial planning through the realities women often face, including lost income, career interruptions, and the emotional trade-offs that can reshape a family’s plan. 
From emergency reserves and paid leave considerations to long-term care conversations and guaranteed income strategies, this discussion gives financial professionals a practical framework for income stabilization during interruptions. The episode focuses on how advisors can raise the topic earlier and help clients plan before caregiving decisions become crisis decisions. 
Access the Women & Wealth Advisor Toolkit: https://www.nylannuities.com/annuityinsights  
Presented By: 
Michael Finke, PhD, CFP®, Professor of Wealth Management, The American College of Financial Services 
Jen McCauley-Weiss, Vice President of Retail Annuities Marketing & Annuity Services, New York Life  
Featuring: 
Kaylee Ranck, PhD, Research Director, The American College Center for Women in Financial Services 
Annuity Insights is produced and owned by The American College of Financial Services with generous support from New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), A Delaware Corporation. Information is believed accurate as of the time of recording (February-April 2026) but is subject to change (taxes, legal, rates, etc.).  

Produced by The American College of Financial Services, in partnership with New York Life Annuities.  
How do advisors help clients make smarter Social Security timing decisions - especially when longevity, survivor income, and household earnings histories are all in play? In this episode, our host Michael Finke and guests Brian Doherty, and Dana Anspach explore how claiming strategy can shape retirement income security, with a particular focus on the decisions that matter most for women. 
From survivor benefits and joint life expectancy to bridge strategies and guaranteed income floors with annuities, this conversation gives financial professionals a practical framework for supporting Social Security timing decisions within a broader retirement income plan. 
Access the Women & Wealth Advisor Toolkit
Presented By: 
Michael Finke, PhD, CFP®, Professor of Wealth Management, The American College of Financial Services 
Featuring: 
Brian Doherty, Author and Expert on Social Security, President of Filtech 
Dana Anspach, CFP®, RMA®, Founder & CEO, Sensible Money 
Annuity Insights is produced and owned by The American College of Financial Services with generous support from New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), A Delaware Corporation. Information is believed accurate as of the time of recording (February-April 2026) but is subject to change (taxes, legal, rates, etc.).  

Produced by The American College of Financial Services, in partnership with New York Life Annuities.  
What do five years of women & wealth research actually tell financial advisors — and are they listening? In this kickoff episode, Michael Finke, Theresa Gralinski, and Jean Chatzky unpack the data behind women's retirement planning and what it means for how advisors show up, communicate, and build lasting client relationships.  
From the four key client segments to the growing demand for women advisors, this episode gives financial professionals a research-backed conversation framework to strengthen every client engagement. 
Access the Women & Wealth Advisor Toolkit: https://www.nylannuities.com/annuityinsights  
Annuity Insights is produced and owned by The American College of Financial Services with generous support from New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (“NYLIAC”), A Delaware Corporation. Information is believed accurate as of the time of recording (February-April 2026) but is subject to change (taxes, legal, rates, etc.).  

In this episode, we look at public confidence in annuity products, including how they are perceived by consumers and the press and why they may be more useful than many are led to believe. In addition, we examine how using annuities can help advisors and clients formulate more positive financial behaviors.
Presented By:
Michael Finke, PhD, CFP®, Professor of Wealth Management, The American College of Financial Services
Featuring:
Matthew Wion, Senior Vice President & Head of Retail Annuities, New York Life Insurance Company
Jean Chatzky, Host, HerMoney Podcast; Education Fellow, Alliance for Lifetime Income

In this episode, we examine the fundamental math behind how annuities work — specifically focusing on their lifetime withdrawal benefits and the best ways to maximize their potential. The discussion also covers connections of annuities with insurance, working with wholesalers to develop future plans, liability potential, and more.
Presented By:
Michael Finke, PhD, CFP®, Professor of Wealth Management, The American College of Financial Services
Featuring:
Matt Williams, Vice President & Head of Annuity Product Development, New York Life Insurance Company
Branislav Nikolic, Managing Director & Head of Insurance, The Index Standard