MONEY Magazine Features Annuitytruth

In its June 2007 issue, MONEY Magazine writer Denise Topolnicki encourages readers to go to H.E.L.P.'s annuitytruth.org website for its tips on complaining effectively, plus links to state securities and insurance watchdogs. See, for example, the Who Can Help? section.

Ms. Topolnicki's article, titled "All You Really Need to Know About . . . Dumping an Annuity" can be found on page 40 of the magazine. It talks about variable and equity-indexed annuities, stating "as MONEY has long warned, high fees and stiff surrender charges make these annuities lousy investments."

An important part of H.E.L.P.'s work is helping people plan ahead to maintain control of their care and finances. In doing that work, we often discuss the financial steps people have taken - and all too frequently find that seniors have been sold annuities in what appear to be very inappropriate circumstances.

We're very concerned that people are not being told in a clear way about all aspects of the annuities they are being offered. We created annuitytruth.org to help address this problem, and help seniors and families better understand annuities.

The annuitytruth.org website provides information on how annuities work, warnings from financial writers and regulators, the truth about certain alleged benefits of annuities, H.E.L.P.'s list of "stinky" annuity sales situations, and more.

May 2007