Left in the stock market
S&P 500, dividends reinvested
$500,000
Even with where you started
Capital Annuity Group · Free crash test
What would a real crash do to your retirement money?
Enter what you have saved and pick a crash from history. You'll watch it play out two ways at once: left in the stock market, and in a fixed index annuity.
$
Pick a crash
Jan 2008The crash
Fixed index annuity
Illustration · 8% cap · a zero instead of a loss
$500,000
Even with where you started
Retired January 2008, shown through 2012
| Market | Annuity | |
|---|---|---|
| Ended with | $379,978 | $483,710 |
| Lowest it got | $224,090 | $447,880 |
| Taken out to live on | $125,000 | $125,000 |
In this stretch the annuity version ended $103,732 ahead, mostly because it took a zero instead of the loss. It never dropped below $447,880.
The honest scoreboard
9 of 27
Across every 5-year stretch from 1995 to 2025, taking 5% a year, the annuity version ended ahead in 9 of 27. Those were the stretches with a crash in them. In the rest, the market did better. So it's protection for money you can't afford to watch drop, not a way to beat the market.
- Growth is capped, so in strong years you get part of the gain.
- Crediting follows the index price, without dividends.
- Surrender charges apply if you take out more than the free amount in the early years.
- Not FDIC insured. It's backed by the insurance company, so ask about its strength rating.
Hypothetical illustration, not a product illustration or a prediction. The market side uses S&P 500 total returns (dividends reinvested). The annuity side credits the S&P 500 price change each year with an 8% cap and a 0% floor; real annuities credit on contract anniversaries and caps vary (published S&P 500 caps ran roughly 5% to 11% a year in October 2026). Monthly moves use month-end S&P 500 closes, so the lowest single days are not shown. Withdrawals are the same dollars from both sides at the start of each year. Rider fees, if any, are not included. Educational only, not financial advice.
Rather just talk to someone?
Have Ed call you.
Ed
Our licensed insurance agent
Skip the calculator. Ed will run real quotes for your age, state, and amount, and go through the caps, fees, and surrender periods with you in plain English. It's free, there's no obligation, and you decide what happens next.
Or start with the other question
An honest word
Annuities aren't right for everyone. Here's when they aren't.
You'll hear a lot of hype about annuities, and a lot of hate. The truth is in the middle. They do two jobs well: protecting money from market drops, and turning savings into income you can't outlive. Here's when to skip them.
- You don't have an emergency fund yet. Build that first.
- You'll need most of this money in the next few years. Keep it liquid.
- Social Security and a pension already cover your essential bills.
- You're carrying high-interest debt. Paying that off usually comes first.
Common questions
Is this a sales pitch?
No. The calculator and your plan are free and educational, and you don't need to give a phone number to get them. If you want real quotes, you can ask a licensed insurance agent to call you. You never have to, and nothing is bought unless you decide it makes sense.
Who would I talk to?
A licensed insurance professional who works with retirement savings and income. They show quotes side by side and explain every tradeoff in writing.
Do annuities have fees?
Some do and some don't. Simple fixed annuities often have no annual fee. Income riders and variable annuities usually do. Almost all annuities have a surrender period, meaning taking out more than a set amount in the first several years costs you. Always ask for every fee in writing.
Are annuities safe?
Fixed and fixed indexed annuities protect your principal from market losses. The guarantees are backed by the insurance company, not the FDIC, so the company's financial strength rating matters.
What do you do with my information?
We use your email to send your plan and a few follow-up guides. Only if you ask for a call do we pass your name and number to one licensed insurance agent. We don't sell your information to lead lists, and you can unsubscribe any time.