Today, President Obama outlined a plan to promote: "... the availability of annuities and other forms of guaranteed lifetime income, which transform savings into guaranteed future income, reducing the risks that retirees will outlive their savings or that their retirees' living standards will be eroded by investment losses or inflation." (scroll down to highlighted paragraph)

Insured Retirement Institute President and CEO, Cathy Weatherford, released the following reaction to the president's proposal:

"I have been consistently advocating - especially the last two years - that the value of a guarantee has never been greater," said Cathy Weatherford, President and CEO of IRI. "With the dramatic declines in the financial markets, the value of guaranteed investment products has never been more apparent, helping investors achieve a financially secure retirement. The dependable, guaranteed stream of retirement income that annuities provide to people later in life is being noticed at the highest levels. We are pleased that President Obama and Vice President Biden today called for increasing the awareness of guaranteed lifetime income, by 'promoting the availability of annuities.' We look forward to working with consumers, across the aisle and with the administration to help spotlight the vital role annuities can play in ensuring that all Americans have a comprehensive retirement plan to guarantee income for their golden years."

About the Insured Retirement Institute: The Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) is a not-for-profit organization and is the authoritative source of all things pertaining to annuities, insured retirement strategies and retirement planning. IRI exists to vigorously promote consumer confidence in the value and viability of insured retirement strategies, bringing together the interests of the industry, financial advisors and consumers under one umbrella. IRI's mission is to: encourage industry adherence to highest ethical principles; promote better understanding of the insured retirement value proposition; develop and promote best practice standards to improve value delivery; and to advocate before public policy makers on critical issues affecting insured retirement strategies. Visit www.IRIonline.org to experience the new, vast resources of the new Insured Retirement Institute for yourself. 

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