Summer Security: How Retirement Planning Heats Up in June
June is a time when sunshine stretches long into the evenings, gardens bloom in full color, and coastal breezes begin to carry the unmistakable feeling of summer. Here in Wilmington and throughout North Carolina, this season brings community festivals, fresh produce, and a perfect moment to pause and reflect on the year ahead.
But June also brings something many people don’t realize: it’s National Annuity Awareness Month—a time dedicated to helping individuals better understand how annuities can play a critical role in securing a stable and sustainable retirement. And toward the end of the month, on June 28th, we recognize National Insurance Awareness Day, which serves as a timely reminder to review and evaluate our financial safety nets.
At Sound Retirement Solutions, we believe there’s no better time than summer to revisit your retirement plan—and possibly give it a little sunshine of its own.
Retirement Planning in Full Bloom
Retirement planning, like gardening, requires intention, patience, and the right conditions. You prepare the soil with early savings, plant your seeds with investments and insurance, and tend to your progress with regular check-ins and updates. And just like a well-loved garden, a retirement plan can blossom—especially when you’ve included tools designed to withstand unpredictable seasons.
That’s where annuities come in.
Annuities are one of the most misunderstood financial products, but when used properly, they offer powerful protection against one of the greatest threats to retirement security: outliving your income. Unlike stocks or savings accounts, annuities can provide a steady stream of income that you cannot outlive, giving you the confidence to enjoy your retirement without fear of market fluctuations or exhausting your resources too soon.
Think of it as your financial hammock—sturdy, secure, and ready to support you as you sway into your golden years.
Why National Annuity Awareness Month Matters
National Annuity Awareness Month exists to help clear the fog around a product that, for many retirees, can make all the difference between financial peace of mind and financial stress.
It’s a time to dig into questions like:
Do you have a guaranteed income stream built into your retirement plan?
Are your current investments protected from significant market downturns?
Are you making the most of the retirement income tools available to you?
If you’re not sure how to answer these, that’s okay. That’s what we’re here for.
The truth is, annuities aren’t one-size-fits-all. There are various types—fixed, indexed, immediate, variable—and each serves a different purpose depending on your goals, timeline, and risk tolerance. At Sound Retirement Solutions, our goal isn’t to sell you an annuity. It’s to help you understand whether one fits into your broader retirement picture—and if it does, which type makes the most sense for your situation.
Protecting Your Summer—and Your Future
With National Insurance Awareness Day falling at the tail end of June, it’s a perfect opportunity to review all the coverage that forms the foundation of your retirement plan. Insurance isn’t just about auto or homeowners policies—it also includes:
Long-term care planning
Life insurance for legacy and income replacement
Healthcare plans
Annuity products with guaranteed lifetime income options
Too often, people only think about insurance when they need to use it. But reviewing your policies annually—especially during a designated time like late June—can help you stay ahead of life’s unexpected changes. From health concerns to market volatility, the right protection in place can turn a crisis into a manageable moment.
Embracing a Season of Confidence
Summer is often a time of joy: family cookouts, trips to the beach, and time well spent with the people who matter most. But imagine how much more you could enjoy it if you weren’t worrying about your future income, long-term care, or how your spouse would manage without you.
That’s why this month, as strawberries ripen and the first blueberries appear, we encourage you to take a fresh look at your retirement plan. Whether it’s understanding how an annuity could enhance your income strategy or making sure your insurance coverage is up to date, June is the month to do it.
At Sound Retirement Solutions, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter advice. We take the time to learn about you, your goals, and what financial peace of mind looks like in your life. That’s how we turn information into confidence—and confidence into freedom.
So go ahead—enjoy the season. We'll help make sure your plan is working behind the scenes, just like a well-tended garden.
Ready to add a little sunshine to your retirement strategy?
Let’s talk this month. After all, it’s what June is all about.
