Are you considering a Structured Annuity—also known as a Registered Index-Linked Annuity (RILA)—to capture stock market upside with some downside protection? Before you sign on the dotted line, you need to understand how much money you can still lose.

In this completely unfiltered video, Shawn from The Annuity Expert breaks down what a structured annuity actually is: a hybrid between a Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) and a Variable Annuity (VA). While RILAs are pitched as offering higher growth with a safety "buffer," Shawn reveals why he considers them gimmicky and far too expensive for retirees seeking true security.

Shawn explains how buffer strategies work—where you still absorb the first 10% or more of market losses before any protection kicks in. When you stack market losses on top of contract fees and management charges, a RILA can r ...