Suze Orman and Annuities – 2026 Guide
Should You Follow Her Advice — Or Does It Depend on Your Situation?
Suze Orman is one of the most influential voices in personal finance. Millions trust her guidance, especially when it comes to retirement decisions. And she’s outspoken about annuities — sometimes strongly in favor, sometimes strongly against.
So, what’s the truth?
The real answer is simple:
Her annuity advice is correct for many people —
but not for everyone.
The right annuity can be powerful for retirement income,
and the wrong one can be restrictive and expensive.
Let’s break down where Suze is right,
and where high-net-worth or retiring investors may need a more personalized approach.
Where Suze Orman Is Right About Annuities
Suze warns about annuities when:
❌ Fees are high
Some variable annuities are stacked with riders and annual charges.
❌ Liquidity is restricted
If someone may need cash early, surrender costs can hurt them.
❌ The product is misunderstood
Many buyers don’t know the difference between fixed, indexed, variable, SPIA, DIA, or MYGA.
❌ The buyer needs growth, not income
Annuities are income tools — not always growth engines.
For people still building wealth, her caution makes sense.
Where Suze Orman Supports Annuities
Most people miss this:
Suze does like certain annuities — in the right context.
Especially:
✔ Income annuities for longevity protection
✔ When someone needs guaranteed lifetime payments
✔ When risk tolerance is low
✔ When retirement income must be predictable
✔ When Social Security is not enough to live on
Suze has repeatedly said annuities can be effective if they guarantee income for life and the buyer understands the contract.
But Here’s What Suze Doesn’t Fully Address:
Her advice is aimed at the average American household.
It is not tailored for:
🔹 multi-six-figure IRA balances
🔹 Home sale or liquidity events
🔹 Large inheritance planning
🔹 RMD-heavy retirees with tax exposure
🔹 High-net-worth families wanting wealth transfer
This is where Suze does not go deep — but were planning matters most.
Because in higher-asset households, an annuity isn’t always a “yes” or “no,”
it’s a tax strategy, an income strategy, and sometimes a legacy strategy.
When Annuities Should Be Considered, Even If Suze Hesitates
You may benefit from an annuity if:
Situation Why an Annuity Helps
You want guaranteed lifetime income Eliminates longevity risk
You worry about market drops Principal protection + stability
You don’t need full liquidity Income > access
You want to lock in yield safely MYGA or fixed indexing works
You’re taking RMDs you don’t need Can reposition into predictable income or SPWL
You want tax-efficient legacy planning SPIA + SPWL pairing is powerful
Suze speaks to the public — you need advice for your life.
So, Should You Follow Suze?
If you are early stage building wealth → her caution is helpful.
If you are retired with assets → her advice may be incomplete.
Financial decisions should never be one-size-fits-all.
Suze Orman gives a great general foundation.
We help people build a customized structure on top of it.
📞 Want truly personalized annuity guidance — not one-size advice?