When it comes to planning retirement, you're taking aim at a moving target. There's longevity risk, the decline of pension plans and the uncertain future of Social Security. And the job just got tougher, as the current economic crisis is rewriting the financial playbook. According to a recent survey by AARP, if the economy does not improve, over 6 in 10 workers aged 45 and older say they will likely delay retirement and work longer. And nearly 6 in 10 think they are not saving enough. That's where a tax-deferral can help. Below is the first of several conversations we've had with investors and advisors about the benefits of saving more with low-cost no-load variable annuities. Stay tuned over the next several weeks as I post their valuable insight.

Marvin Gish, Retirement Planning Consultant and Retired Engineer:

Jeff Nat really has the best of both worlds. It has the absolute lowest fee--plus all the funds I could want. I've been using VAs for years. I maxed out my 401(k) and my IRA, and I could have gone into a taxable account, but the benefits of tax-deferral were much more important to me.

The ability to build more wealth for the long term is very important to me. And the savings with tax-deferral is so powerful when you can use something like a Flat-Insurance Fee VA. If you are suddenly paying one-tenth of the cost--and it never goes up--that's a substantial amount that you can re-invest into your account instead of paying to some insurance company for fees. The savings really add up.

Variable Annuities involve risk, including the possible loss principal.

An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment before investing or sending money. For a prospectus containing this and additional information, please contact your financial professional. Read it carefully before investing.

Monument Advisor is a variable annuity designed as a long-term investment vehicle that can accumulate investment earnings tax-deferred. Variable Annuities are not suitable for everyone. Investments are subject to risk, including possible loss of principle. A $20 insurance charge is deducted each month and does not increase with contract value; there are no asset-based mortality and expense or administrative charges and no surrender charge. There are other charges that you might pay from your contract value, but only if you elect certain contract and investment options. Withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax, and if taken before age 59 ½, a 10 percent federal income tax penalty may apply.

Monument Advisor is issued by Jefferson National Life Insurance Company (Dallas, TX) and distributed by Jefferson National Securities Corporation, FINRA member. Policy series JNL-2300-1, JNL-2300-2.

When it comes to planning retirement, you're taking aim at a moving target. There's longevity risk, the decline of pension plans and the uncertain future of Social Security. And the job just got tougher, as the current economic crisis is rewriting the financial playbook. According to a recent survey by AARP, if the economy does not improve, over 6 in 10 workers aged 45 and older say they will likely delay retirement and work longer. And nearly 6 in 10 think they are not saving enough. That's where a tax-deferral can help. Below is the first of several conversations we've had with investors and advisors about the benefits of saving more with low-cost no-load variable annuities. Stay tuned over the next several weeks as I post their valuable insight.

Ken Benoit, Commercial Real Estate Developer:

Maximizing tax-deferral is very important to me. Not only is tax-deferral essential for retirement planning; I also see it as an effective estate planning tool. By deferring taxes, I can accumulate more, make my money last longer and leave more to my heirs.

I see variable annuities as an excellent alternative to get more access to tax-deferral after maxing out other investments like Keogh's, IRAs, and 401(k)s. And there is such a significant difference with Jefferson National. I was already in a no-load, low-cost VA. But when I saw Jeff Nat's Flat-Insurance Fee VA, I knew I was looking at an annuity that offered top quality fund selection and rock bottom cost. Jefferson National's Monument Advisor is truly the best of the bunch.

Variable Annuities involve risk, including the possible loss principal.

An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment before investing or sending money. For a prospectus containing this and additional information, please contact your financial professional. Read it carefully before investing.

Monument Advisor is a variable annuity designed as a long-term investment vehicle that can accumulate investment earnings tax-deferred. Variable Annuities are not suitable for everyone. Investments are subject to risk, including possible loss of principle. A $20 insurance charge is deducted each month and does not increase with contract value; there are no asset-based mortality and expense or administrative charges and no surrender charge. There are other charges that you might pay from your contract value, but only if you elect certain contract and investment options. Withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax, and if taken before age 59 ½, a 10 percent federal income tax penalty may apply.

Monument Advisor is issued by Jefferson National Life Insurance Company (Dallas, TX) and distributed by Jefferson National Securities Corporation, FINRA member. Policy series JNL-2300-1, JNL-2300-2.

When it comes to planning retirement, you're taking aim at a moving target. There's longevity risk, the decline of pension plans and the uncertain future of Social Security. And the job just got tougher, as the current economic crisis is rewriting the financial playbook. According to a recent survey by AARP, if the economy does not improve, over 6 in 10 workers aged 45 and older say they will likely delay retirement and work longer. And nearly 6 in 10 think they are not saving enough. That's where a tax-deferral can help. Below is the first of several conversations we've had with investors and advisors about the benefits of saving more with low-cost no-load variable annuities. Stay tuned over the next several weeks as I post their valuable insight.

Jim Pilliod, Retired Marine Engineer and MBA:

What do I think of Jefferson National's Monument Advisor? Their Flat-Insurance Fee is great. I don't know of any other VA with such a reasonable fee structure. How does it compare on cost? Monument Advisor is the best available today. That's it. The best. The savings are great. It allows for better tax-deferred compounding.

VA Riders are not an important factor for me. I am simply interested in the ability to generate more tax-deferred compounding. In my opinion, VA riders would not be worth the extra fees. The more stripped down, the easier it is to understand and the more desirable it is. I want my VA to be nice and clean and easy to understand.

Variable Annuities involve risk, including the possible loss principal.

An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment before investing or sending money. For a prospectus containing this and additional information, please contact your financial professional. Read it carefully before investing.

Monument Advisor is a variable annuity designed as a long-term investment vehicle that can accumulate investment earnings tax-deferred. Variable Annuities are not suitable for everyone. Investments are subject to risk, including possible loss of principle. A $20 insurance charge is deducted each month and does not increase with contract value; there are no asset-based mortality and expense or administrative charges and no surrender charge. There are other charges that you might pay from your contract value, but only if you elect certain contract and investment options. Withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax, and if taken before age 59 ½, a 10 percent federal income tax penalty may apply.

Monument Advisor is issued by Jefferson National Life Insurance Company (Dallas, TX) and distributed by Jefferson National Securities Corporation, FINRA member. Policy series JNL-2300-1, JNL-2300-2.

When it comes to planning retirement, you're taking aim at a moving target. There's longevity risk, the decline of pension plans and the uncertain future of Social Security. And the job just got tougher, as the current economic crisis is rewriting the financial playbook. According to a recent survey by AARP, if the economy does not improve, over 6 in 10 workers aged 45 and older say they will likely delay retirement and work longer. And nearly 6 in 10 think they are not saving enough. That's where a tax-deferral can help. Below is the first of several conversations we've had with investors and advisors about the benefits of saving more with low-cost no-load variable annuities. Stay tuned over the next several weeks as I post their valuable insight.

Ted Kerr, President of Kerr Financial Group and Investment Advisor Representative with Commonwealth Financial Network:

As the financial quarterback for my clients, it's my job to manage risk and be the specialist for their accumulation and retirement planning strategies. Accumulating wealth is critical in preparing for retirement. And to maximize long-term saving, I believe few things can beat the power of tax deferral. I have very few clients where tax deferral wouldn't be appropriate.

Once clients max out their 401(k)s and IRAs, I've hit on a new alternative that offers the most efficient way to potentially accumulate: Jefferson National's Monument Advisor, the industry's first variable annuity with a flat-insurance fee, designed to help owners save more, faster.

The typical VA charged asset-based fees for everything from M&E to insurance guarantees, and that meant clients weren't saving as much as they could. But a flat-insurance fee VA like Monument Advisor cuts the cost of tax deferral and eliminates fees that can chew up a client's return, giving it the edge over traditional VAs.

Monument Advisor is truly a landmark in the evolution of variable annuities. I really think it's true that Jefferson National is redefining the annuity industry.

Variable Annuities involve risk, including the possible loss principal.

An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment before investing or sending money. For a prospectus containing this and additional information, please contact your financial professional. Read it carefully before investing.

Monument Advisor is a variable annuity designed as a long-term investment vehicle that can accumulate investment earnings tax-deferred. Variable Annuities are not suitable for everyone. Investments are subject to risk, including possible loss of principle. A $20 insurance charge is deducted each month and does not increase with contract value; there are no asset-based mortality and expense or administrative charges and no surrender charge. There are other charges that you might pay from your contract value, but only if you elect certain contract and investment options. Withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax, and if taken before age 59 ½, a 10 percent federal income tax penalty may apply.

Monument Advisor is issued by Jefferson National Life Insurance Company (Dallas, TX) and distributed by Jefferson National Securities Corporation, FINRA member. Policy series JNL-2300-1, JNL-2300-2.

When it comes to planning retirement, you're taking aim at a moving target. There's longevity risk, the decline of pension plans and the uncertain future of Social Security. And the job just got tougher, as the current economic crisis is rewriting the financial playbook. According to a recent survey by AARP, if the economy does not improve, over 6 in 10 workers aged 45 and older say they will likely delay retirement and work longer. And nearly 6 in 10 think they are not saving enough. That's where a tax-deferral can help. Below is the first of several conversations we've had with investors and advisors about the benefits of saving more with low-cost no-load variable annuities. Stay tuned over the next several weeks as I post their valuable insight.

Jeffrey Heineman, Retired Dentist:

I think VAs are a wonderful alternative after you have maxed out your other options, such as IRAs, SEP IRAs, Keoghs and MSAs. You almost have to be crazy to invest and not do it tax-deferred. As long as you have access to enough assets in a one-year safety net and you understand the early withdrawal penalties--tax-deferred VAs are an excellent tool to build more wealth for your long-term goals.

And what attracted me to Jefferson National's Monument Advisor? Two things. First, the Flat-Insurance Fee. Second, the supermarket of underlying funds. You can't compare the Flat-Insurance Fee to any other VA. I have saved tens of thousands of dollars using the Flat-Insurance Fee VA. And the supermarket of underlying funds is great. It really covers the gamut--bonds, long and short, international, all the Morningstar style boxes--you name it. The choices are almost infinite.

Variable Annuities involve risk, including the possible loss principal.

An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment before investing or sending money. For a prospectus containing this and additional information, please contact your financial professional. Read it carefully before investing.

Monument Advisor is a variable annuity designed as a long-term investment vehicle that can accumulate investment earnings tax-deferred. Variable Annuities are not suitable for everyone. Investments are subject to risk, including possible loss of principle. A $20 insurance charge is deducted each month and does not increase with contract value; there are no asset-based mortality and expense or administrative charges and no surrender charge. There are other charges that you might pay from your contract value, but only if you elect certain contract and investment options. Withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax, and if taken before age 59 ½, a 10 percent federal income tax penalty may apply.

Monument Advisor is issued by Jefferson National Life Insurance Company (Dallas, TX) and distributed by Jefferson National Securities Corporation, FINRA member. Policy series JNL-2300-1, JNL-2300-2.

When it comes to planning retirement, you're taking aim at a moving target. There's longevity risk, the decline of pension plans and the uncertain future of Social Security. And the job just got tougher, as the current economic crisis is rewriting the financial playbook. According to a recent survey by AARP, if the economy does not improve, over 6 in 10 workers aged 45 and older say they will likely delay retirement and work longer. And nearly 6 in 10 think they are not saving enough. That's where a tax-deferral can help. Below is the first of several conversations we've had with investors and advisors about the benefits of saving more with low-cost no-load variable annuities. Stay tuned over the next several weeks as I post their valuable insight.

John Ritter, CFP, CFS, founding partner and lead financial advisor of Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory, LLC:

A quality advisor recognizes that tax-deferral is crucial--it couldn't be more crucial. I don't know of anyone who couldn't benefit from it in some way. Especially with a growing number of clients now focused on planning for retirement.

But if clients availed themselves of their 401(k), IRA and Roth, and still had long-term funds to invest, there simply wasn't an advantageous solution. Especially in the case of affluent clients, who can quickly surpass the low contribution limits of most qualified plans. That left variable annuities. But, how can you implement a viable tax strategy with a high front-end load, heavy surrender charges and asset-based fees that can quickly drain performance?

My due diligence led me to Jefferson National's Monument Advisor, the first VA with a flat insurance fee of $20 per month.¹ Here's a meaty, low-cost tax-deferred accumulation vehicle that can complete a clients' long-term investing strategy. And with its supermarket of more than 175 investment options, Monument Advisor is a tax-deferred investing platform with unbeatable investment choices that can help clients accumulate more. All the choice--with one of the lowest costs²--on an investment platform that's adapted to the way fee-based advisors work.

¹ Jefferson National's Monument Advisor has a $20 monthly flat insurance fee with no transaction fees on more than 97% of underlying funds. Additional fees ranging from $19.99-$49.99 will be assessed for investors wishing to purchase shares of ultra low-cost funds. See the prospectus for details. Like other variable annuities, the customer pays fees of the underlying funds selected plus the fees of any advisor hired. The base contract does not provide a Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit (GMDB). The Death Benefit equals the contract value, and is subject to investment risks. An additional GMDB is available for an additional fee. Please see the prospectus for details.

² Morningstar data as of 12/31/08

Variable Annuities involve risk, including the possible loss principal.

An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment before investing or sending money. For a prospectus containing this and additional information, please contact your financial professional. Read it carefully before investing.

Monument Advisor is a variable annuity designed as a long-term investment vehicle that can accumulate investment earnings tax-deferred. Variable Annuities are not suitable for everyone. Investments are subject to risk, including possible loss of principle. A $20 insurance charge is deducted each month and does not increase with contract value; there are no asset-based mortality and expense or administrative charges and no surrender charge. There are other charges that you might pay from your contract value, but only if you elect certain contract and investment options. Withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax, and if taken before age 59 ½, a 10 percent federal income tax penalty may apply.

Monument Advisor is issued by Jefferson National Life Insurance Company (Dallas, TX) and distributed by Jefferson National Securities Corporation, FINRA member. Policy series JNL-2300-1, JNL-2300-2.

When it comes to planning retirement, you're taking aim at a moving target. There's longevity risk, the decline of pension plans and the uncertain future of Social Security. And the job just got tougher, as the current economic crisis is rewriting the financial playbook. According to a recent survey by AARP, if the economy does not improve, over 6 in 10 workers aged 45 and older say they will likely delay retirement and work longer. And nearly 6 in 10 think they are not saving enough. That's where a tax-deferral can help. Below is the first of several conversations we've had with investors and advisors about the benefits of saving more with low-cost no-load variable annuities. Stay tuned over the next several weeks as I post their valuable insight.

Dale Dann, Retired Aerospace Engineer:

Tax deferral has always been extremely important. It is an excellent tool for maximizing long term savings and it is a sure fire way of bringing up returns without taking on any additional risk. I have used variable annuities for years because of the benefits I can get using tax-deferral with my active management strategy. From my perspective, the reason for purchasing a VA is to get taxes as low as I possibly can.

I was using another low-cost VA which wasn't bad--but compared to Jefferson National's Flat-Insurance Fee VA, they had higher M&E and that was eating into my returns. Our old VA's M&E was costing us almost $10,000 each year in fees. That's a lot of extra money that we can live on in retirement. Now that I've made this switch to Jefferson National, I'm not going anywhere. I can't imagine using another variable annuity.

Variable Annuities involve risk, including the possible loss principal.

An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment before investing or sending money. For a prospectus containing this and additional information, please contact your financial professional. Read it carefully before investing.

Monument Advisor is a variable annuity designed as a long-term investment vehicle that can accumulate investment earnings tax-deferred. Variable Annuities are not suitable for everyone. Investments are subject to risk, including possible loss of principle. A $20 insurance charge is deducted each month and does not increase with contract value; there are no asset-based mortality and expense or administrative charges and no surrender charge. There are other charges that you might pay from your contract value, but only if you elect certain contract and investment options. Withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax, and if taken before age 59 ½, a 10 percent federal income tax penalty may apply.

Monument Advisor is issued by Jefferson National Life Insurance Company (Dallas, TX) and distributed by Jefferson National Securities Corporation, FINRA member. Policy series JNL-2300-1, JNL-2300-2.

Straight Talk:

Today's well-informed consumer knows that many variable annuities--with their high costs and complicated features--are a confusing maze of smoke and mirrors. But today there are simple, low-cost annuities that can offer consumers a better value. Below is the last of six common questions I hear about variable annuities.

Question: "Aren't investors better off with a 401(k) or other qualified plans?"

Fact: Variable annuities can be well suited for tax-deferral on assets that exceed the contribution limits of qualified plans such as 401(k)s and IRAs.

Experts generally agree that investors should always max out contributions to their employer-sponsored plans and IRAs. Once that's done, it's worth exploring a low-cost variable annuity to maximize the tax-deferred growth potential of any additional funds that you would like to earmark for your long-term savings goals.

Most affluent investors can quickly surpass the limits of an employer's defined contribution plan. The contribution cap for a 401(k) is currently $15,500, or $20,500 for "catch-up" savers over the age of 50. Likewise, the contribution cap for an IRA is currently $4,000, or $5,000 for savers over the age of 50. And affluent often exceed the income ceiling for a Roth IRA.

But many tax-deferred variable annuities will accept contributions of $10 million or more. And there are no required minimum distributions for the assets that you accumulate in a tax-deferred VA. Best of all, VAs don't have to be complicated or expensive. if you choose a no-load, Flat-Insurance Fee VA, you may save thousands--even tens of thousands--more each year so you may accumulate more and reach your savings goals faster.

Laurence P. Greenberg is president and CEO of Jefferson National, which developed Monument Advisor, a low-cost variable annuity. For more information or to order a prospectus, visit www.jeffnat.com or call (866) 667-0564.

Straight Talk:

Today's well-informed consumer knows that many variable annuities--with their high costs and complicated features--are a confusing maze of smoke and mirrors. But today there are simple, low-cost annuities that can offer consumers a better value. Below is the fifth of six common questions I hear about variable annuities.

Question: "Why should I buy an annuity when I don't need all those extra features?"

Fact: There are simple, low-cost, unbundled variable annuities that are focused on maximizing long-term accumulation.

There is no end to new annuity features--such as riders for guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits, guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits, guaranteed minimum income benefits and long-term care insurance benefits. But the costs for these riders are generally asset-based fees that can take a sizable chunk of your returns and diminish the growth potential of the underlying investment.

Many financial products are becoming increasingly complex. But many experts believe that attempting to bundle a variety of different features into a "one-size-fits-all" product may not be the most effective solution. It may actually limit your flexibility and may drive up costs.

It is critical to pin down your specific goals and evaluate the appropriate products that can help you meet each of your goals in the most effective and efficient manner. In many cases, you may find that simple, low-cost, unbundled products are a better way to meet your different financial goals

If you are looking for the most cost-effective method for long-term retirement savings, look for simple, low-cost, unbundled variable annuities that eliminate costly asset-based fees and complicated riders to help maximize the power of tax-deferral.

Look out for next week's post on how low-cost Variable Annuities can provide an additional tax deferral above and beyond the contribution limits of 401(k)s and IRAs.

Laurence P. Greenberg is president and CEO of Jefferson National, which developed Monument Advisor, a low-cost variable annuity. For more information or to order a prospectus, visit www.jeffnat.com or call (866) 667-0564.