Why I Wrote This Book

Most people spend 30 or 40 years building their retirement savings. Then retirement arrives, and they are often expected to turn that money over to one person — or several people — without truly understanding what is being recommended, what risks exist, or whether those recommendations fit the life they want to live.

That never sat well with me.

I did not write Create a Pension to tell everyone to buy the same product or follow the same strategy. I wrote it because I believe people deserve to understand their choices before making decisions with a lifetime of savings.

There are many ways to create retirement income. Social Security, pensions, savings, CDs, bonds, investments, real estate, home equity, and annuities can all play different roles. Every option has advantages, limitations, risks, and tradeoffs.

The right answer is not the same for everyone.

My intention is to give readers enough knowledge to recognize what may fit their lifestyle, eliminate what clearly does not, and ask better questions about the choices that deserve a closer look.

You do not need to make a career out of retirement planning. You simply need enough understanding to remain in the driver's seat.

When you understand the basics, you are better prepared to choose professional partners, recognize whether a recommendation truly serves you, and build an income approach around your needs, priorities, and vision for retirement.

You spent a lifetime building your savings. You deserve to understand what happens next.

About the Author

Stina Antonopoulos has spent more than 25 years helping people navigate real estate and financial decisions. She wrote this book to help everyday retirees ask better questions, understand their choices, and keep control of their own retirement picture.

How Creating Your Own Pension Works

An income annuity is a contract with an insurance company: you convert part of your savings into a stream of guaranteed payments, and the insurer guarantees to pay you — for a set period, or for the rest of your life — regardless of what happens in the market or how long you live.

It works like the pension your parents or grandparents may have had through an employer, except you're the one funding it, and you control when income starts and how much of your savings goes toward it.

Is This Right for You?

Income annuities aren't right for every dollar or every person. Here's a balanced look at the tradeoff:

This is exactly why a conversation with a licensed advisor matters — to see whether this fits alongside what you already have, not instead of it.

Frequently Asked Questions