Who has heard of Symetra Financial? I’m wondering what kind of nationwide presence the Symetra Financial name has.

Andrew O replied: "Symetra Financial is a team of affiliated insurance and financial services companies serving 2 million customers and more than 20,000 independent agents and advisors.

That being said, I’ve never heard of them. I’m fairly knowledgeable about finance issues and live in California."

Selling an annuity payment? i was in a accident when i was a child and i ended up getting a insurance settlement from symetra financial i was thinking about selling one of my payments that is due in 2017 the amount due is 93,000 but they only are offering me 33500 i calculated the present value with the fed rate at 3.60 and the present value is 69,467.03 is there a way i can get that amount? since the 93,000 is guaranteed

also he guaranteed me that i could buy a condo… im in the miami area only problem is im only 21 and make less than 7000 per year. and i have bad credit. i dont see how i would be approved

Michael K replied: "You’re going to have a hard time finding someone that’s willing to make 3.6% on an 9 year loan. The companies that buy annuities want to make some money off of the deal, they probably are calculating closer to a 12% return for themselves, which would pay for their operating expenses, and commissions to their buyers, and profit for their investors.

I agree with you, you will likely have a hard time finding a condo in the Miami area for that little money. There are certainly parts of the country where you could get a condo for $30,000. Keep in mind that the guy at the company trying to buy your annuity is likely to make a nice commission if he convinces you to sell, so he’ll tell you many things that may or may not be entirely true.

I hope that helps."

jon b replied: "I see a disconnect in someone at a firm in the business of buying annuity payments making a guarantee around mortgage and real estate. It seems like a smarmy sales tactic to me.

There are many companies out there in the business of buying structured settlements, it might be worth to shop around for a better deal – however, these companies know their demographic and in general it is a person that didn’t have great sums of money, wins a structured settlement (cha ching, dollar signs in their eyes), and they can pull off writing a little check now to get a bigger payday later. Excellent job that you can figure future value – you seem not the average type these companies pray on. Work it backwards with them . . they offer you 33M, come back with whatever you’ll take – like 66M and see what they say. Worst case scenario is no deal."

WHich of these companies should I start a 403 b in ? I trying to decided which of these companies would be the best choice for starting a 403 B in and why? Here is the list you help is greatly needed.

Acacia Life Insurance Company
AIG Annuity Insurance Company
AIG VALIC
American Century Investments
American Fidelity Assurce Company
"American Funds Distributors, Inc. (AFD)"
American United Life (AUL)
Americo Financial Life & Annuity Insurance Cmpy
Ameriprise Financial Inc.
Ameritas Life Insurance Company
Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
"AXA Advisors, LLC"
AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company
CalSTRS
Cambridge Investment Research
Conseco Insurance Company
Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Com.
First Investors Corporation (TDS Umbrella)
First Investors General Authorization Form
Franklin Templeton Investments
"FTJ FundChoice, LLC"
"Great American Advisors, Inc., Member NASD"
Great American Life Insurance Company
Great Southern Life Insurance Company
"GWN Securities, Inc"
Horace Mann Companies
"Industrial-Alliance Pacific Life Ins Co, US Branch"
ING Life Insurance & Annuity Company
ING-ReliaStar Life Insurance Company
Jackson National Life Ins. Co.
"Legend Group, Inc., The"
Life Investors Company
Life Insurance Company of the Southwest
"Lincoln Nat’l Life Ins Co (Lincoln Fin Grp), The"
MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut
Metropolitan Life Insurance
Midland National
Modern Woodmen of America
National Health Insurance Co (NHIC)
New York Life Ins. & Annuity Corp.
North American Company for Life and Health
"Oppenheimer Funds Distributor, Inc"
Pacific Life Insurance Company
PFS Investments Inc
PlanMember Services Corp
Principal Mutual Funds
Putnam Investments
RSG Securities
Security Benefit Group
State Farm
Symetra Life Insurance Company
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Thrivent Investment Management Inc.
Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company
"Transamerica Fund Services, Inc."
United Teacher Associates Insurance Company
USAA Investment Management Company
USAA Life Insurance Company
Vanguard ISA
Vanguard Plan Authorization
"VeritrustВ® Financial, L.L.C."
"Waddell & Reed, Inc"
Washington National Insurance Company
Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. of Ohio

Yardbird replied: "I recommend Vanguard. They have the lowest fees and good products.

Stay away from AIG for obvious reasons."

spitfiredd replied: "AXA Advisors, LLC
New York Life Ins. & Annuity Corp.
ING Life Insurance & Annuity Company
Vanguard ISA

Out of those four
New York Life or ING"