Saving was the part everyone tells you about. Turning it into a paycheck — without wrecking your taxes or running out — is the part nobody explains. That's what this site is for, free, no pitch.
You don't need to know anything about retirement planning to use this. Just move two sliders — your age and how much you've saved — and see three real ways that money could work for you: what it pays you every year, and what's left over for your family.
We'll project this out to age 90 and show you exactly what each path pays — and leaves behind.
Educational illustration only, not a quote or an offer. "Just Invest It" assumes a 60/40 portfolio averaging 6%/year, with 4% withdrawn as income and 1% going to advisory fees, leaving 1% net growth on the balance each year. "Guarantee It All" and "Split It" use illustrative single-life income annuity payout rates by age (actual rates vary by carrier and rate environment). "Split It" annuitizes 65% of the amount shown and invests the remaining 35% at a hypothetical 9% average annual return (S&P 500 illustrative, not guaranteed, subject to market risk and loss) left untouched to grow. Real plans account for Social Security, spending needs, and taxes — see the detailed tool below.
This version accounts for income you already have coming in and what your actual bills cost, and lets you compare Just Invest It, Guarantee It All, and Split It side by side.
Educational illustration only — not financial, tax, or legal advice and not an offer of any product. Hypothetical figures: assumes the income gap is funded from pre-tax accounts, 2.5% annual inflation on rising withdrawals/bills, and illustrative single-life annuity payout rates by age (actual quotes vary by carrier, product, state, and rate environment). "Just Invest It" assumes a 60/40 portfolio averaging 6%/year, with 4% withdrawn as income and 1% going to advisory fees, leaving 1% net growth on the balance each year. Under "Split It," the invested remainder is illustrated at a 9% average annual return — hypothetical, not guaranteed, and subject to market risk; actual returns vary and may be negative. Cost-of-living increases are modeled as withdrawals from the invested side (structured tax-free via Roth in Viking plans) and therefore do not appear as taxable income. Annuitization is capped at 65% of the portfolio under Viking's Split It (BIID) framework. Annuity guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company and are not FDIC insured.
Dustin built Viking around one idea: retirement isn't a pile of money, it's a paycheck that has to show up every month for 30 years. He teaches the same income-first strategy to 230,000 followers that he builds for clients — in plain English, written for smart people who aren't licensed professionals.
There are only three ways a financial professional gets paid. Any advisor you talk to is using one of them — most just won't tell you which.
Whichever way it works out, you'll know the number before you decide anything. Nothing on this site costs you a dime, and we'll show you the math before you sign.
Free information that other people charge you for — organized so you can find your exact question in seconds.
Nothing matches that search — but that doesn't mean we don't have the answer. Ask us directly →
Which one of these is for you? All three are "safe money" — the difference is how long your money is tied up and who backs it. Rates on all three move constantly, so instead of a number that's stale by the time you read it, here's the honest comparison.
Pays the highest interest of the three — but has contractual timelines that lock your money up for years (typically 3–10). Taking money out early triggers a surrender charge. Issued by an insurance company, not a bank.
Backed by the issuing insurer's claims-paying ability — not FDIC insured.
Goes through a bank and pays a lesser rate than a MYGA — but the contract periods are shorter, so your money isn't tied up as long. Early withdrawal usually costs you some interest rather than a surrender charge.
FDIC insured up to applicable limits.
Pays less than a CD, but it's fully liquid — no contract period at all, money in and out whenever you want. The tradeoff is that the rate can change at any time, in either direction.
FDIC insured up to applicable limits.
Tap any category above to see today's rates on Google — or skip the homework and let us pull them for you.
We shop MYGAs across multiple carriers and can tell you where CDs and high-yield savings stand right now — free, no pressure, in about 10 minutes.
Get Today's Rates →Annuity guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company and are not FDIC insured. Viking is not affiliated with and receives no compensation from any bank. Nothing here is a rate quote or an offer.
Nothing. It's a real conversation with a real person about your situation — not a webinar replay, not a sales script. You'll leave knowing more than you came with, whether or not we ever work together.
No. The first call is discovery — understanding your income, accounts, taxes, and what you're worried about. If something we offer fits, we'll show you the math and you decide. If it doesn't fit, we'll tell you that too.
No — we're independent. We're contracted with hundreds of companies, so we're not stuck selling whatever one shop happens to carry. We shop the whole field and the option that wins on math wins the case.
A rough idea of your account balances, your Social Security estimate if you have it, and the monthly number your lifestyle actually costs. Don't stress about precision — clues are enough to start.
There's no such thing as a call that's too early. It's best to get a plan together early and understand your options — that way the stress is gone, and when you're finally ready to pull the trigger, you already know what the plan is and why. Roth conversions, a personal pension, life insurance, estate planning, tax planning, corporate structure — the list goes on, and every one of them works better with time on your side.
Thirty minutes, free, no pitch. Bring your accounts, your Social Security estimate, or just your questions — you'll leave knowing more than you came with either way.