My financial advisor recommended that after I left an employer of 10+ years, I cash-out my pension (as the company was going bankrupt and their pension was calculated at a mere 3% annual growth) and I invest that money in an Ameriprise Retirement Advisor 4 Select Variable Annuity (aka Riversource RAVA 4 Select).
I purchased this with $20,800 in June 2009 and now in January 2013 it is worth $29,850. Unless I am missing something (am an amateur investor), this is an average annual after-fee return of just under 11%.
I am happy with its results to date and hope it continues for the rest of its 10-year term.
