Balancing dividend income throughout the year

[fenders53]

That's pretty much what I did Ray. I had a GOV plan that was basically a 401K IRA and I could buy an annuity upon retirement like everybody else I ever worked with did. It was not a good plan. If you die in ten years your family gets ripped off badly. I did the math and it was obvious I should flip the money into an IRA I control. I could buy riders for my wife or ten year guaranteed payouts. that would significantly reduce month checks. I couldn't think of a scenario that made an annuity a good idea unless my wife or I live to be 95. Not certain it even made sense then. It appears I need about a 2% return to put things much in my favor.