This session will explore how today’s Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities (MYGAs) are transforming fixed income strategies for fiduciary advisors. The panel will delve into the evolution of annuities, debunks persistent myths around cost, liquidity, and suitability, and showcases how modern MYGAs are now flexible, transparent, and aligned with fee-based planning models. Attendees will hear real-world implementation examples and gain insights into how these products can support accumulation, income planning, and risk management within diversified portfolios.
Participants will be able to identify and explain at least 3 key innovations in MYGAs that distinguish them from traditional annuities, including changes in cost structure, liquidity features, and fiduciary alignment
Participants will be able to describe 2-3 practical use cases where MYGAs are effectively integrated into modern, fee-based client portfolios, including for accumulation, income planning, and risk mitigation.
Participants will be able to refute at least 3 common myths about annuities (e.g. high fees, illiquidity, suitability only for retirees) using current product features and real-world examples discussed in the panel.
Jayant Walia
Jayant Walia is head of Go-To-Market at Gainbridge, where he actively leads strategic business development initiatives in support of its mission to help finance businesses build and launch innovative annuity products built for the 21st century.
Jayant has served in high impact roles with some of the largest names in finance and technology such as PWC and Marqeta. With over a decade’s experience in the finance industry, Jayant is committed to helping businesses in developing new solutions to better serve their customers.
Jayant has also earned a master’s from Harvard Business School and currently resides in New York City.
Ed Mercier is the Chief Operating Officer at RetireOne and brings more than 25 years of experience spanning investment and insurance products, including sales, distribution, clearing, and general management. He has held multiple senior leadership positions at Charles Schwab & Co., most recently as General Manager of Investment Management Distribution and Clearing Services.
In prior positions at Schwab, Ed was General Manager of Insurance Services, and General Manager of Mutual Fund Clearing. Previously, he worked in strategic institutional sales at Liberty Financial Services.
Ed received a BS in Economics from the University of San Francisco and holds the FINRA Series 7, 9, 10, 24 and 65 licenses.