On a roll ... Ron and Dot Aquilina with two-year-old grandson
Zac.  On a roll ... Ron and Dot Aquilina with two-year-old
grandson Zac. Photo: Simon Alekna  While you've been losing
money, annuities have been protecting others from the markets,
inflation and even themselves.  Did you know the five years
either side of retiring will determine how much you have for the
rest of your life? Well, over the past 10 years annuities have
done better than the sharemarket, with a guarantee your savings
are safe thrown in.  The return on the day you buy an annuity is
set in stone, either for a term you choose or for the rest of
your life.  Challenger's Liquid Lifetime annuity pays 5 per cent
which, because it's indexed, amounts to a guaranteed return that
beats inflation by about 3 per cent a year for the rest of your
life.  That's without any risk. The markets, interest rates, or
even inflation can do what they like and your nest egg is safe.
Nothing could be more predictable - not even a new tax on super
in Tuesday's b