Planning for retirement, whether that's five years away or 25 years down the road, is something each of us needs to consider. Making smart choices about how much money you save, and what retirement planning savings vehicles you use, can mean the difference between having the income you need in retirement to live the lifestyle you want, or struggling financially. There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to saving for retirement, but if you prefer a product that offers safety and guarantees, you may want to consider the retirement protection benefits offered by annuity products and indexed universal life (IUL) insurance policies.