And hate annuities. How can I get dependable income in retirement?

A reader planning for retirement asked whether a TIPS ladder could bridge a five-year income gap between ages 65 and 70, while delaying Social Security until 70. The proposal described allocating about a quarter of the portfolio to defined-maturity TIPS ETFs that liquidate at maturity, another quarter to cash and ultrashort Treasury ETFs, and keeping the remaining half in equities to fund later spending. The article notes the reader worries about locking too much money away and wants dependable pay without buying annuities. The response explains that although many people dislike annuities, guaranteed income is one way they address a key retirement need, and age-related risk tolerance can change.