Mike Palmer in Kiplinger: Boomer Candy Investments Might Seem Sweet, But They Can Have a Sour Aftertaste

In the past decade, Wall Street has churned out a flood of financial products aimed directly at retirees — the biggest, wealthiest and most fearful generation of investors.

These products, which include buffered ETFs, structured notes and fixed index annuities, have earned the fitting nickname "Boomer Candy."

What's the Downside of Boomer Candy?

Ark Royal's founder Mike Palmer writes a monthly column for Kiplinger and shares his perspective and expertise in this article (Boomer Candy Investments Might Seem Sweet, But They Can Have a Sour Aftertaste). Just a few of the things investors should know about index annuities, buffered ETFs and structured notes are:

• Hidden fees that reduce returns
• Limited investment options and / or esoteric indices
• Limited liquidity
• Volatility created by point in time or point to point valuation

We also have a video that goes helps explain some of the less well understood risks associated with Boomer Candy.